POULSBO â*” From Horton to Yertle to The Cat in the Hat, when it comes to reading, Poulsbo knows where itâ*™s at.
Several Poulsbo Junior High students made the short trip to Poulsbo Elementary on Monday, the day after the birthday of famed childrenâ*™s author Dr. Seuss, to read to students in the younger grades.
â*œThey were excited to come here,â** said PJH teacher Wendy Fajayan, who brought 13 eighth grade students to Poulsbo Elementary to read to a second grade class before they hustled across the school to read to a fourth grade
class.
Eighth grader Amanda Hussey, who read to second grader Miranda Reeder, was impressed by the younger studentâ*™s attitude and skill at reading.
â*œI liked reading to Miranda,â** Hussey said. â*œShe could read well and had a great attitude. She was happy and liked to read a lot.â**
Hussey and Reeder worked their way through â*œThe Case of the Scaredy Catsâ** by Crosby Bonsall and â*œThe Cat in the Hatâ** by Dr. Seuss before the eighth graders had to go to another room.
Hussey remembered Dr. Seuss.
â*œâ*˜The Cat in the Hat.â*™ Thatâ*™s a good one,â** she said with a smile.
Dr. Seussâ*™ real name was Theodor Seuss Geisel. He was born in 1904 and wrote more than 50 childrenâ*™s books in his lifetime, including some of Americaâ*™s best-known childrenâ*™s books like â*œHorton Hears a Who,â** â*œGreen Eggs and Ham,â** and â*œThe Cat in the Hat.â**
He died in 1991.
Every year, the Washington Education Association encourages teacher to celebrate â*œRead Across America Day,â** which is always held on or near Dr. Seussâ*™ birthday.
Poulsbo Elementary teacher Linda Hofferber said the day, and other emphasis on reading, helps students a great deal. She also said that instead of just reading to the younger children, most of the junior high students let the pupils read to them.
â*œThe kids learn best by reading,â** Hofferber explained.
The event was coordinated by Fajayan, who was joined by other teachers on the trip to Poulsbo Elementary.
Poulsbo Elementary co-principal Debra Otterby was pleased by the results.
â*œThey were engaged in reading to each other,â** she said after visiting a classroom. â*œItâ*™s endearing.â**