Using books as building blocks

YOUNG CHANG

NEWPORT BEACH

Read Across America Day happens every year and Dr. Seuss gets older

each time around.

But for principal Karen Kendall and her students at Harbor View

Elementary School in Corona del Mar, every day is like Read Across

America Day, which marks author Theodor Geisel’s birthday -- a.k.a. Dr.

Seuss -- and celebrates reading.

This made Friday even more special for the local children. Students

updated teachers on the number of books they’d read throughout the year.

They turned in their Ringo cards -- like a Bingo chart but marked with

different genres of books that get checked off once they’re read -- to

get stickers.

And they promised to read every day and night.

“Literacy is the foundational framework on which all other skills

build,” Kendall said. “Reading is intrinsically institutionalized in our

school.”

Since the start of the academic school year, Harbor View’s students

read 59,219 books. Their goal is to read 90,000 between 510 children,

Kendall said.

For Read Across America Day, visiting and on-campus adults read aloud

in classes. Students enjoyed books by Dr. Seuss, some participated in a

“Cat in the Hat” project, others recited a pledge to make reading a

lifelong commitment. Most turned in their Ringo cards.

Capt. Jerry Strom, from the Newport Beach Fire and Marine Dept., read

Dr. Seuss’ “Oh The Places You’ll Go” to Patti Clark’s third grade class.

One student complimented him for reading the words right and taking his

time.

“When you have a book read aloud, you hear the vocabulary and you

connect with the text,” Kendall said. “And the children remember all the

books.”

Haylie Roberts, 9, enjoys hearing others read to her.

“When people read to you, you can learn new words ‘cause they know the

words you don’t,” she said.

Ryan Rolfes, 9, promised to read everyday.

“I think it’s a great thing to do and it’ll probably help me to

graduate college,” he said.