Students at W.O. Parmer recently participated in the NEA’s Read Across America. Read Across America is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on March 2, the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss. (www.nea.org)

Shera Stinson’s second graders enjoyed listening to several guest readers throughout the week. Parents and community leaders were invited to come in and read some of the Dr. Seuss classics. Mrs. Stinson’s father, Pleas Parker of Hartford, came to the students Monday morning to read Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You? He involved the children in making all the sounds that Mr. Brown made, including mooing, buzzing, and their favorite, popping like a cork! That afternoon they read Bartholomew and the Oobleck and got to make oobleck, a mixture of solids and liquids that turns into a green slime!

To celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday, Nancy Idland came to read Happy Birthday to You! She came wearing a funny wig and let all of the students try it on. One student in Mrs. Stinson’s room, Brooklyn Acree, also invited her mother, Debbie Owens, to come and read one of Dr. Seuss’ most beloved books, The Cat in the Hat, on his birthday. The lunchroom even served green eggs and ham for breakfast. Later that night, W.O. Parmer hosted a family reading night and included activities such as Pin the Tail on the Cat-in-the-Hat, face painting, and storytime. Students and their families were encouraged to read together and even take the Accelerated Reading quizzes together!

Dr. Seuss wrote many books. The students in Mrs. Stinson’s classroom have their favorites. “The Cat in the Hat is my favorite because their mother was out and they did whatever they wanted to!” said Joshua Cortez. Keyvontarius Boggan’s favorite was Horton Hatches the Egg. “Horton was faithful to the egg until it hatched.” David Bloodsworth liked Horton Hears a Who. “I like it because when Horton says ‘A person’s a person, no matter how small,’ it means that it doesn’t matter how big or small you are, everyone is the same.”