Today is International Literacy Day!
In 1966 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) created this day as a way “to remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights.” The UNESCO theme for the day is Literacy for a human-centered recovery: Narrowing the digital divide. They are hosting a two-day online event to raise awareness. Illiteracy is a stumbling block for people all over the world, but together, we can break those barriers.
National Literacy Month
In America, we celebrate Literacy the entire month of September! Reading and writing are essential parts of our everyday lives. Without them, our world would certainly be hard to navigate and we would miss out on so many things. Books transport us to places we could only dream of going and they let our imaginations soar. Books teach us so much about the world around us and they bring us joy. Writing helps us communicate with others and is an important tool to document and keep our lives on track. Let’s kick off the month with some ways to increase awareness and build positive partnerships to foster a robust literacy community on your campus.
- PTO – work with your PTO/PTA to spotlight literacy during a meeting. Invite someone from the district literacy department to share ways parents can support their children with reading and writing.
- Family Literacy Night – host a fun night on campus where students and parents interact with teachers and play fun reading and writing games with a take-home activity. Teachers can read stories aloud so parents can see interaction and types of questioning activities. Make it fun, create a theme like a bedtime story hour and the kids come in pj’s and get cookies and milk after.
- Campus Newsletter – spotlight a reading or writing tip that parents could use at home with their child.
- Social Media – share literacy tips and highlight events on campus using social media platforms.
- Reading buddies – have older students on your campus read and write with younger students on your campus. This can be very impactful for all involved. Younger students have an opportunity to learn from older students, older students get a chance to be literacy leaders and it’s a confidence boost for students at both levels who might be struggling a bit.
- Mentors – volunteers from the community come in to read and write with students who need a little extra attention to be stronger readers and writers. This might be a little harder during pandemic times, but it’s something to keep in mind for a Covid-free time.
What are some of the ways that you support literacy on your campus? Share your ideas in the comments. We’d love to hear from you!
We’re excited to share that MindPlay, one of the reading programs we offer, has recently won a CorporateVision award for Most Outstanding Educational Software Development in the USA for 2021.
Sabrina Valverde is an educator, entrepreneur, educational trainer/consultant, and published author. She is a fiercely passionate advocate for children and has worked in many settings to foster an environment where all children can succeed. Sabrina holds a Master’s of Education in Instructional Leadership and believes that equipping teachers with the best curriculum, resources, and professional development is the cornerstone to student achievement.
