TES promotes literacy in World Read Aloud Day

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 750 million adults worldwide lack basic reading and writing skills. That is why the nonprofit organization LitWorld was founded in 2007 – to encourage youth to strengthen their reading and writing abilities. Tharptown Elementary School participated in LitWorld’s World Read Aloud Day Feb. 1 to inspire the students to take up the challenge of increasing their literacy skills.

The TES theme was “Super Readers, Super Heroes.” Principal Kelby Daniel, reading specialist Susie Stockton and other faculty members presented an interactive superhero-themed program to kick off this focus on literacy.

“The main goal of the program is to motivate the students to read, read, read and to challenge them to become super readers,” Stockton said.

Daniel kicked off the program dressed as Superman and challenged the students to “be strong, stay focused and become a hero for yourself and to others in everything you do. Starting today, I also challenge you to want to become a super reader hero forever.”

Stockton (Captain America) said when children get read aloud to every day, it puts them a year ahead of those who are not read aloud to every day.

“Try your best to read aloud a book or poem to someone every day. Read to your brothers and sisters. It can be you that helps them reach their reading goals,” Stockton encouraged the students. “Be their reader hero. Be your own reader hero too.”

As well as dressing up in superhero costumes, the teachers also took turns telling jokes that kept the kids entertained between readings by certain students.

Prior to the program, all TES students completed a superhero writing activity. Selected students read aloud their “Every Hero Has a Story” papers, in which they wrote about the heroes in their lives who had helped them become super readers. Students also had to write about how they motivate themselves to become super readers and share one way they are continuing to work hard and motivate others.

During the program, Stockton shared LitWorld’s “7 Strengths of Super Readers”: belonging, curiosity, friendship, kindness, confidence, courage and hope.

“Our focus of the week was the first strength: belonging,” Stockton said. “We talked to them about how each one of them is a valuable and important member of their school, family, community and world.”

In the coming weeks, teachers will be discussing the other strengths with the students.