Oakland Heights Elementary teacher Beth Thrasher reads "Horton Hears a Who" to London Moton, Easton Crider, Kamora Ruffin, Keishaun Bettis and Mariah Rue.

‘Read Across America’ celebrated at Oakland Heights

    Students at Oakland Heights Elementary School in Meridian wore their pajamas to school Friday to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Seuss and to kick off the National Education Association’s Read Across America campaign.

    The annual campaign is held in conjunction with ReadQuest, an event that brings hundreds of thousands of students together nationwide to celebrate the power of reading, for fun and discovery.

    “The students have enjoyed dressing up all week, as characters in the different Dr. Seuss books that we have been reading,” said teacher Beth Thrasher. “We had crazy hat day, mustache day, many colors day, and their favorite pajama day.”

    Besides being fun to read, Dr. Seuss books can teach children important life lessons, Thrasher said.

    “The students learn a lot from his books, a lot of them have morals, messages the students pick up on,” Thrash said. “One of the books we read this week “Sneetches” talks about diversity, to not treat people that aren’t just like you differently, or it could be costly.”

    First grader Mariah Rue said reading the books is fun.

    “I am reading the book “I Can Read With My Eyes Shut”, and Dr. Seuss is so funny,” Rue said. “I learned if you shut your eyes you will miss something.”

    The students at Oakland Heights Elementary were among thousands of students who took part in ReadQuest for K-12 students nationwide one-day event Friday. Students read books, nonfiction articles, and completed Accelerated Reader comprehension quizzes on what they read. All students who participated receive a Certificate of National Participation.