2010 Read for the Record

In 2009, Phi Delta Kappa International joined forces with the Future Educators Association in an effort to spread the joys of reading to adults and children alike. In the spirit of Eric Carle, noted author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, more than two million souls were touched by the exquisite story of this mighty little insect who explored the world with his stomach. This set a new world record of a collaborative endeavor to read the same book on the same day throughout the world.

This movement, encouraged by Jumpstart, created a great platform for instilling early literacy and continued advocacy for reading. Jumpstart, nationally sponsored by the Pearson Foundation, strives to “raise awareness of the early literacy crisis that we face in America” while raising funds for low-income preschools.

This past October, in alignment with the national campaign presented by Jumpstart, the University of Houston chapter of Phi Delta Kappa International presented Ezra Jack Keats’ The Snowy Day. President-Elect Brittny Mandarino spearheaded the 2010 Read for the Record© campaign here at UH collaborating with the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education.

While reaching out to the university students studying English Language Arts and Reading Education, PDK integrated into local schools such as Garden Oaks Elementary, the UH Child Care Center, and Creme de la Creme Child Care Center reading the children’s classic.

Phi Delta Kappa International invites you to join-in on the continuous pledge to help raise funds for head-starts and preschools! For more information, please visit www.readfortherecord.org/pledge.