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Clayton Reads

Clayton County Schools Celebrates Read Across America with Read Across Clayton

By Clayton County Schools February 28, 2021

Those who are six, sixteen, sixty-four, and more have all kinds of great events in store for the National Education Association's annual observance of N.E.A.'s Read Across America. N.E.A. is calling America's children, both young and old, to celebrate the joys of reading on March 2. Check out a special message from this year's Read Across America Ambassador, American activist, and author Marley Dias, as she champions us to build a nation of diverse readers.





Scholars, educators, and all community stakeholders get ready to join the celebration as we turn Read Across America Day into Read Across Clayton Day! Our reading party will start with D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything And Read) at 8:00 AM. This year the N.E.A.'s theme for reading revolves around diversity and compassion. During our current times in society, we could all use a great story that shares the meaning and impact of both. The book, Tiara's Hat Parade engages all readers. Make sure to click here to access the virtual read-aloud. We encourage everyone to access the Literacy Lounge's resources that support this year's featured book from N.E.A. Our secondary scholars are not left out of the reading fun. Here are two great reads from N.E.A. that support compassion for others in our diverse communities. Check out Each Tiny Spark by Pablo Cartaya (middle grades), and They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott.





The reading fun does not stop there. Schools across Clayton County will celebrate being diverse readers with virtual read alouds, book chats, themed reading days, book drive-thrus, and much more. Through a partnership with Reading Is Fundamental, first-graders at participating schools will enjoy receiving book bundles to build their at-home library. Discover more information by accessing the link here.





Access to literacy is essential. To expand access to rich, high-quality text, the Women of Clayton County have partnered with the Elementary English Language Arts Department, East West Bank Foundation, and Home Depot to install 12 Little Free Libraries across Clayton County. On March 2, each of the schools listed here will host a Little Free Library ribbon cutting and grand opening. Read Across Clayton, and visit a Little Free Library near you. Make sure to take a book, and you don't have to return it, no late fees ever. The book is yours to keep!


Our final event for Read Across America, Read Across Clayton Day, is a Virtual Literacy Night sponsored by Clayton County Public Schools' Literacy Task Force. Parents and scholars will engage in fun-filled literacy activities. Information to help support at-home learning will be shared. Scholastic has donated gift cards for book bundles as giveaways. You do not want to miss this fun-filled literacy night. So please mark your calendars now. With so much literacy fun planned for March 2, you don't want to miss out. At the end of all the reading fun, make sure to share with scholars the official Read Across America Day, Celebrating a Nation of Diverse Readers certificate. For more information about how to generate excitement for reading among America's children and their families or a list of recommended diverse children's books, visit www.readacrossamerica.org.




Macaroni Kid College Park East Point Morrow is a free hyper-local weekly newsletter and website focused on fun family events and activities for kids in College Park, East Point, Morrow, Union City, South Fulton, Forest Park, Hapeville, Jonesboro, Riverdale, and the surrounding areas. We gather together all kinds of local family events and activities each week and add useful information about classes, family-focused businesses, product reviews, recipes, crafts, school and camp guides, and more. We are your go-to-guide for kids' activities in South Fulton County and some of Clayton County. For more articles like this delivered to your inbox once per week, please subscribe. If you have an extraordinary event that you would like to share in our community, you can submit it for free here. 

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