U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Derrick Hobson had the full attention of the classroom as he began reading “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.” Excited first-graders at Windsor Oaks Elementary School listened as Hobson read his favorite Dr. Seuss book.
“Today is gone. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one,” Hobson read aloud to the class. “Every day, from here to there, funny things are everywhere.”
Hobson was among nine sailors at Windsor Oaks for “Read Across America Day.” More than 180 sailors were reading at 20 elementary schools in Virginia Beach.
The annual reading program is usually celebrated on March 2 to honor the birthday of children’s author Dr. Seuss. This year, some schools celebrated a few days early when sailors stationed aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln asked to come read at schools across Hampton Roads.
Windsor Oaks was one of 79 elementary schools throughout Chesapeake, Newport News, Norfolk and Suffolk the Navy visited.
“Days like this give the children the opportunity to see how enjoyable reading can be, and prove to them that it’s alright if you stumble while reading aloud,” said Becky Feld, library media specialist at Windsor Oaks.
“One gentleman got tongue-tied, but just laughed it off and started over, and provided a great learning experience for the children,” said Feld. “It’s OK to make mistakes.”
Schools in Virginia Beach hosted guest readers and reading activities while students and teachers dressed as their favorite literary character to honor this beloved author. Because, as Dr. Seuss said, “You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child.”
See how VBCPS celebrated Read Across America Day here.