Last Friday, I got to school early, dressed as Ms. Frizzle, and greeted not just Bixby students, but book characters! I got to meet Harry Potter, the Cat in the Hat, and even Captain Underpants! Read Across America Day is day of excitement, playfulness, and reading.
The National Education Association established Read Across America Day in 1998, and it has been a nationally celebrated event ever since. Every year on Dr. Seuss’ birthday, March 2nd, schools across the country partake in the event to encourage a love of reading.
Each year at Bixby, we choose a Dr. Seuss book (this year was Yertle the Turtle) as a theme and create a morning of activities for our students. All students are split into four, mixed-aged groups to travel throughout the stations. This year, we had a turtle shaped bread snack, cup stacking games that mirrored Yertle the Turtle, an egg carton turtle craft, and our 4th and 5th graders acted out two Dr. Seuss stories for the younger students at our reader’s theater station.
I loved seeing the older students become leaders as they helped younger students in their group stack cups to make an intricate tower. I loved seeing the smiles on their faces as they asked each other what book character they were and what book their character came from. I loved seeing the teachers dress up just like the kids! The whole morning was full of smiles, laughter, and a joy of reading.
Check out some pictures of the event on our Facebook page!