Fifth Graders Celebrate World Read Aloud Day by Skyping with Tanzanian Students

Country School fifth-graders celebrated World Read Aloud Day by reading books and discussing why reading is important with their friends in Mbola, Tanzania.
They read excerpts of books they thought would interest the children in Mbola and teach them about their daily lives, including stories about New Canaan, sports, and weather. They also read and sang “America the Beautiful.” Students from Mbola read excerpts from two of their favorite books, “The Magic Garden” and “Hawa the Bus Driver” and sang their school song.
 
Celebrated around the world annually on the first Wednesday in March, World Read Aloud Day is an awareness day advocating for literacy as a right that belongs to all people.  
 
For the past several years, fifth grade teacher Kristen Ball has been partnering with Connect To Learn, an organization that facilitates cross-cultural understanding, to celebrate World Read Aloud Day with an hour-long Skype call to Lolongulu School and Ibiri Secondary School.
 
“The kids have been learning so much about the importance of global literacy through this very special partnership,” said Ms. Ball.
 
When they shared their ideas about why reading is important, one student from Mbola said,  “It reduces ignorance and makes me educated.” Another said, “I read in order to have a better life and to help other people who need help.” Country School students spoke in Swahili and discussed the importance of knowing what is happening in the world and having access to information so they can make their own decisions, while others talked about being able to understand cultures, get a job, and stand up for their beliefs.
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New Canaan Country School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin and are afforded all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid policies or any other school-administered programs.