Mary Lynch Elementary celebrates Read Across America Week

In celebration of Read Across America Week, Mary Lynch Elementary students paired up for Buddy Read where the older kids read to the younger kids. Photo courtesy of Kimball Public Schools.

KIMBALL -- Mary Lynch Elementary students, teachers and staff kicked off Read Across America Week by celebrating Dr. Seuss’s birthday. 

Kindergarten teachers Cassady Malm and Denelle Klosterman said the national celebration is to promote a love of reading in children. 

"[The goal is] to celebrate reading across our grade levels, across our school, and to remind kids how fun reading can be but also how important it is,” Malm said. 

Mary Lynch is celebrating through various activities as well as fun dress-up days correlated to Dr. Seuss books. 

Monday was Pajama Day for "Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Book;" Tuesday is Wear a Fun Hat or Stripes for "Cat in the Hat;" Wednesday is Wear Your Favorite Socks for "Fox in Socks;" and Thursday is Wear a Red or Blue Shirt for "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish."

The kids started Monday off with the Buddy Read where younger kids were matched up with older kids for story time. 

“And it’s fun too with the older kids to see the confidence when they get to read to those kids and using the skills that they’re learning in reading, and for the littles to feel like they have a big part in that as well.” 

Klosterman added, “And the littles, when they read to the bigger kids, they’re just so proud, and you’d be shocked at how patient the older kids are with them.” 

County Court Clerk Michele Woods visited the school in her judge attire to lead the kids in a rhyming Dr. Seuss Oath. 

Community members also volunteered their time to read Dr. Seuss books to the Pre-K – third grade classes. 

“We had some time in our own classrooms to do our own Dr. Seuss activities and reading activities. Then in the afternoon, we show a Dr. Seuss movie,” Malm said. 

The kids ended the day by running down a bubble-wrap filled hallway, running and jumping to celebrate Hop on Pop. 

“We as teachers are invested in reading and to celebrate reading to be an important thing to them as learners,” Malm said. “Our school is geared toward that and focused on reading. We always have the slogan of “Readers Today, Leaders Tomorrow,” and that is just truly how it is and we want to build that impact for those kids.” 

Klosterman emphasized the importance of promoting literacy and recognizing the impact an author can have over the years. 

“We’re really promoting literacy, recognizing what an impact an author can have across the years – everybody knows a Dr. Seuss book whether you’re old or young, and just really celebrating that and trying to push that thought process out both in school and at home,” Klosterman said.