Springfield College students, staff, faculty, and administrators were invited to share stories with close to 200 second-grade students from Brookings, DeBerry, Glenwood, Lincoln, and Zanetti Elementary Schools as part of National African American Read-In Day celebrations on Friday, Feb. 17.
The second graders engaged in small group readings, dance, art activities, physical activities, theater, and much more. The day also included lunch, and each classroom received a book for their classroom libraries. This is the fifth year Springfield College has participated in this national event and the first time that students have been invited to campus. The event was sponsored by the Departments of Education; Literature, Writing, and Journalism; Physical Education and Health Education; Visual and Performing Arts; and Library Services.
The National African American Read-In is the nation’s first and oldest event dedicated to diversity in literature. It was established in 1990 by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month. This initiative has reached more than six million participants around the world.
