National Read Across America day took place earlier this month on Monday, March 2. Educators and students across the country continue to enjoy Dr. Seuss stories and simple rhymes throughout the month. As a former educator and current homeschool mom, I enjoy the celebrations. I taught first grade and thrived on Dr. Seuss stories simply because they focus on word families that are easy-reads and enjoyable for beginning readers. The simplicity and repetition helps early readers gain confidence. In general, rhyming is a tool and skill that reinforces recognizing similar ending sounds, patterns and rules with words and word families, and distinctions between middle vowel sounds. I find rhyming stories to be extremely beneficial for early readers. Rhyming can also serve as a beginning skill for poetry and keeping musical time – as poems can turn into songs or spoken-word projects (or raps) for kids… which they love!
It’s easy to quickly forget about Dr. Seuss in a month focused on the sprouting of Spring, lucky clovers, and rainbows of promise in the sky. Personally, I’m trying to fully enjoy this month of “reason in rhymes” and glean educational experience from every project and story read. Kids are still sprouting, they are the BEST lucky clovers… FULL of promise far better than the rainbows of the sky.
Tomorrow, our family will enjoy the quite popular green eggs and ham on an ordinary Saturday morn. Today, we read “Daisy-Head Mayzie” (which was the first time I ever read this Dr. Seuss special) which is full of rhyme and a lesson learned in time – that love from the ones you hold dear is far better than fame and fortune.
As a Christian family, we are continuing to enjoy rhymes throughout the year with a new favorite Children’s Bible called, “The Rhyme Bible Storybook” by L.J. Sattgast that can be ordered or purchased at your local Christian bookstore or through Christian Book Distributors online.
In planting good seeds, it’s wise to sow into the next generation… giving them the skills and tools they need to succeed in practical and Godly ways.
God’s seed: “Train up a child in the way he should go…” (Proverbs 22:6)
missionzera blessings
-Brook
missionzera.wordpress.com 
I always loved Dr Seuz day st school. I yaugght students with Learning disabilities and even at middle school level they enjoyed the rhymes.
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It is interesting to hear that the middle schoolers enjoyed the rhymes! I guess one is never too old to appreciate the silly, simple & fun in education. I think sometimes kids truly learn best in the fun and relaxed moments of simplicity 🙂
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