International Literacy Day is about focusing attention on worldwide literacy needs. In order to get global awareness directly into the classroom, ILA created a free Activity Kit with ideas for every age group encompassing culture, history, geography, and more.

This year, our theme, “Steps to Advance Literacy,” serves two purposes: We’re focusing on Jamaica—a small island where big things happen—and bringing awareness to the distance students in some countries must travel each day just to get to school.

Around the world, students can walk as far as five miles in each direction to get to a school. We’re also lacing up our sneakers and hitting the streets to put ourselves in these students’ shoes. In our Service Project Kit, you’ll find information on how to join our Steps to Advance Literacy initiative by tracking your steps as an individual, class, school, or community.

Though International Literacy Day is officially Sept. 8, we’d like to encourage you to sign up to get your ILD kit now and start thinking about how you can incorporate these activities into your classroom. Be sure to share your stories and photos with us on social media using the hashtag #ILD16. You'll not only be helping your students, but also shining a spotlight on global literacy needs.

Let's take steps to advance literacy, together!