March 2nd marks Dr. Seuss’s birthday and the National Education Association’s (NEA) nationwide campaign to get kids excited about reading.
Theodor Seuss Geisel wrote his first children’s book, Cat in the Hat, in 1954 in response to a report that suggested children were having trouble learning to read because their books were boring. With Dr. Seuss’s books and caring adults, millions of children have loved learning to read ever since.
Volunteers, teachers, and readers of all ages are remembering Dr. Seuss today by participating in Read Across America, the NEA’s signature initiative that motivates kids to read and encourages more adults to spend time reading with children. Nationwide, Seuss-themed events, read alongs and fun activities will reinforce the fun and benefit of reading in schools, libraries and other community hubs.
Early grade reading and school readiness are critically important in United Way of Southeast Louisiana's fight to eradicate poverty in our region. Through programs like Success by 6, we envision a community that will ensure all children by age 6 are healthy, safe and functioning physically, emotionally, intellectually and socially at their optimal potential. Additionally, we have invested in The New Orleans Grade-Level Reading Campaign as part of our Collaboration Grants with a goal to develop a citywide, cross-sector campaign on grade-level reading that addresses the fact that only 56% of third-grade students in New Orleans scored at basic or above achievement level, compared to 68% of third grade students statewide. The Campaign’s work focuses on promoting school readiness and quality teaching, tackling chronic absence, and improving summer learning as well as engaging parents as their children’s first teachers.
We know that ensuring early success in school will help us achieve our vision of equitable communities where all individuals are healthy, educated and economically stable.