Firefighters Participate in Read Across America Program

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Twenty-two engine companies from the Los Angeles County Fire Department recently visited schools in the areas in which they serve, motivating children to read. Since 1998, one day in the beginning of March has been set aside as a time to celebrate reading in the National Education Association's Read Across America program.

"It originated honoring Dr. Suess' birthday and it was an invitation for people in the community to come read to the students in elementary schools," says Melbourne Elementary School's Assistant Principal Jill Yasutake.

Kathy Olivos, the Principal of Melbourne Elementary explains, "We do bring in people from outside the community to come and show students how important reading is and that their job revolves around the fact that they're able to read."

The kids were very excited and looked forward to having firefighters come and read to them. Firefighters were given books to read and were then escorted to their classrooms to begin reading to the children. Classrooms were very quiet and children listened to firefighters with intrigue as they were reading.

Fourth grade teacher, Heather Thimmes, says of the experience, "I know all of my kids already want to check out the book that he just read to our class."

After the firefighters completed reading to classrooms, the children were allowed to ask questions.Captain Victor Lopez of the Los Angeles County Fire Department says, "They asked questions about the books that we're reading and about us being a firefighter in the fire service." One student even asked Los Angeles County Fire Department Engineer Brian Case if she could have a ride on the fire engine. During recess firefighters showed other skills to the students. One firefighter showed the students juggling, while another did his impression of a Harlem Globe Trotter.

Children are asked to read a specified number of minutes per day and are rewarded to keep motivated. For every month that they read, they receive a prize. At the end of the year there is a large field trip in which they receive certificates and pins showing that they are part of a special club for reading.

At home students have a lot of support from parents, but there are some challenges. Not all children are able to read and write in English. Melbourne Elementary School looks out to members of the  community for help with that by asking them to being models for their students.

Principal Olivos explains that it is never too early to begin reading to your child, saying, " It really doesn't even matter what language you're reading to a child; English, Spanish, Vietnamese. As long as you're reading to the child and they're getting that vocabulary. It's never to early to start."

Although Read Across America day focuses on one day, the programs goal is to motivate children to read throughout the year.  For more information on the program, please visit www.nea.org/readacross.


Author:Barbara Brooks - Video, Renee Marquart - Text