Local schools celebrate National Read Across America Day

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — As iconic children’s author Dr. Seuss once said, “The more that you read, the more things you will know.  The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” 

Each year, National Read Across America Day takes that to heart by raising awareness Dr. Seuss’s birthday, March 2.

An initiative created by the National Education Association in 1998, the annual awareness day calls all children across the United States to celebrate reading, encouraging them to read wherever they are.

But since it is fostered through schools, the day is observed on the closest school day – Friday, in this case.

Check out the gallery below to see KOIN 6 anchor Emily Burris reading to 1st, 4th and 5th graders at John Wetten Elementary School in Gladstone

As far as how you can observe the day on the day of, the National Education Association offers these tips:

• Pick up an interesting book and read it. Most importantly, read with a child.

• Have your child read to you as well, since this can further aid in strengthening their vocabulary and language skills.

• Read a book you’ve been meaning to read. Or you can even read a book you’ve read before, as you may discover it has a new meaning to you since you last read it.

• Try reading aloud, even just to yourself. It can be great practice for reading to children.

• Join your local library.

President Biden has even weighed in on the importance of the power of literacy in a proclamation Friday morning.

“For so many children, their dreams begin with a book,” he said. “Whether it is through the stories they listen to at bed time or a trip to the local library, books introduce children to new ideas, cultures, and perspectives. They feed the imagination and stoke the fires of innovation that help them understand our world as it is and pioneer ways to make it better.”

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