Education Secretary Paige Launches "Home for the Holidays...Reading Together" Winter Reading Campaign

U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige today unveiled "Home for the Holidays...Reading Together," a new campaign to encourage families to read together while children are home during their winter vacation.

Secretary Paige kicked off the program at the historic Mount Vernon Estate in Alexandria, Va., home of America's first president. He read a book about George Washington to first- and second-grade students from nearby Woodley Hills Elementary School. He also talked with them about President Washington and about the importance of learning and reading.

"Reading is the foundation of all learning, and research tells us that children whose families spend time reading together know more words than other children," Secretary Paige said. "During the next several weeks, children and families will be enjoying their winter breaks together. And this is a great chance for them to spend this valuable time reading together with children. I encourage all Americans to fill their holiday season with opportunities for learning by reading together. "

Paige added that taking part in reading activities will help to prevent fall-off in children's reading skills over the winter vacation while giving families the opportunity to spend time together.

He also announced that the Department of Education created a special "Home for the Holidays...Reading Together" website that contains links to suggested reading lists, tips to help make sure children and adults read well together, and directions to help children make bookmarks for themselves or to give as gifts.

Paige also noted that parents and care-givers also may want to consider giving reading materials to their own children or donating books to organizations serving children from disadvantaged backgrounds, whose homes may not be filled with magazines, newspapers and books. Schools and libraries serving students from disadvantaged backgrounds may also appreciate the gift of new or used children's books during the holiday season and throughout the year.

For more information, visit http://www.ed.gov/holidays/.