(FEBRUARY 2023)—In honor of World Read Aloud Day, students in all four schools in Valley Stream UFSD Thirteen participated in read-aloud activities. This year marks the 13th year of World Read Aloud Day. Started by the non-profit organization LitWorld and sponsored by Scholastic, schools and communities in over 173 countries celebrate this day by coming together and reading aloud.
“World Read Aloud Day is a great opportunity to remind our students, families, and teachers that reading aloud has many benefits,” said Dr. Judith LaRocca, Superintendent of Valley Stream UFSD Thirteen Schools. “Reading aloud is a practice that helps children develop their expressive reading skills as well as learn new vocabulary. It also has the benefit of helping to develop an individual’s public speaking skills. These are all foundational skills that are essential to success academically and in future professional and personal encounters.”
World Read Aloud Day was celebrated by having students’ family members visit their classrooms and become guest readers for the students. The students enjoyed having their teachers read aloud as well as reading to each other after completing their “I Love to Read” activity. Select classes joined a virtual read-aloud event through Scholastic and Zoom.