Read Across America Day

Today is Read Across America Day and students everywhere are getting to focus on reading. This year's theme from the NEA is a particularly Suess-y one and I know in my neighborhood, striped hats, slippers, teddy bears and students clutching pillows are headed for the buses on their way to a giant pajama party for Read Across America.

Looking for resources for your day?

A great place to start (of course) is the National Education Association. They have all kinds of resources including certificates, lesson plans, bookmarks and more. And this year with their Seuss theme, they have also partnered with kidthing to provide four classic Suess titles as free digital downloads for your classroom through the month of March. Also available this month is a free digital copy of Dear Mr. President.

Of course, we all know that not every child will be excited about a day of reading. If your child or student is a reluctant reader, can I recommend some personal favorites that might spark their reading interest? Some of my favorites can be found on my website or on my Jacketflap profile. Another great resource, too, is Just One More Book, a site that provides reviews and author interviews to help you find just the right book to interest your readers.

If the challenge is a print or learning disability, you might also want to check out Bookshare, an online digital library that provides free access to over 43,000 books for students with qualifying disabilities, plus some supporting reading technology helps.

Now go find that great book and enjoy Read Across America!