Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center

From the Education Desk

Well here it is May already and that means summer and vacation time is almost here! This month gives us a lot to celebrate. Be Kind To Animals Week is May 4-11 and Mother’s Day is May 11. We would like to extend an invitation to all teachers to come to RMDRC during the week of May 5-11 in honor of Teachers Appreciation Day. You will receive free admission and 10% off of anything in our gift shop with your Teacher I.D.

Did you know the first telegraph message was transmitted on May 24, 1844, the Lincoln Memorial was dedicated on May 30, 1927, Amelia Earhart flew solo across the Atlantic on May 21, 1932, and May 12th is National Nutty Fudge Day. I think this is quite an interesting month.

One of the more important things happening this month is Children’s Book Week May 12-18. Since 1919, Children’s Book Week has been celebrated nationally in schools, libraries, bookstores, clubs, private homes—any place where there are children and books. Children’s books and the love of reading are celebrated with storytelling, parties, author and illustrator appearances, along with other book related events.

It all began with the idea that children’s books can change lives. In 1913, Franklin K. Mathiews, the librarian of the Boy Scouts of America, began touring the country to promote higher standards in children’s books. He proposed creating a Children’s Book Week, which would be supported by all interested groups: publishers, booksellers, and librarians. In 1944, the Children’s Book Council assumed responsibility for administering Children’s Book Week. The CBC encourages young people and their caregivers to discover the complexity of the world beyond their own experience through books.

One of the strongest predictions of reading comprehension in general and vocabulary development in particular is the amount of time students spend reading to themselves. Reading for pleasure encourages the development of reading as a life-long habit and pastime while strengthening both academic language and fluency. Television is the predominant source of entertainment and information today, and 70% of all reading is done by only 10% of the population. Reading can have a powerful effect on students’ comprehension, thinking, knowledge of the world, and choices in higher education and life careers.

During this special week we would like to offer you a 25% discount off of all books in stock in our gift shop. Please visit us soon, take advantage of this offer and also see how the Apatosaurus is coming along in our lab. I leave you this month with a quote from Frederic Melcher, the editor of Publishers Weekly in the 1950’s and 60’s who said: “A great nation is a reading nation”.

Regards,

Geri LeBold
Education Director
geri@rmdrc.com