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GARDINER – First Lady Ann LePage, with the Department of Education, issued a challenge to read to a child for 15 minutes. This challenge began Feb. 2, and MSAD #11 accepted it. The challenge will culminate on Read Across America Day on March 2, so everyone has the entire month to start reading.
The Department of Education is hoping to spark interest and promote awareness about the power of reading to a child.
Sharing your reading life with a child is a powerful way to connect. “When we give children books, we become part of their future, part of their most cherished memories, and part of their lives,” is a quote from Anita Silvey.
Help spread the word about this challenge and encourage older siblings to read to younger ones, and extended family and friends to read aloud.
If you are wondering what to read, consider sharing your childhood favorite. You could have your child choose a book. Read an engaging book, chapter of a novel, newspaper or magazine article, comics, nursery rhymes or poetry.
If possible, use #ReadtoME or #ReadaloudME to post a photo or brief video clip on social media with your challenge to others to read aloud 15 minutes to a child or children. An example of a message is: “I completed the Read to ME Challenge. You are next! Read to a child for 15 minutes.”
Remember if you are reading to a child other than your own that you should get permission from the guardians to include photos or videos.
If you would like more information, visit www.maine.gov/doe/readtome/index.html/.
PHOTO CAPTION: Brothers and sisters read to each other at the Gardiner Regional Middle School Arthur R. Warren Library as part of the READ to Me program.
