International Literacy Day is over, but reports are streaming in from all over the world about how schools celebrated and continue to celebrate.
This year, in the International Literacy Day Activity Kit we spotlighted The Philippines with activities framed around the history and culture of the country. Not only is the Philippines a very active affiliate, but its people have shown great strides in improving literacy rates to 97.5% literate over the last 30 years.
Students, educators, and elected officials all got in on the ILD fun with singing, dancing, and read-alouds. There were also dozens of Little Free Libraries launched that day alone as a ILA-suggested ILD service project.
Arlene B. Arcillas, mayor of Santa Rosa, Laguna, visited five schools on ILD, participating in Little Free Library ribbon cuttings at all of them and taking the time to read to hundreds of students during the course of the day. The different events also included singing and dancing, and distribution of new backpacks to students.
In Hyderabad, India, there was an assembly in the morning at Oakridge International School, followed by two activities during the day. Alfaaz involved “expression through writing” and Cuentos was “story reading sessions in mother tongue.”
In the U.S., The Episcopal School of Dallas called on Filipino natives from the community to share the country’s culture in the classroom. Students also used the ILA Activity Kit to reinforce lessons.
“We learned about modes of transportation and saw a jeepney and video from the Google Tour,” said Allison Hogan, a primer teacher at the school. “Later in the day, students drew a tricycle on an iPad and made a tricycle using wooden wheels, pipe cleaners and straws. [It was] a great STEAM activity.”
Just one day into the school year, Central Jamaica Reading Association (CJRA) set out to celebrate ILD inside and outside of the classroom. Read-alouds were held by parents, community leaders, and educators. CJRA led the construction and launch of a Little Free Library and affiliate representatives went to the Pediatric Ward of the Mandeville Regional Hospital to distribute reading and writing materials to patients.
In Illinois, at least three Little Free Libraries were opened. The Illinois Reading Council (IRC) built two in one day at the state library, one of which was planted outside of their office in Normal, IL. They were, appropriately, filled with books from IRC’s Illinois Reads program. Maria Schlup, a reading specialist at an elementary school in Palatine, IL, spearheaded the creation of the first Little Free Library in her community, but the plan is to make several more for area parks and schools.
Finally, at ILA headquarters in Newark, DE, we held a ribbon cutting for our own Little Free Library. With materials, books, and labor donated by staff, the library itself cost ILA nothing to construct or plant. A ribbon cutting was held on ILD which featured local and state legislators and the reading of a proclamation from Delaware Gov. Jack A. Markell naming Sept. 8, 2015, Literacy Day in the state.
Keep the movement going! Download the free activity kit today or build your own Little Free Library, then share your photos and stories with mailto:social@reading.org.
April Hall is editor of Literacy Daily. A journalist for about 20 years, she has specialized in education, writing and editing for newspapers, websites, and magazines.