Read Across America - March 2, 2010
Resources
These pages available on the U.S. Department of Education's website contain information about helping children become lifelong readers.
National Education Association
Download Poster
March 2 marks the 13th annual observance of Read Across America. Many DoDEA schools worldwide will join with other schools and the National Education Association in celebrating a love of reading and building a nation of readers.
Our schools prepare students for success in school and beyond, and reading is the catalyst for that success. Reading spans the curriculum continuum and is truly the one academic skill from which all others flow.
Teaching students to read is a rewarding experience for teachers. Sharing a book is a cherished moment for parents and their children. Reading the first chapter in a book is an exciting accomplishment for beginning readers. Pouring over a letter from home is a comforting pause for the soldier who is deployed. All of these experiences are made possible by reading. Reading opens the door to the future and provides countless possibilities for succeeding and achieving.
I encourage students, parents, teachers, principals, and school administrators who choose to participate to work closely with military community communities to make Read Across America a success in all of our schools. Together we can help make reading part of the foundation for the future of our students and enable them to achieve their highest potential. When we work together as a community to encourage our children to read, as Dr. Seuss once said, "there's no limit to the places we can go."
Shirley Miles
DoDEA Director
Read Across America Day began in 1998 as a way for local schools to celebrate reading, motivate children to become lifelong readers, and to have every child read in the company of a caring adult.
Promotional materials and planning resources for Read Across America Day can be found on the National Education Association's website.
Book Lists::
- Best Books for Young Adults - Identified by the Young Adult Library Services Association, this list notes the top ten selections for each year as well as the top fiction and nonfiction titles for young adult readers.
- Caldecott Medal - The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.
- Children's and Young Adult's Book Awards - Sponsored by the International Reading Association, these awards are given for an author's first or second published book written for children or young adults.
- Newbery Medal - The Newbery Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.
- Notable Children's Books - Identified by the Association for Library Service to Children, this list includes notable books for both young readers and middle readers.
- Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children - Sponsored by the National council of Teachers of English, the Orbis Pictus Award is to the author of a notable work of nonfiction.
- Outstanding Books for the College Bound and Lifelong Learners - Identified by the Young Adult Library Services Association, this list includes notable titles in Arts & Humanities, History & Culture, Literature & Language Arts, Science & Technology, and Social Studies.
- Teen's Top Ten - Identified by teens around the nation and sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association, this list denotes teen favorites from the previous year.