World Read Aloud Day Blogging Challenge #1

During the month leading up to World Read Aloud Day, I'm participating in the World Read Aloud Day blogging challenge. Each week, blogging participants respond to a question addressing the World Read Aloud theme "Raising Our Voice." The question for week 1 is "What is your earliest or fondest memory in which someone read aloud to you?" 

When I was young, my mom (a former first grade teacher) read aloud to me constantly. The bottom drawer of my dresser was stocked with books. I loved to spread these books out on the green shag carpet and select one for my mom to read to me.  I remember her reading books such as The Monster at the End of This Book, Frog and Toad Are Friends, and other books we checked out from our local public library. My mother taught me to read before I started school, so I also enjoyed reading to her.  I loved the Carolyn Haywood books like B Is for Betsy and anything by Beverly Cleary. Our shared reading experience built a foundation of lifetime literacy for me. And I still love sharing books with my mom. 

This year, I will be celebrating World Read Aloud Day for the first time. I am so excited to show my students that reading aloud is worthy of celebration on a global level. Each of my second grade classes will read aloud with another class via Skype. I am looking forward to promoting literacy and having my students connect with other children around the country.