In honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday, March has been designated as “National Reading Month,” urging Americans of all ages to embrace the joys of reading. At Tecumseh Acres Early Learning Center, the spirit of this celebration came alive as 26 students from the Tecumseh High School girls’ varsity and junior varsity soccer teams visited to share their love of reading with the younger students.
National Reading Month emphasizes the importance and benefits of reading, transcending age barriers. It fosters a love for literature, enhancing cognitive abilities, vocabulary, and empathy while reducing stress. For the students of Tecumseh Acres ELC, this month has been filled with exciting activities centered around the joy of reading.
Students and teachers at Tecumseh Acres ELC have been very enthusiastic about various initiatives that have been undertaken to make reading fun for everyone. You could hear the students' laughter as you walked through the halls during the reading session.
“We try to celebrate reading and make it fun for the kids,” said second-grade teacher Janey Stark. “I have a March Madness reading competition in my room where kids earn points based on the time they spend reading at home.”
The high school soccer players, gearing up for their spring season, eagerly participate in this event. However, it’s not just about reading to students; they want you to know the significance of giving back to the community.
“Getting the girls here at the high school to understand that giving back has a lot of value and merit and that doing those things will hopefully become kind of an addiction to want to give back more to the community,” said Paul Wellman, THS English teacher, and girls varsity soccer coach. “Selflessness is really what our program is about and what’s going to help make Tecumseh stand out amongst everybody else around us.”
The visit wasn’t merely about reading to children but also about building connections within the community. The soccer team extended invitations to the families of the early learners, inviting them to their upcoming home game.
“We’re here to make sure we’re giving back and share what our program is all about,” said sophomore Ava Snyder. “We’re a very positive team and always there for each other. We wanted to come in and read to the kids. This was a good opportunity for everybody.”
The event exemplified the spirit of National Reading Month, showcasing how reading can bring communities and students together and inspire acts of kindness and generosity.
“I just really appreciate being a part of the community and having the older kids be awesome role models for these little kids,” said Stark. “They need that. So, it’s been awesome that they want to work with us."
