District 55 Celebrates Read Across America Week

March 7, 2023

Read Across America Week is March 2-6, 2023. The National Education Association (NEA) launched this week-long celebration in 1998 to promote reading and educate people about the benefits of reading. Every year, Read Across America Week starts on March 2nd, the birthday of author Theodor Seuss Geisel (also known as Dr. Seuss), and is also designated as Read Across America Day.

Read Across America Week was celebrated throughout Laurens County School District 55 (LCSD 55). Read Across America Week is a reminder to everyone that reading is fun. School events included guest-reader visits, daily dress-up days, outdoor reading, book character parades, book-mark-making contests, and the Masked Reader guessing game. Students dressed up in wacky socks, red/white stripes, sports attire, exercise outfits, superhero shirts, colorful clothes, and clothes in school colors to promote positive reading-related ideas such as “Reading Makes Life Colorful,” “Reading Gives Us Superpowers,” and “Reading Gives Your Brain a Workout!”

Anna Barker, Sanders Middle School 2022-23 Teacher of the Year, WYFF News 4 Golden Apple Award recipient, and School Librarian, said, “I love Read Across America Week because it creates unity within the school and allows for fun activities centered around reading for all grade levels! If we want life-long readers, we have to plan engaging opportunities for that life-long reading to occur! Reading costs nothing and is one of the most beneficial things a parent can do with their child to set them up for success!”

Michelle Spires, School Librarian at Gray Court-Owings School and Distinguished Teacher of Literacy Finalist added, “From dress-up days to special guests, authors, and performers, Read Across America Week is always an exciting time to celebrate reading with students. While I try to instill a love of reading in students every day, this week is extra special with celebratory events focusing on literacy! As an avid reader, I know how important books can be to take readers places they’ve never been, allow them to see themselves through stories, and build empathy for others who are not like them. After all, reading takes you places, and that’s what we try to show during Read Across America Week.”

LCSD 55 encourages the community and families to promote the love of reading beyond Read Across America Week. LCSD 55 has various reading initiatives, including “Just Take 30,” which encourages reading for at least 30 minutes every day. LCSD 55 also has partnerships to keep students excited about reading. LCSD 55 schools are participating in the Reading All-Stars Celebration Program sponsored by Greenville Drive and Michelin. Greenville Drive mascot Reedy Rip’It the Frog visits LCSD 55 schools to motivate students to read and complete their reading logs. Students with completed reading logs by March 10th, 2023, receive free tickets to one Greenville Drive baseball game. LCSD 55 also offers online reading support programs, such as Amira Reading and Tutor.com, to help develop reading skills.

LCSD 55 Superintendent Dr. Ameca C. Thomas said, “It’s important to celebrate reading at all age levels. Reading is a fundamental part of learning. Read Across America Week helps to ignite students’ love of reading and learning. We want to encourage a love for reading all year long.”