The threat of inclement weather didn’t stop local school officials from celebrating World Read Aloud Day, which is held in conjunction with Dr. Seuss’ birthday and promotes the importance of reading at all levels.
Schools in Clinton City were dismissed just before lunch Wednesday, as a precaution to severe weather that was slated to hit the area, but before students went home, efforts were made to continue promoting district-wide reading. Several schools made the choice to postpone celebratory events until next week, while Clinton High School, Butler Avenue and Sunset Avenue schools proceeded with plans.
“District wide we are encouraging literary exposure,” Faith Jackson, community liaison for Clinton City Schools, said. “We are hoping that this event will spark interest in students, all students, reading, by seeing that adults like to read.”
As part of World Read Aloud Day, Clinton City Schools invited community leaders to come out and read to classes the book, “Oh! The Places You’ll Go,” by Dr. Seuss and discuss their careers with students. As a follow up activity, the students will complete a writing activity based on this event.
The book, according to Kelly Schultz, curriculum coach for Clinton City Schools, is an excellent book choice for all ages.
“This book has a great meaning and can be applied to students at every level,” Schultz said.
All the schools, Schultz said, share a great passion for reading.
“Students and staff have all been getting involved in so many ways,” the coach added. “I even overheard a discussion about what they were currently reading and what they should read next. It is exciting for our students to see how they fit into the global community of readers.”
At Clinton High School, Dr. Steve Miller, principal, spent the entire hour lunch period reading to students. During the schools adviser period, students were read to by their teachers and Miller continued the effort during lunch.
“As I’m focusing on the World Read Aloud day, I’m trying to identify things that can be helpful,” Miller said. “Such as if you do nothing else, these will be successful help to a person through literacy. We know that education and literacy is tied together. As a person they can’t be highly educated without a level of literacy, so focusing on the professional and personal reading is important.”
“Reading to the to the students and then also making sure that they understand that opens doors of opportunity for them. So all the activities that we’ve been doing having focusing on ‘Places that you go, all the places that you’ll go’ for being involved in English and education.”
According to Jackson, World Read Aloud Day motivates children, teens, and adults worldwide to celebrate the power of words and creates a community of readers taking action to show the world that the right to literacy belongs to all people. World Read Aloud Day is celebrated by millions of people in more than 100 countries, and has been set aside for Feb. 24 across the nation.
“Clinton City Schools celebrating World Read Aloud Day as an entire district sends a message to the students that we want all students to be influenced with the great literature that has stood the test of time,” Dr. Stuart Blount, superintendent of Clinton City Schools, said. “Today, as leaders of the district are reading books that they find most interesting, we trust that it will be an inspiration to all of our students.”
The events at L.C. Kerr and Sampson Middle School have been rescheduled for next week.