Forget Electronic Devices - Students Prefer Reading
Forget Electronic Devices - Students Prefer Reading
Early Childhood Educators at the Y Inspire Children to Read 1,135 Books
(West Chester, PA) – Hundreds of children fell in love with reading at the YMCA of Greater Brandywine’s Childcare and Early Learning Centers this March. The children and their educators from Chester County, PA, were celebrating Read Across America Week.
At the West Chester Area YMCA branch located in West Chester, PA, learners and educators took their Read Across America Week to new heights. All classrooms participated in a month-long reading challenge to see which students and their families could read the most books during the month of March.
Led by Early Learning Educators, Asia Elhasel and Donna Welch, the Montessori B classroom read 1,135 books throughout the month, taking first place in the branch’s reading competition.
“Families were encouraged to read at home with their children and document all the wonderful books they enjoyed together,” said Victoria Gallagher, Senior Program Director for the West Chester Area branch’s Early Learning Center. “Our families were excited to participate, many taking great pride in their efforts. I give credit to our dedicated educators for bringing passion and motivation to our Read Across America Challenge.”
“I am energized by the sense of community this challenge created – but most of all, I am proud that our students fell in love with reading,” shared Elhasel. “I can’t count the number of parents who told me that their children were more excited to read than they were to play on electronic devices during the competition. As an educator, there is no better feeling,” added Welch.
Founded in 1998 by the National Education Association, Read Across America Week aims to motivate children and teens to read.