As part of an annual celebration, the National Education Association’s Read Across America program calls on community members to promote the power of reading and encourage students to be more active and motivated readers.

Reading in the classroom and in the home is vital to student achievement and lifelong success. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, studies show that children who spend more time reading and being read to grow up to be stronger readers and even have better math scores than those children who were not exposed to reading materials.

The NEA’s celebration of literacy corresponds with the birthday of cherished children’s author, Dr. Seuss. Since many students are introduced to reading through some of Dr. Seuss’s most famous stories, teachers often add some Seussian flare to the celebration, as students wear red and white striped hats and dine on green eggs and ham.

With the seventeenth year of the reading extravaganza set to take place on March 2, 2015, make sure you are prepared to join in the fun by getting involved with your local school, library, and bookstore. Remember:

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”
— Dr. Seuss, I Can Read with My Eyes Shut