Ocala students encourage local children to read through 'Read Across America'

National event celebrates the birthday of Dr. Seuss

With children gathering nationally to “Read Across America” March 8, a group of more than 15 Barry students in Ocala used the opportunity to reach out to children in their community.

Barry education students read to children at the Marion County Public Library for the annual event, which is organized across the country by the National Education Association (NEA) to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Seuss.

“It was a part of celebrating a wonderful author, Dr. Seuss, and a part of helping children become involved in reading,” said Barry student Tanya Shively. “Dr. Seuss is a super author and his books are such fun to read.”

While there, the students read Dr. Seuss classics such as “Hop on Pop” and “Green Eggs and Ham,” but also lent their talents in a range of other roles – two even dressed up for the children to portray the Cat in the Hat and the Grinch.

“It was so enjoyable to watch the faces of the children as the Cat in the Hat traced their feet for them to color and decorate after hearing the story ‘The Foot Book,’” said Heidi Maier, education instructor in Ocala.

The event was organized in Ocala in collaboration with the Marion County Education Association, Ocala’s local affiliate of the NEA. Nationally, more 45 million participated in the 11th annual event, held at the beginning of March. More information on “Read Across America” is available at its website, http://www.nea.org/readacross/index.html.