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.168069.1
SENATE MEMORIAL 39
48
TH LEGISLATURE
- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -
FIRST SESSION
, 2007
INTRODUCED BY
Cynthia Nava
A MEMORIAL
DECLARING NOVEMBER 1, 2007 AS "READ TO A CHILD DAY".
WHEREAS, a team of fourth- and fifth-grade students at La
Union elementary school in the Gadsden independent school
district conducted a community literacy initiative and from
what they learned, they wanted to give every third-grade
student in New Mexico a book; and
WHEREAS, this team of students began research on New
Mexico authors, found over forty authors, developed a rating
rubric and narrowed their list down to fifteen; and
WHEREAS, the students contacted a group of adults who were
representative of the state and invited them to be part of a
selection committee using their rubric to narrow the list of
books to six; and
WHEREAS, the students invited the governor to make the
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.168069.1
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final decision on a book, and he selected "Santero's Miracle"
by Rudolfo Anaya, with a copy to be given to each third-grade
student; and
WHEREAS, the book will be accompanied by a web-based
teacher curriculum and a hard copy of a parent curriculum that
will be tied to the New Mexico curriculum standards; and
WHEREAS, the governor selected November 1, 2007 to
distribute the books to every third-grade student; and
WHEREAS, November 1 marks national family literacy day and
approximately eight thousand literacy programs will hold
readings, workshops and family activities across the country;
and
WHEREAS, reading aloud is a time-honored tradition for
parents, caregivers and children, especially in a child's
formative years; and
WHEREAS, reading has a lifelong impact on a child's
learning experiences, developmental progress and even social
interaction;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE
OF NEW MEXICO that November 1, 2007 be declared "Read to a
Child Day" and that this day become an annual celebration about
the importance of reading; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
transmitted to the secretary of public education and the
governor.