United Way’s Ready Set Read initiative celebrated Dr. Seuss’s birthday today on Read Across America Day, hosting several story time sessions at various schools across in Berks County.
Read Across America Day is celebrated on Dr. Seuss’s birthday as a nationwide effort to foster a love of reading. The Ready Set Read community initiative was established in 2012 to build a collaboration designed to boost reading skills and work towards increased early grade reading proficiency.
“Of course he’s an iconic author for children” said Cindy Line, Director of Read Set Read. “We stopped out today with a volunteer dressed up as the Cat in the Hat and the children loved it.”
Line says there are 35 elementary schools in the Star Readers Tutoring program, which provides 2nd graders one to one support.
Dr. Seuss books were provided to each school visited to further encourage a love of reading, courtesy of the Berks County Public Libraries and United Way of Berks County.
While visiting area schools, United Way staff and volunteers dressed in Seuss-inspired costumes and read the themed books to students.
The group visited several schools including Lauer’s Park Elementary, BCIU Education Centre, Schuylkill Valley Elementary, and Perry Elementary in Shoemakersville.
“The students love Dr. Seuss.” said Debra Hay, 2nd grade teacher at Perry Elementary. “They love the silliness and the made up words. We do everything we can to encourage reading at an elementary level.”
