SAISD Students Share Love of Reading through San Angelo READS!

March is Read Across America Month. However, SAISD and its students love to celebrate reading all year long through the District’s community-wide literacy initiative, San Angelo READS!. 

On February 24, guest reader and SAISD Director of Facilities and Maintenance, Tony Kennedy, visited Glenmore Elementary fourth grade students to read “Long Shot: Never Too Small to Dream Big” by Chris Paul, a story about working hard to make your dreams come true. “I’m glad to see everybody,” said Mr. Kennedy as he introduced the book. “Happy faces, no sad faces. That is awesome for me.” 

All fourth-grade students in the District received a copy of “Long Shot: Never Too Small to Dream Big” courtesy of San Angelo READS!. “Hopefully this book inspires you to chase all of your hopes and dreams and know that you’re smart in so many different ways, so celebrate your smartness,” SAISD Executive Director of Communications Molly Johnson Turk said to the fourth graders.

On March 1, fifth-grade students at Fannin Elementary listened as guest reader and SAISD Executive Director of Student and Data and Services, Michael Kalnbach, read “Playing from the Heart” by Peter H. Reynolds, a tribute to the power of music and the bonds of family and a reminder not to stifle creativity but to let it flow. After the reading, Mr. Kalnbach asked the students what they thought the author’s theme of the book was. 

“Be playful,” one student said. “Never give away your childhood,” said another student. “Do things from your heart,” said another. “If you practice too much, sometimes it can kind of ruin the fun,” another student said. 

“There you go,” Mr. Kalnbach said. “That was the point. Because dad wanted him to go back and play what was fun.” 

All fifth-grade students in the District received a copy of “Playing from the Heart,” thanks to community partners. With the permission of Scholastic Education, the read alouds were also streamed live from the District Facebook page so other SAISD classes as well as interested community members could tune in. Watch the full videos below or on the San Angelo READS! YouTube channel where more read alouds are available for viewing. 

San Angelo READS! Is a community-wide literacy initiative that was founded to promote and encourage reading and the future-ready learner profile attributes among our students and greater community. The goal of San Angelo READS! is to increase awareness of the importance of literacy and to inspire a love for reading. 

“SAISD is grateful for the continued support of our community partners, parents, teachers, and staff with San Angelo READS!,” said Dr. Farrah Gomez, SAISD Chief Academic Officer. “The impact of reading aloud to children of all ages builds reading comprehension and instills a love for literature.”  

San Angelo ISD is thankful for our community partners who help make San Angelo READS! a success. Your support for our school, our community and your love for reading will help support the future generations of San Angelo. For more information on how to join SAISD in championing literacy, email us at communications@saisd.org. Keep Reading, San Angelo!