Read Across America gets kids excited about the importance of reading
Volume 12, Issue 6 - March 2008
By Sherry Posnick-Goodwin
Myra Macias is just a third-grader, but she knows an awful lot about the importance of reading.
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| Actor Hector Elizondo and UTLA President A.J. Duffy read to students at Hazeltine Elementary in Van Nuys |
“It teaches you lots of different things that are fun and interesting, and tells you stories about things that happened before you were born.”
Myra and her classmates recently celebrated Read Across America (RAA) with a famous actor and CTA members during an assembly held in the library of Hazeltine Avenue Elementary School in Van Nuys.
The celebration was part of an annual, nationwide event sponsored by NEA that included millions of parents, educators and community leaders across the country. The event is typically held on or near the March 2 birthday of children’s author Dr. Seuss. This year in California the theme was “Go, Books, Go.”
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| Students watch a performance at Washington Elementary in San Diego. |
Students were excited to see award-winning actor Hector Elizondo, best known to youngsters for his role in The Princess Diaries .
“He’s just so cool,” gasped Myra, astounded that someone that
famous would come visit her school for the purpose of reading.
Elizondo was joined by United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) President A.J. Duffy. The duo took turns reading in both English and Spanish My Name is Celia—Me llamo Celia , a bilingual book about the legendary Cuban salsa singer Celia Cruz, written by Monica Brown and illustrated by Rafael Lopez.
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| CTA Vice President Dean Vogel at Hyde Park Elementary in Los Angeles |
The actor, joking that he was really Tom Cruise with a different haircut and 150 years old, co-chaired the event because he is really serious about reading.
“I am here because I was little once,” Elizondo explained. “Children are our future and I am distressed about our future. These children are what it’s all about — they are our treasure. And I believe in literacy.”
“Read Across America is a great event that highlights the need for students to read,” said Duffy. “It’s a very great honor to be here today.”
As a teenager, Elizondo played the conga drum in an Afro-Cuban jazz band and met the late Cruz on a few occasions. He shared his recollections of her with the children.
“She always made people feel good and helped and encouraged young people. She was always reaching out a hand to others. And that is really what makes someone a successful person. If you get in a position to help others, it really is a privilege.”
Helping to organize the event at Hazeltine Elementary was UTLA member Linda Cohen, who dressed in a Cat in the Hat outfit. “I want children to love reading, and I worry that message might be getting lost with all the pressure from testing.”
Bonnie Shatun, chairperson of the RAA Committee and the CTA Board member who represents the Van Nuys area, donated three copies of the Celia book to the school library as well as 200 other books for the children to enjoy.
“To me, it’s an exciting day when we can focus our attention on the importance of reading,” said Shatun. “It’s something that we need to have year-round. I hope the message gets to Sacramento about how the children in California need schools that are well-funded so that they can succeed in reading and in school.”
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| CTA Secretary-Treasurer Dan Vaughn reads to students at Leonardo da Vinci Elementary in Sacramento |
Across the state in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, Bakersfield and Alameda booklover crowds flocked to Read Across America events.
In Los Angeles, CTA Vice President Dean Vogel and Honorary RAA Co-Chair Jayneoni Moore, known as the “Glamour Guru,” helped celebrate at Hyde Park Elementary School in, reading to first- and third-grade classrooms.
In Sacramento, CTA Secretary-Treasurer Dan Vaughn and California Professional Firefighters President Lou Paulson joined a special assembly in the gym of Leonardo da Vinci Elementary School.
In San Diego, CTA Board member Jim Groth and RAA Partner and Celia illustrator Rafael Lopez read books and enjoyed art activities with students at Washington Elementary School.
In Bakersfield, over 800 people crowded the Fox Theatre, organized by pre-K teacher Michelle Johnson, who after attending the Summer Institute Emerging Leaders strand last year vowed to work on Read Across Bakersfield.
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| Michelle Johnston in Bakersfield escorts the Cat in the Hat to the stage |
Lt. Gov. John Garamendi and state Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata read to a kindergarten class in Alameda. They had their respective granddaughters on their laps as they read to kids in the library at Franklin Elementary in Alameda, where the two girls share the same kindergarten class. The girls picked out the books for their grandfathers to read.
“When you read a book, you get to see all kinds of exciting things,” Garamendi said as he read The Story of Ferdinand , about a bull in Spain who chooses to stop and smell the flowers rather than fight in a bullring. Perata read Bad Kitty , about a cat that causes a ruckus at home when its owner forgets to feed it. He ended by explaining to the kids how a library works. “You can go to a section that interests you and just pull a book right out.”
