Read Across America 2012

Schools across the nation are getting ready for Read Across America.  The week will be filled with various activities:  dress-up days, games, and bulletin board and/or classroom door decorating contests - all aimed at motivating students to read.  The national day to celebrate reading is March 2 - Dr. Seuss's birthday.  I will be dressing three of my kids as Dr. Seuss characters that day.  They are even having green eggs and ham for lunch. 

I helped one of my children's schools prepare for Read Across America by working on the BoxTops for Education bulletin board.  (I am a BoxTops coordinator for our school.) 

As a writer, I feel compelled to support education.  One easy way to do this is by saving BoxTops for Education and Labels for Education (also called Campbell's soup labels) for your local schools.  Schools get $0.10 for each BoxTop turned in, and they really add up.  Our PTO spent about $700 of BoxTops money the past couple years to buy a book for each student at Christmas.   Labels for Education can be redeemed by schools for athletic, academic, or art merchandise.  This is helpful in a time when budgets are tight and costs are rising.  Support your school.  Clip the labels!  Most schools have a collection container in their foyer or  office.  If you don't have a school to support, you can find local participating schools by entering your zip code on the Box Tops or Labels for Education sites.