As the last days of winter and cold weather are upon us, there's never been a better time to curl up indoors and get cozy with a good book. National Read Across America Day is on March 2, a day for learners across the commonwealth to explore new worlds through books and literature.
Established in 1998 by the National Education Association (NEA) and coinciding with Dr. Seuss's birthday, Read Across America encourages learners across the country to dive into reading through events in libraries, schools, book clubs, and communities.
Reading isn't just a way to pass the time and entertain yourself, it's also a critical tool to increase awareness of the world around you and access information. According to advocacy group Literacy Together, literacy helps reduce gender, race, nationality, and religious inequality that restricts access to education, employment, health care, and civic participation.
In fact, adults with the lowest level of literacy are 10 times more likely to live below the poverty line, and 13 percent of adults in Pennsylvania lack basic literacy skills.
While those statistics are sobering, there is the potential for a happy ending: anyone can increase their literacy, and our commonwealth is committed to ensuring that all learners have access to the tools they need to become proficient readers.
And a little bit of exposure goes a long way—just 15 minutes of independent reading per day can introduce learners to more than a million new words each year.
Interested in participating in National Read Across America Day? Readers can get inspiration on the "Find Your Book" page on NEA's website, as well as resources and a calendar of events.
What will you be reading during National Read Across America Day? Share your books, events, and pictures with us on our LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter pages!