Local schools celebrating Reading Across America Week.
Putnam County Schools Elementary Instructional Supervisor Diana Wood said the week promotes reading and encourages kids to become avid readers. Wood said they want to show children how fun reading can be.
“It can take you on an adventure without even leaving where you are,” Wood said. “Sometimes in our society we are so fixated on the technology side of things that we are losing that. So we just want to make sure we really celebrate it and make sure kids know that there is lots of fun in just reading a good book.”
Wood said Putnam County Schools have celebrated Reading Across America Week by having several guests like Cookeville Mayor Lauren Wheaton and Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter stop by to read to kids. Wood said the kids have really enjoyed the guests reading to them.
“It’s a great model to hear these adults modeling fluency and articulation and just a lot of fun,” Wood said. “A lot of times we can use different voices and things like that just to show how much fun reading can actually be.”
Wood said the goal is for kids not only to celebrate reading this week but to continue reading more after the week is over.
“The exciting thing about this is it doesn’t have to stop with one week,” Wood said. “That’s something parents, caregivers, and families can do all year long. It is such a good model for kids. There is a lot of research around that reading 20 minutes a day is so important for developing readers.”
Wood said there is no better moment than a parent reading to or with their child. Wood said she encourages parents to jump in on the fun this week by reading to their child at home.
