ArtsErie News

Arts in Education Director, Holly Nowak, Partners with Harding Elementary School for “Read Across America”

 
    This past week, students across the country participated in the 13^th annual Read Across America program, which focuses on engaging children of all ages to read through programs and events held through their schools and communities. National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, the birthday of Dr. Seuss. During this week, schools across the country spread the important message of reading through fun, age-appropriate activities.

    Local Erie elementary schools got in on the fun by transforming some of their libraries and classrooms into “Seussville.” Students at Ridgefield Elementary, in Millcreek Township, were delighted to find their schools library made over into five learning stations. Each station contained a theme from Dr. Seuss’ books. Students at Harding Elementary participated by not only reading Seuss books, but culminating the week with a parade through their auditorium, dressed as their favorite literary character.

     ArtEries’ Arts in Education Director, Holly Nowak, also helped spread the message of Read Across America by reading to kindergarten and second grade students at Harding Elementary. Ms. Nowak chose to read the popular children’s book “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak. Along with reading the book out loud to the students, Ms. Nowak had them engage in the text by playing along with instruments. This not only made the experience more enjoyable for each student, but also allowed them to interact with the text. Ms. Nowak expressed how incorporating the instruments made reading the story more exciting, and in turn demonstrated just how fun reading can be.

 For more information on National Read Across America Day, you can visit http://www.nea.org/readacross