Volunteers can sign up by Feb. 23 to be part of the Read Across OKCPS event

Read Across America was launched in 1998 to celebrate and encourage reading, as well as to highlight the impact of the unforgettable Dr. Seuss, who was born on March 2, 1904. Dr. Seuss published his first children’s book, “And to Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street,” in 1937 and went on to delight both children and adults with 50 additional published titles.

Read Across America hosts events in schools and communities across the country, designed to underscore the many benefits of reading, including brain stimulation, vocabulary development, increased memory, increased writing skills and knowledge. Benefits that are less widely known are that reading can increase overall health. It can lower blood pressure and even fight symptoms of depression. Reading also can slow down the cognitive decline caused by aging.

The inaugural Read Across OKCPS event will take place on March 8 and will provide an opportunity for the entire Oklahoma City Public Schools community to enjoy reading and literacy activities together. It is said that education is the great equalizer, but it all starts with reading, and building early habits is key.

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Pre-K and kindergarten classrooms will welcome guest readers made up of district leaders who will work in tandem with members of the community. There may be a sighting of Superintendent Sean McDaniel as Dr. Seuss, among other highlights! And, Mayor Holt also is expected to pay a visit to a school to read as well. In addition, all pre-K and kindergarten students in the district will receive a book to add to their home library, courtesy of the Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation’s ReadOKC initiative and Junior League of OKC.

First- through fourth-grade teachers will be reading aloud with their students at a designated time, and middle and high school teachers will engage with their students during their English Language Arts class to share about their own favorite book, read an excerpt, or share their own experience with reading or learning to read as they were growing up.

About 200 volunteers will be deployed to pre-K and kindergarten classrooms. Community members interested in participating can sign up at www.okcps.org/RAO.

The deadline to sign up is Feb. 23. All volunteers will go through an application process that takes up to 10 business days to process.

There is truly no better way to gain an understanding of our schools than by spending time in them. Whatever perception you may have will change when you actually have the opportunity to see our educators and build relationships with students. This two-hour volunteer opportunity is a great way to meet school leaders and teachers, and spend time in classrooms filled with students focused on the joy of reading.

You might decide you want to become a weekly Reading Buddy, which is part of ReadOKC’s volunteer programming. Seeing Superintendent McDaniel as Dr. Seuss would just be icing on the cake!

Mary Mélon-Tully is president and CEO of the Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation. 

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Read Across OKCPS event to encourage reading, highlight Dr. Seuss