Read Across Georgia Month makes its annual appearance

ALBANY — Gov. Nathan Deal and First Lady Sandra Deal were joined Monday by Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) Commissioner Amy Jacobs to kick off Read Across Georgia Month, a campaign that supports increased childhood literacy in the state.

To add a bit of extra flavor to the day, the kickoff coincided with the 111th birthday of Dr. Seuss.

Volunteer readers read to children in all 14 elementary schools in the Dougherty County School System. Alice Coachman Elementary fourth grade reading teacher Trina Faulkner was thrilled to have people reading to her class.

“Does reading to the children help? It absolutely helps the children understand the importance of reading,” Faulkner said. “Even though the children love when I read to them, I don’t have the time to do it as much as I’d like, and they enjoy being read to by people they don’t know. It helps the kids make connections with the real world.”

Gov. Deal agrees.

“A firm literary foundation is essential for academic success, and the Read Across Georgia initiative helps to provide just that,” said Deal. “I’m confident that through our continued partnerships with state agencies, organizations and classrooms all over the state, we can fully achieve our goal of educating all children to their fullest potential.”

As a part of the celebrations, First Lady Deal introduced a new Pre-K book, “TJ’s Discovery”, which was written by teachers at the Rollins Center for Language and Literacy at Atlanta Speech School. A copy of the book will be given to every student in Georgia’s Pre-K Program.

“It takes parents, teachers and the community working together to lay the educational groundwork for academic success,” said Mrs. Deal. “TJ’s Discovery is a family adventure that engages children and serves as a teaching tool for parents and caregivers. My hope is that this book will help parents become more confident as they guide their children in the process of learning to read.”

R. D. Harter, Public Information Director for the system, who was among the group that read at Alice Coachman, said in today’s society reading is a priority.

“Elementary school media specialists in the Dougherty County School System celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday each year with parties, reading activities, and by inviting guest readers into classrooms to share the fun of reading,” said Harter. “This day is also the beginning of Read Across America Week. Reading is the foundation for learning and one of the highest priorities for the system regarding student achievement.

“If you read something new to a child and watch the interest in their faces, you can sense the value of learning that is in each of us. Reading is so important that it can be traced to the beginning of all history. I read somewhere that, ‘In the beginning was the word.’.”

Harter added that “this year, the new Georgia Milestones assessment program requires short answer and long form response to tests from every subject area. Reading is an excellent preparation for writing. It helps student learn how to phrase their own descriptive answers or solutions to problems.”