There are so many opportunities for our classrooms these days that it is often hard to participate in everything that looks worthwhile. For the past few years, I've wanted to do more on World Read Aloud Day and this year I am committed to that.
World Read Aloud Day will be held on March 5, 2014. It is sponsored by LitWorld. If you don't know this organization, you need to. The do amazing work to support literacy around the world. The website says this about World Read Aloud Day:
The last few years, I haven't been able to participate. Things were already on the calendar for those days and it was one thing I couldn't fit in. But I followed along and saw the amazing power this day had. So this year, I am committed to taking part in this day in lots of ways. I am still just thinking but there are so many options for this day. Here is what I am thinking right now:
-I'd like my focus to be on literacy as a gift. How we take our life with literacy and books for granted, but also that we can give gifts of literacy. I worry that too often our kids think that the only way to give is in a monetary or material way, but I want them to know that you can give with books. You can give story. You can read aloud to someone. You can write a letter. The power of literacy as a way to give back to the world is huge and I want to do something around that.
-I'd love to get some authors to read aloud to my class that day via Skype. They'd be thrilled to meet some of their faves that way. And I hear some of them are willing to do this. Crossing my fingers!
-I'd like to do some Family Event around World Read Aloud Day. I'm not sure what it will look like yet but I think this component is important.
-And I want my students to know about organizations like Litworld and Booklove and Reading Village--organizations that are committed to getting books into the hands of kids. My kids know how strongly I believe in literacy but I don't think they know that many people have no access to books or education. To know how many great organizations are doing things to support literacy around the world in various ways will be part of our conversation.
So, like I said, at this point, all I've done is put the date on my calendar and register. And I've started to think about how I hope this day impacts my students' learning. And how I want it to be part of our yearlong conversation around community and literacy and giving.
Have you registered yet? How will you celebrate?
World Read Aloud Day will be held on March 5, 2014. It is sponsored by LitWorld. If you don't know this organization, you need to. The do amazing work to support literacy around the world. The website says this about World Read Aloud Day:
Imagine a world where everyone can read...
World Read Aloud Day is about taking action to show the world that the right to read and write belongs to all people. World Read Aloud Day motivates children, teens, and adults worldwide to celebrate the power of words, especially those words that are shared from one person to another, and creates a community of readers advocating for every child’s right to a safe education and access to books and technology.
World Read Aloud Day is about taking action to show the world that the right to read and write belongs to all people. World Read Aloud Day motivates children, teens, and adults worldwide to celebrate the power of words, especially those words that are shared from one person to another, and creates a community of readers advocating for every child’s right to a safe education and access to books and technology.
By raising our voices together on this day we show the world’s children that we support their future: that they have the right to read, to write, and to share their words to change the world.
The last few years, I haven't been able to participate. Things were already on the calendar for those days and it was one thing I couldn't fit in. But I followed along and saw the amazing power this day had. So this year, I am committed to taking part in this day in lots of ways. I am still just thinking but there are so many options for this day. Here is what I am thinking right now:
-I'd like my focus to be on literacy as a gift. How we take our life with literacy and books for granted, but also that we can give gifts of literacy. I worry that too often our kids think that the only way to give is in a monetary or material way, but I want them to know that you can give with books. You can give story. You can read aloud to someone. You can write a letter. The power of literacy as a way to give back to the world is huge and I want to do something around that.
-I'd love to get some authors to read aloud to my class that day via Skype. They'd be thrilled to meet some of their faves that way. And I hear some of them are willing to do this. Crossing my fingers!
-I'd like to do some Family Event around World Read Aloud Day. I'm not sure what it will look like yet but I think this component is important.
-And I want my students to know about organizations like Litworld and Booklove and Reading Village--organizations that are committed to getting books into the hands of kids. My kids know how strongly I believe in literacy but I don't think they know that many people have no access to books or education. To know how many great organizations are doing things to support literacy around the world in various ways will be part of our conversation.
So, like I said, at this point, all I've done is put the date on my calendar and register. And I've started to think about how I hope this day impacts my students' learning. And how I want it to be part of our yearlong conversation around community and literacy and giving.
Have you registered yet? How will you celebrate?
Thank you for spreading the words about this meaningful event. I've just registered at LitWorld. Out of courtesy, I would like to share with you my plan and what I've told LitWorld,
ReplyDelete"I came to know about this event and your organisation through
http://readingyear.blogspot.hk/2013/12/have-you-registered-for-world-read.html
(A big thank-you to the two great teachers and bloggers whose resourceful website I have discovered accidentally.)
I plan to host a story-reading pizza dinner at my home and invite the classmates of my daughter (ages 6-9) to bring along their favourite story books for reading aloud a passage each. I'll read "The Library Dragon" by Carmen Agra Deedy to the children. Hopefully at least 4-6 children will be able to join.
I also plan to inform the Parent-Teacher-Association of my daughter's school (Gigamind English Primary School) and encourage the language teachers (Eng & Chinese) to host reading aloud sessions in class on that day if possible. I plan to explore LitWorld's activities and recommendations between now and then to get more inspiration.
I'll write to my local public library (Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Public Library) and inform them of the World Read Aloud Day and invite them to host reading aloud sessions on that day, if possible.
I'll spread the words via Twitter and Facebook according to the calendar provided by LitWorld."
Thank you for the wonderful blog!
This sounds great-thanks for sharing your plan! I might borrow some of your great ideas!
DeleteI love the ideas in the comment above. I want to get this on the calendar, too. I organize poetry readings at a local art gallery and should do this around this date.
ReplyDeleteI can also promote at my two schools. Thanks for letting me know early enough to make some viable plans.
Thank you for sharing this upcoming date with us! If I am going to organize some ideas, I am going to need the time before March to get ready! As a secondary teacher, I often struggle to find meaningful ways my students can be a part of events like World Read-Aloud Day. However, I believe that they can benefit from reading aloud to others and being read to on a day such as this.
ReplyDeleteSecondary and elementary teachers would love to send their students to each other and do read-alouds. However, different buildings and transportation problems are frequent deterrents for making this happen. So, I think sending “gifts” from my 7th grade students to an elementary teacher friend would be a great way to bridge the divide. One idea is to have my students create bookmarks that promote reading. There are a variety of ways to make it tie into our learning standards. For instance, the bookmark could be required have a pun on it. My students could also Skype with her classroom about their favorite books. My friend’s elementary classroom could write thank you letters in return.
I am also the drama coach at my middle school. We have been looking for an opportunity to bring this group over to the elementary schools to do a reading promotion. One suggestion was to come in costume as the character of their favorite book from elementary school. Classes that have the time could invite them in to read the book or talk about it. All of the middle school kids would gather at the end of the day and wave goodbye to the school, encouraging them to go home and read.
Finally, our department and literacy specialist have been working together to create reading days at our local Barnes and Noble. This date would be a perfect opportunity! A portion of the sales will be given to our school. Several students have volunteered to read books in the children’s section. Others have offered to give book suggestions in the teen section.
March is a great time of the year to do activities surrounding reading. I hope everyone continues to contribute ideas!