More than 100 Voluntary PreKindergarten students got the chance to touch, feel and even sit in a real-life race car as they revved up their enthusiasm for literacy on Tuesday. The Early Learning Coalition of Orange County, the Daytona International Speedway and the Just Read, Florida office at the Florida Department of Education all teamed up to bring the Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! Race Car to Orlando.
The first pit stop after leaving the tracks this morning was to Planet Learning where the VPK classes of four and five-year-olds eagerly awaited the car’s arrival. The children looked on covered their ears as Eilleen Ramos, center director, cranked the car and revved its engine. A similar scene took place at the race car’s final stop, which was Little Angels Child Care and Learning Center.
Hope Colle from the Just Read, Florida Office at the Florida Department of Education was on hand to speak to the kids about the importance of reading every day, while Ray Stephens from the Speedway explained that 45 people work on one race car at a time, and that they all have to know how to read in order to do their part.
The purpose of this tour is to motivate students and educators to create excitement surrounding Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! and the challenge to Take the Lead and Read which is this year’s theme. The goal Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! is to promote the enjoyment of reading for children and adults of all ages as well as raising awareness of the literacy programs and projects offered by the Department of Education, and its partners.
Each child was given their own book donated by the Early Learning Coalition of Orange County to gear up for Celebrate Literacy Week which will take place during the week of January 14-18, 2013. Florida has set a goal of 23-million minutes to be read during that week; surpassing the 20-million minutes read last year.
If you would like to volunteer to read at an early education site during Celebrate Literacy Week please contact Shannette Prince at [email protected] or 407-259-2464.
