Fort Bragg elementary school students celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday

By Michelle Butzgy/ParaglideMarch 9, 2012

Students at Fort Bragg elementary schools celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Donna Fowler, Fort Bragg Bowley Elementary School information specialist, speaks to the school assembly about the importance of reading during the school's celebration of Read Across America, March 2. Students ate green eggs and ham and had birthday ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - "You're never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read with a child."

Many teachers and parents at Fort Bragg elementary schools did just that Friday to celebrate both Read Across America Day and the 108th birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss.

Holbrook Elementary School students and staff celebrated all week with green eggs and ham for breakfast, guest readers from around Fort Bragg and an appearance from the Cat in the Hat with Thing 1 and Thing 2 throwing candy to children, telling everyone "Read every day!" as they scampered through the hallways, said Rochelle Vela, Holbrook Elementary School reading specialist.

"Every year everyone in America pledges to read every day for a week. It falls on, or near Dr. Seuss' birthday. It's an exciting, motivating way to get students active in reading," said Vela.

Students also created a "reading caterpillar" posted up and down the school hallways with each segment representing one book each child has read.

On Friday, students participated in many Seuss-themed activities such as playing with oobleck (cornstarch mixed with water and green food coloring), trying on different kinds of hats and creating computer images of Dr. Seuss characters using Pixie, a creativity software program supported by the Department of Defense Education Activity.

Students at Holbrook are learning how to use the software by applying 21st century learning skills through the DODEA's 21st Century Schools for 21st Century Learning initiative, said Christine Giusto-Weibl, Holbrook Elementary School educational technologist.

Kindergartners and first graders in Emily Young's multi-age class listened to Tosha Evans read "Hop on Pop." Afterwards, students took turns putting balloons between their legs, hopping across the room and popping the balloons by sitting on them.

Later, Young quizzed the students on how many books they had read and what was their favorite Dr. Seuss book.

Rhiannon Shook, 7, said she read at least 10 books.

Liesey Smith, 5, said her favorite book is "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish." Other students mentioned "The Cat In The Hat Comes Back" and "Horton Hears A Who."

Bowley Elementary School also celebrated Read Across America with lots of activities and fun throughout the week.

Each day had a dress-up theme from wearing funny socks and hats, to dressing up as their favorite Dr. Seuss character, said Donna Fowler, Bowley Elementary School information specialist. On Friday, students bedecked with blue hair, stars and large red and white hats, ate green eggs and ham for breakfast. Students were also served Dr. Seuss birthday cake provided by the school's parent teacher association.

The big event of the day was held in the gym. Fowler, dressed as the Cat in the Hat, told students, teachers and parents about Million Minute March to Reading, a goal to have as many people as possible read every day in March to reach one million minutes.

Children were encouraged to invite friends and Family to register minutes at Bowley Elementary School's website at http://www.am.dodea.edu/bragg/bowley/. Fowler hopes to get the entire installation involved.

After an introduction by Bowley Elementary School principal Andrea Mial, Col. Jon Drushal, XVIII Airborne Corps deputy chief of staff, sat in a rocking chair in front of more than 350 students and read the Dr. Seuss book, "The Lorax." Students listened quietly as Fowler projected the pages on a screen for everyone to follow along with the colonel.

Drushal said he enjoyed his experience reading to the students.

"I still cannot get over the fact that there was not a peep from so many 5-year-olds the entire time I read the story," said Drushal.

"Anything that I can do to increase interest in reading at such a young age is my pleasure. It is so important to their future and I certainly hope I was able to assist the school in achieving their million minutes for March."

For more information about Read Across America, visit www.dodea.edu/dodeaCelebrates/2012_ReadAcrossAmerica/index.cfm.