All the Latest All District Reads News
A Reading Rally in Norfolk, more fall labeling events, book launches, and more. Read on to see how All District Reads programs continue to “light literacy fires” among families across southeastern Virginia.
Fall ADR Updates
All Norfolk Reads is preparing to conclude the reading of School Days According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney with a Reading Rally at W. H. Taylor Elementary School. At this event, fourth and fifth grade students will answer trivia questions about the book on their iPads while the rest of the school cheers them on.
More ADR Fall Programs Begin
As Norfolk is winding down its successful fall All District Reads program, other communities are just beginning theirs. Starting on October 14th, all K-6 students will participate in All Northampton Reads and will begin reading The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary. Then, on October 28th, all K-6 students participating in All Portsmouth Reads will begin reading School Days According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney. Last, but not least, on November 1st All Suffolk Reads launches its fall program, with elementary students reading The World According to Humphrey.
Rotary Clubs Lead Labeling Events in Portsmouth and Northampton County
More than 60 volunteers gathered at MoMac Brewing Company in Portsmouth on September 25 to place labels in 7,500 copies of School Days According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney in preparation for the fall All Portsmouth Reads program, which begins October 28. Many members of the Rotary Clubs of Churchland and Portsmouth participated in the event. Anyone who volunteered to hand out books at a Portsmouth elementary school on October 28 as part of the program launch received a free Rotary mug.
In addition, members of the Cape Charles Rotary and Northampton County Public Schools gathered to label 1,050 copies of The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary for All Northampton Reads. This marks Northampton’s fourth book.
Thank you to the amazing volunteers from Cape Charles Rotary Club and Northampton County Public Schools!
Funding Update
ADR recently received $42,500 from Suffolk Public Schools to cover the cost for the fall All District Reads program. After receiving funding to cover four programs during the first two years, SPS has seen how ADR promotes family engagement, encourages children’s reading, and stimulates student comprehension. As a result, they have included money in the district budget to continue the program.
Celebrate Read Aloud to a Child Week and National Book Month
The week of October 27 to November 2 marks Read Aloud to a Child Week in Virginia, a celebration that has been taking place statewide for more than 20 years. We encourage all of our readers to celebrate by sharing a favorite book with a favorite child. October also marks National Book Month, another great reason to share a book with a child. Of course, elementary school families in Norfolk, Suffolk, Portsmouth, and Northampton have already been celebrating by participating in All District Reads programs.
One way to prepare for Read Aloud to a Child Week is to peruse Jim Trelease’s Read-Aloud Handbook, Eighth Edition, edited and revised by Cyndi Giorgis. Since Jim Trelease published his first read-aloud guide in 1982, millions of parents and educators have turned to it for advice. The programs of All District Reads are based on Trelease’s principles for reading aloud with children.
Just $20 a Month Helps 20 Kids
To date, All District Reads programs have distributed more than 125,000 books to students across southeastern Virginia! To help expand our outreach even further, please consider a monthly gift. Donating just $20 a month allows All District Reads to supply books to 20 kids for an entire year! Visit the ADR Donations page to see how you might get involved.
Literacy Quote
“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.” – Emilie Buchwald