Things You Can Do On Read Across America!

Contents

1 What’s Read Across America?
2 Learn About Famous Authors
3 Community Involvement
4 Culture Fair At School And Library
5 Add Theme On Reading Days
6 Do The Challenge

What’s Read Across America?

March 2nd is Read Across America Day, a day traditionally celebrated with great enthusiasm in schools and libraries across the United States. For many years, the focus of this celebration centered around the beloved works of Dr. Seuss, with activities revolving around his whimsical characters and imaginative stories. However, in recent times, there has been a notable shift in emphasis towards embracing multicultural and diverse literature.

This shift reflects a growing recognition of the importance of representing the rich diversity of our society in children’s literature. Rather than exclusively featuring the works of a single author, educators and librarians are now striving to introduce students to a wider array of voices, perspectives, and experiences. This change is not only enriching the literary landscape but also fostering greater empathy, understanding, and appreciation for different cultures and backgrounds.

Things You Can Do On Read Across America! — Read Across America Logo

In this blog post, I want to share some ideas and activities that educators and librarians can incorporate into their Read Across America Day celebrations to embrace this new focus on multicultural and diverse literature.

Learn About Famous Authors

Instead of focusing solely on one author, consider exploring the works of authors who write more diverse books or feature multicultural characters. Authors like Ezra Jack Keats, Jacqueline Woodson, Patricia Polacco and Matt de la Peña offer a rich tapestry of stories that reflect the diversity of our world. Create bulletin board displays showcasing these authors’ biographies and book covers to pique students’ interest and encourage further exploration.

Community Involvement

Encourage staff, parents, and students to share their favorite books from their own cultures or countries. This can be done through book recommendations, storytelling sessions, or cultural presentations. By involving the community in this way, we can create a more inclusive and welcoming environment that celebrates the diverse backgrounds and experiences of all individuals.

Culture Fair At School And Library

Organize a school-wide culture fair where each class represents a different country or culture. Students can research various aspects of their chosen culture, such as geography, customs, food, holidays, and traditions, and create visual presentations to share with their peers. Consider inviting parents or community members to participate by sharing their own cultural experiences, such as traditional dances, music, or food tastings.

Add Theme On Reading Days

Instead of limiting the celebration to Dr. Seuss-themed activities, consider incorporating reading theme days that celebrate diversity and inclusion. Themes like “Read Around the World,” “One World, Many Stories,” or “Universe of Stories” can inspire students to explore literature from different cultures and backgrounds. Encourage students to dress up as characters from diverse books or share stories from their own cultural heritage.

Do The Challenge

Launch a reading challenge where students are encouraged to read books that feature diverse characters or explore themes of multiculturalism and diversity. Provide reading logs for students to track their progress and offer incentives or rewards for reaching reading milestones. Consider creating a visual display to showcase the collective achievements of all participants and celebrate the power of reading to unite us across cultures and borders.

In addition to these ideas, educators can also utilize resources like multicultural and diversity reading activity packs to further enhance their Read Across America Day celebrations. These packs often include reading logs, posters, bookmarks, and lesson plans focused on promoting kindness, empathy, and cultural understanding.

By embracing multicultural and diverse literature in our Read Across America Day celebrations, we can foster a more inclusive and equitable learning environment where all students feel valued, represented, and empowered. Together, let’s celebrate the rich tapestry of voices that contribute to our collective story and inspire a new generation of readers to embrace diversity in all its forms.

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