The importance – and pleasure – of reading was the focus of a reading rally attended by approximately 2,100 pre-kindergartners to third-graders visiting Cal State San Bernardino on Sept. 10.
The reading rally was held by the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, who invited the young students representing 18 schools from eight school districts in the county. The event was in support of San Bernardino County’s Vison2Read Initiative, which aims to promote early literacy and support all children from cradle to career.
CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales and San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Ted Alejandre (a CSUSB alumnus) welcomed the students and shared with them the importance of learning to read, and how it will broaden their view of the world, help them learn about important people and events, as well as subjects and activities that may interest them.
As part of the Vision2Read Initiative and Footsteps2Brilliance early literacy program, there is a reading challenge for children now taking place to have more than 5 million words read this summer.
Since the kickoff to the Footsteps2Brilliance reading program in 2017, more than 117 million words have been read with more than 389,000 books by county early readers. To enroll children into the free Footsteps2Brilliance program, go to its website.
Also visit the Vision2Read website to learn more about the initiative.