Read aloud. Change the
World.
That is this year’s
theme for World Read Aloud Day. According to LitWorld, 793 million people are
illiterate. “Imagine a world where everyone can read.”
World
Read Aloud Day (WRAD) began with one woman, Pam Allyn, who visited Kenya and
saw the extreme poverty and the need children had there to read. She started a nonprofit organization called LitWorld in 2007.
Their mission is to “implement on-the-ground innovative
solutions to the hard-to-tackle challenge of illiteracy worldwide.” They “work
in close and trusting partnerships with locally based, grassroots organizations
to build sustainable outcomes for young people around the world.”
“Every year World Read
Aloud Day (WRAD) calls global attention to the importance of reading aloud and
sharing stories.”
WRAD
is one of the events hosted by LitWorld. It began in 2010, and now 82 countries
and millions of people online and live in-person take part in this wonderful day that
shows the importance of reading.
This
year’s WRAD was Feb. 24th, 2016.
 |
| Laura Sassi, author |
I was
privileged to take part in WRAD at my school. We invited two authors for
February, and they aren’t strangers to the GROG blog—Laura Sassi and Nancy I.Sanders. They both graciously agreed to Skype with our elementary in South Korea.
 |
| Skype with Laura Sassi |
First,
we Skyped with Laura Sassi, author of Goodnight
Ark and Goodnight Manger. This
was the first time my school had done an author Skype. In the words of one of
the students—it was awesome! Laura read Goodnight
Ark to us and commented about writing and illustrating things along the
way. She also brought out her skunk puppets! My own students came back to my
classroom pumped and eager to write a book. Thank you, Laura!
 |
| Nancy I. Sanders, author |
Second,
we Skyped with Nancy I. Sanders, author of A
Pirate’s Mother Goose, Get to Know
Bible Biographies, and a host of other books. Our lower elementary made
pirate hats and brushed up on our pirate lingo to prepare for Nancy’s Skype
session. She read a couple of nursery rhymes from her new pirate book and One Sentence Storybooks. The kids
enjoyed asking her questions in both our k-2 and 3-5 sessions. Thank you, Nancy!
 |
| Skype with Nancy I. Sanders |
In my opinion, you don't need to wait for World Read Aloud Day to read with a class of students. Teachers will be glad to have you come to their class in person or virtually. And it's a great way to get encouraged in your writing, by influencing youngsters to read and write. Have you read to a child lately?
What a lovely post! And I heartily agree that reading aloud is something to celebrate everyday! Thanks for having me via Skype! And I LOVE that the kids wore pirate hats for Nancy Sanders visit.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Laura. We had a wonderful time with you! And the staff was encouraged, too!
DeleteYes!
ReplyDeleteWonderful article, Tina.
I read to two kindergarten classes on Feb. 24th (yesterday).
The three books - THE HIP HOP DOG, LITTLE CLOUD & THE DOT.
This is a very diverse school & student group & I always am so lifted by their giggles.
For your students I can feel the excitement come through your post, about the first SKYPE party. Brava!
How fun, Jan. That's great you participated, too!
DeleteAww. So much fun.
DeleteIt's not always possible to catch all the literacy/reading/book/library celebration "days" to join in.
But this week's Dr. Seuss festivities are top on my list. I have 2 visits on the calendar.
WRAD, great way to help children become literate. Good post!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kathy!
DeleteVery fun! And yes, don't wait for WRAD, read aloud every day!
ReplyDeleteExactly, Jane!
DeleteSuch a blessing you were able to include these two authors in your school day. Isn't modern technology wonderful?
ReplyDeleteYes, it is. I'd be lost without it!
DeleteWhat a great post. I had fun doing a Skype visit to two schools here in the US. Doing one abroad really honors the WORLD part of read aloud day!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you were able to Skype as well! Those kids were blessed to have you!
DeleteTina, It sounds like your students had an awesome WRAD. Wish I could have been the fly on the wall listening in.
ReplyDeleteThey did. I'll be reading them your book soon.
DeleteThis is a great post. There is so much we can do to give children, early on, a love for reading.
ReplyDeleteExactly, Sherri. A good reason to write!
DeleteOh wow, Tina. So happy to hear you were able to share with classroom, and that Nancy and Laura dropped in for a visit. Your students must have been thrilled. :-)
ReplyDeleteThey had fun and were inspired to write!
DeleteFabulous, Tina! And how great that Laura and Nancy were able to participate in your classroom...gotta love Skype! Thank you for sharing this World Read Aloud Day experience with us. ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd someday, Vivian, it will be YOU and your new book!
DeleteExtraordinary day for you and your students, Tina. Extraordinary authors for your classrooms. I can't believe that we travel to all ends of the earth via internet, now!
ReplyDeleteExactly! I like your word--extraordinary, Mona!
DeleteRead Aloud Day at your school looked amazing, Tina! At the library where I work, I put up a display of great read-aloud books for various ages and encouraged our customers to read aloud on the 24th (and any other day they wanted to!). The display was wiped out several times. Hooray!
ReplyDeleteOh, I didn't know you worked at a library. How fun! Glad you celebrated there, too!
DeleteNew part-time job from November 2015. I love it!!
Delete