The goal of the National Education Association’s Read Across America program is to get kids to r-e-a-d. To that end, Dr. Seuss’ creation, the Cat-in-the-Hat, a.k.a. retired teacher Kathy Spelkoman, joined Mayor David Roberts Tuesday at the Wallace Primary School to kick off local Read Across America festivities.
The events are part of an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child to celebrate reading. The culmination falls on Dr. Seuss’ birthday, March 2, but because that day falls on a Saturday, the Wallace School decided to hold activities on Monday and Friday.
Monday, fourth grade teacher Maureen Kecmer and kindergarten teacher Betty Schwartz turned the Hoboken Board of Education’s meeting room at 1115 Clinton St. into “The Cat-in-the-Hat bistro,” and on Friday it was scheduled to reopen so that Kecmer and Schwartz’s classes could read with all of the first and third graders at the school. The room was decorated with colorful tablecloths, ribbons and bows, balloons and Dr. Seuss posters. Fourth graders were paired up with kindergartners, and they read together.
Monday’s event was also marked by the appearance of Roberts, who donned the iconic red and white striped cap of the Cat-in-the-Hat and read to the children from Seuss classics. “It has been a real honor and a pleasure for me to participate in this year’s Read Across America,” Roberts said. “Reading transports you to amazing places, and it is essential that students find it fun and enjoyable.”
Following Roberts was the day’s second featured guest, Spelkoman, dressed at the Cat-in-the-Hat. She spent a half hour posing for pictures with the pupils. “I’m here to encourage everyone to read,” she said. “There’s so much visual stimuli out there right now, things like television and Gameboys. We are here to teach students and parents that they need to sit down together and read, to start early and make reading a lifelong habit.”
In the two-month period surrounding March 2, Spelkoman is scheduled to visit 130 New Jersey schools as the Cat-in-the-Hat. But she pointed out that even though the cat may be willing to pose for pictures, he never talks when children are around.
“The cat never speaks when students are near,” said Spelkoman. “It’s only when you open a book does he truly come alive.”
Kecmer said Wednesday that the events are a fun way to get students to read. “I think first and foremost this is an opportunity to motivate,” said Kecmer. “To teach that reading is fun. That’s one of the reasons that we use Dr. Seuss.”
Kecmer added that it is also an opportunity to get parents in the classroom and make them an active participant in the children’s reading. “Another goal is for parents to become involved in their child’s education and [realize] how important they are as a role model,” she said.