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Home › Classroom Resources › Calendar Activities
September 07
Celebrate International Literacy Day!
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| Grades | K – 12 |
| Calendar Activity Type | Literacy-Related Event |
Recognize the importance of literacy in the lives of children and adults by focusing attention in your classroom, your school, and your community on literacy issues in celebration of International Literacy Day, sponsored by the International Reading Association and the United Nations.
International Literacy Day is sponsored annually by the International Reading Association and is designed to focus attention on literacy issues. The day is marked by many events throughout the world, including the presentation of a U.S. $20,000 UNESCO International Reading Association Literacy Prize. The International Reading Association estimates that 780 million adults, nearly two-thirds of whom are women, do not know how to read and write. They also estimate that 94-115 million children worldwide do not have access to education. International Literacy Day is just one way the Association strives to increase literacy around the world.
Spend the day participating in a readathon, kicking off a cross-grade reading buddy program, or making original books to share with others in the community. For additional ideas, visit the IRA's collection of ideas: Idea Starters! International Literacy Day Activities and Events.
- International Literacy Day
The International Reading Association provides background information, fact sheets, and media tips for the day, as well as information on the Association's global efforts to increase literacy.
- UNESCO Institute for Statistics: Literacy
Explore detailed statistics about literacy around the world with this collection of data, which features information separated into age groupings and gender.
Grades K – 2 | Lesson Plan | Recurring Lesson
Learning Centers: From Shared to Independent Practice
Seven blind mice—see how they spend each day of the week in this lesson that uses the book Seven Blind Mice to guide students through shared reading, writing, and listening activities.
Grades 6 – 8 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
With e-pals, students develop real-life writing and social experiences, learn the format of a friendly letter and parts of an e-mail message, and discover other cultures, languages, and geographic areas.
Grades 9 – 12 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Exploring Literacy in Cyberspace
It’s not just words on a page (or screen)—reading comprehension involves making sense of the text. When students become aware of the analytical strategies they are using, they can explore the similarities and differences between making sense of print and making sense of a website.
Grades 9 – 12 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Exploring Literature through Letter-Writing Groups
Students discuss literature through a series of letter exchanges, as a one-time assignment or throughout the year with the students discussing, and making connections among, a number of literary works.
