The campaign’s goal is to help spread the word that engaging children in reading before they start kindergarten can improve their chance of graduating from high school.
The Teacher Academy students read aloud “The Snowy Day,” by Erza Jack Keats to students at local schools.
Participating Teacher Academy students included Miles Derkson, Kallie Long, Emily Smiddy, and Rebekah Taylor, all from New Richmond; Tess Jenike, Tyler Roa, and Morgan Summers, from Bethel-Tate. The Teacher Academy students are taught by Mrs. Julie Crozier.
Participating local teachers included Mrs. Bev Ratcliff at Ebon C. Hill Intermediate School, Mrs. Leisa Moore and Mrs. Karen Walters at New Richmond Elementary, and Mrs. Jennifer Huelsmann, Mrs. Melanie Shoemaker, and Mrs. Staci Heiden at Monroe Elementary. The Teacher academy donated a copy of The Snowy Day to each participating teacher and presented a bookmark to each participating student.
Miles Derkson liked the Read for the Record experience and said, “It was a cool experience for us all to be a part of a record setting day. It meant something to me to see the joy the students received before, during and after the activity. I hope it encourages them to read more often.”
Morgan Summers found out some interesting things about the teaching profession through her experience.
“This experience made me realize that teachers put a lot more work into what they do for students. I felt like a real teacher, even if only for 10 minutes!”
Last year more than 2,000,000 children and adults helped set the current world record by taking part in one-day local events across the country. The day-long campaign was kicked off on the NBC’s TODAY Show, and is sponsored by www.wegivebooks.org, a Pearson Foundation initiative.
The Teacher Academy is now accepting applications for next year’s class. The program is open to current junior students from Bethel-Tate, Felicity-Franklin, New Richmond and Williamsburg.
For more information and program requirements, or to apply online, visit our website, www.grantcareer.com.