Area students who enjoy reading, find Dr. Seuss is just what they’re needing

Oh, the treasures you will find, reading a Dr. Seuss book of rhymes.

Malden Elementary preschool through fourth grade students spent the past week reading, rhyming and learning while celebrating Dr. Seuss Week.

Teachers incorporated dress up days and activities into their curriculum and lessons during the week to help get the students excited about reading.

Tabitha Cohen’s early childhood class made Cat hats, caused mischief with the Things, donned mustaches, rhymed with foxes in socks, and grew Truffula seeds and trees during Dr. Seuss Week at Malden Elementary. Photo provided

“It has just been a lot of fun,” Elementary Principal Carie Fowler said. “The students are excited and they can’t wait to read.”

The biggest goal for Dr. Seuss Week is to instill a love of reading in the students, Fowler said.

“We want the students to immerse themselves in books and see their future is bright,” she said. “A book opens your mind to so many possibilities.”

Malden High School basketball player Ty Miller kicked off second grade’s March Madness by reading “The Cat in the Hat” to the students. Miller was a guest reader during Dr. Seuss Week. Photo provided

As in Dr. Seuss’ “Oh, The Places You’ll Go,” Fowler wants her students to set goals for their lives and know they can go any place they want in this life.

“Books and the love of reading will do that for students,” she added.

Children were surprised by several guest readers during the week, including the Cat in the Hat, high school basketball player Ty Miller, parents, grandparents and school administrators.

The Cat in the Hat (Malden R-1 Wellness Coordinator Kayla Snider) answered questions for kindergarten students while stopping by and reading a book. The book character made an appearance as part of Dr. Seuss Week at Malden Elementary. Photo provided

“We want the kids to see adults in the building reading, not just their teachers,” Fowler said.

Second grade students switched classes each day and participated in different activities such as making green eggs and ham and oobleck, constructing “Cat in the Hat” characters and after reading “Oh, The Places You’ll Go,” making a parachute craft about what they want to be when they grow up.

While not Dr. Suess related, but keeping with the week’s overall theme of reading, second graders also kicked off “March Book Madness,” similar to the basketball tournament.

“We are reading books and voting on our favorite to move through the bracket and find our champion/favorite book for March Madness,” second grade teacher Emily Cook said.

Lacey Smothers’ fourth grade class donned mustaches on Lorax Day and read the story that went with the theme each day. The class also participated in small activities throughout the week.

Lauren Colwell’s fourth graders celebrated by kicking the week off in style by measuring with socks for “Fox in Socks” and making it into a reduced fraction.

The students then tuned into “Oh, The Places You’ll Go” by writing a story about what they would do when older.

“Wacky Wednesday we had to find all the wacky things and talk about it,” Colwell said. “Thursday, for Lorax Day, we talked about how we would save the trees and the environment.”

In addition to Malden Elementary, the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library and other area schools celebrated Dr. Seuss Week.

Southwest Elementary students in Dexter celebrated reading week and Dr. Seuss’ birthday with guest readers, door decorating and dress up days

Dr. Seuss Week is celebrated near the author’s birthday, March 2, to engage children in reading and on a regular basis.

In addition, the National Education Association’s Read Across America Day is a nationwide reading celebration that takes place annually on the author’s birthday. Across the country, thousands of schools, libraries and community centers participate by bringing together kids, teens and books.

If you never read, you should. Books are fun and fun is good.