What do Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Mark Zuckerberg, and so many other famously successful people have in common? They’re all voracious readers. And who deserves credit for those awesome reading habits? We’ll lay the praise at the feet of their elementary teachers. There’s plenty of research that shows the importance of reading at a young age, but this OECD report sums it up well:
Reading is a prerequisite for success in life.
A lifetime love of literacy starts in elementary school, as those young readers go from sounding-out the words in picture books to processing complex young-adult novels. Whether it’s Harry Potter, Auggie Pullman, or Harriet the Spy, kids learn from (and identify with) characters as they grow up. And if the habit sticks, they’ll be on course for success in middle school, high school, and beyond.What are teachers ordering on DonorsChoose.org to help them teach those all-important literacy and language skills? We created a Pinterest board with some of our favorite projects from the past year. Click on the big green button to check out even more great ideas.
