Rockford schools jump into world-record reading challenge Oct. 7

From press release

Nearly 4,500 preschool and kindergarten students in Rockford Public Schools will join children across the country in trying to set a new world record by reading the same book on the same day.

Pearson Foundation is providing free copies of the book, “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats, to each participating classrooms as part of Jumpstart’s Read for the Record, an annual campaign to raise public awareness about the importance of early childhood education, early literacy and community engagement in schools.

Teachers may invite parents and other special guests to participate in the event at various times during classes Thursday, Oct. 7. Local celebrity readers, including District 205 Superintendent Dr. LaVonne M. Sheffield, will assist in the record-setting attempt at a dozen different schools.

To register student involvement in the count, teachers fill out a short form found at www.wegivebooks.org/readfortherecord. The site also contains classroom activities, lesson plans, certificates of participation, registration guidelines and other related materials—all at no cost to Rockford Public Schools.

In 2009, more than 2 million children and adults registered to read the official campaign book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, in schools, homes, libraries and major public venues. Millions more were involved in Jumpstart’s Read for the Record through The TODAY Show, where NBC anchors Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira—along with official campaign spokesman Mary Louise Parker and other celebrity guests including Vince Vaughn—read with children at Rockefeller Center in New York City.

For more information, visit readfortherecord.org or contact Janet Green at (815) 489-7274 or greenj@rps205.com.