Catch the reading bug

By Published by The Editorial Board

Published: August 7, 2008

There are many people in our area who lack important literacy skills. However, there are also dedicated people in our community, creating events targeted at improving these poor rates in our area. I wanted to take a moment to tell the community about one such event held earlier this summer.
More than 65 community volunteers—including many dedicated Rockingham County teachers, retired teachers, as well as the staff of Rockingham County Parent Resource Center—designed, planned and implemented the first ever Community Reading Conference. This event was designed to bring parents, teachers and children together in an informal setting while promoting literacy. The event was held June 6 and 7, at Rockingham Community College. The North Carolina Reading Association, the Rockingham County Reading Association, and numerous local sponsors funded this event, which reached more than 180 participants.
The theme for the event was “Catch the Reading Bug!” The conference offered a variety of programs aimed at empowering parents, child-care providers and teachers to support the development of successful readers. Sessions at the conference included topics such as: The Power of Reading Aloud to Your Children; Increase Vocabulary with Picture Books; Building Fluency Through Repeated Readings; Writer’s Workshops; Ready, Set, Go to Kindergarten; and No Hablas Ingles? No Hay Problema! Make and Take workshops were offered such as Environmental Text to Make Children’s Books, Building Reading and Writing skills through Scrapbooking, and a Get Caught Reading photo station.
Teacher’s Apple of Eden was on site and shared teacher resources and educational games. Scholastic Book fairs were also there selling children’s books, as well as adult materials. Other activities included author visits from Caroline McAlister Holy Mole! and Ellen Bryant Lloyd Freckles and the Great Beach Rescue. The children participating were able to meet storybook characters Freckles, Clifford and Curious George. They created their very own pet reading rocks and made reading bugs. The Rockingham County Parent Resource Center had materials available for children to create puzzles, bookmarks and miniature books.
Many businesses, organizations and volunteers made this event possible, and many people in our county who are working together to make reading a priority. I hope that even more people will be willing to join our team to improve the literacy rate in our area.
If you were not able to “Catch the Reading Bug” this year, don’t worry. The planning committee is already making plans for “Catch the Reading Bug” in March 2009. If you think you can help plan this event, become a sponsor. If you would like more information, call Kim Powell of the Rockingham County Reading Association 342-6035 or Sandy Morrison of the Rockingham County Parent Resource Center 623-8098.
Kim Powell
RCRA president
Reidsville