Class act in Norfolk for Read Across America Day
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Richard Bowling, the Norfolk man for whom an elementary school is named, would be proud to see how Read Across America Day has evolved in Norfolk and at schools across the country.
In a gathering with Bowling first graders, 10 On Your Side’s Regina Mobley read from Princess Hair, a children’s book that showcases beauty and confidence in Black girls.
“All princesses have crowns, but underneath their crowns, not all princesses have the same hair,” was the opening passage.
The shot in the arm for reading comes at a critical time in the post-pandemic era.
According to The National Assessment of Educational Progress, in 2019 the average fourth-grade reading score in Virginia was 247. During the pandemic, it plummeted to 236. Principal Yukita Boone has a homework assignment for parents.
“Make sure that when they are in the womb you get some quiet time and start reading to them as they grow from infantry,” Boone said. “Also, get quiet time and read to them as they get older. Continue to read and start building a book library in your home or go to the public library.”
In our second book, students picked up a few Chinese words. Later, 10 On Your Side introduced them to the word Teleprompter.
And did we mention confidence? Carson Jenkins picked up the hand-held microphone and started working the crowd Oprah Winfrey style. A young man in the audience posed the first question.
“Why did not all of the princesses have crowns?”
Oooooh, that’s a good question, Carson said. Teachers watching from the sidelines responded: “She’s a natural”
Read Across America Day at Richard Bowling closed with a happy ending.
(WAVY Photo – Regina Mobley) (WAVY Photo – Regina Mobley) (WAVY Photo – Regina Mobley)
“I would give them an A-plus,” Boone said. “They met all of our expectations of being in an audience. They were seated and their hands were in their laps if they needed to ask a question. They asked those questions by raising their hand. And when we think about that news reporter, that kind of took over. She did a fantastic job. I would give them an A-plus.”
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