Klinker: We must foster excitement about reading”

Tuesday, March 19, State Rep. Sheila Klinker (D-Lafayette) attended a Read Across America event at the Statehouse hosted by the Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA). At the event, Klinker shared the importance of literacy and read to several small groups of second-grade students. 

Klinker released the following statement regarding the importance of reading: 

“I enjoyed reading to our youth for ISTA’s Read Across America event. Reading is vital for our elementary students since it strengthens brain activity, improves writing skills and increases their imagination. Literacy is the foundation of education and is an essential skill for progression in academics. During the 2024 legislative session, literacy was a main priority since one in five of our 3rd graders failed the IREAD exam. Our youth are struggling to read which is a serious crisis. We proposed some solutions to the crisis with the literacy coach program, summer reading remediation and the contentious mandatory retention program. I believe the ISTA event is evidence our communities are doing everything they can to solve Indiana’s literacy crisis. 

“The work that our elementary school teachers, administrators and ISTA do is indispensable. Not only are they teaching our youth to read, but they’re also fostering excitement about reading. Fostering excitement about reading encourages students to read on their own and creates lifelong readers. To our Hoosier parents, I encourage you to set time apart to read with your child. A bedtime story with mom, dad, grandma, grandpa or another guardian could be the best way to spark a passion for reading.”