Online Learning Continues With 'Ms. Martha Reads'
Ms. Martha Reads, Fridays, 10 a.m. on Facebook
A new weekly Facebook segment featuring stories written by local children. Join us each week online to hear a new story.
If you missed a week, catch up with the videos below.
This performance is partially supported by funding from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Featured Stories
The Donkey Who Lost His Memory by Ruben, 2nd grade James Hurst Elementary, Portsmouth
The Scared Little Fish by Sahasra, 1st grade Kiln Creek Elementary, Newport News
Cory Clanet by Grace, 3rd grade Hermitage Elementary, Virginia Beach
The Adventures of Oreo the Rat by Holly, 1st grade Carver Elementary School
Meatball's Adventure by Kiera, 4th grade Star of the Sea School, Virginia Beach
Stacy and the Candy Dimension by Aynslee, 3rd grade Tidewater Academy, Wakefield
Bubble Trouble by Kennedy, 2nd grade Nansemond Parkway Elementary School, Suffolk
Ranger Bill by Deonta, 3rd grade Kiptopeke Elementary School, Cape Charles
The Scissors Go To School by Ruby, 1st grade Occohannock Elementary, Exmore
The Baker Princess by Lara, Kindergarten Norfolk
Do Not Waste Water by Aaria, 1st grade John B. Dey Elementary, Virginia Beach
The Adventures of Net Man by Frank, Kindergarten Suffolk
The Bunny Who Saved His Family by Victoria, 2nd grade Norfolk
The Ups and Downs of Earth by Zoey, 5th grade Pembroke Meadows Elementary, Virginia Beach
Earth's Cardboard Creations by Evie, 4th grade Kilby Shores Elementary, Suffolk
Recycle Me! by Aanya, 3rd grade Old Donation School, Virginia Beach.
Kitty's Garden by Isaac, Kindergarten Great Bridge Presbyterian School, Chesapeake
Saniya And The S-Bots by Saniya, 5th grade Carver Elementary School, Newport News
Magical Art by Taryn, 3rd grade Chesapeake
Splash Splash Mermaddy (with First Lady of Virginia) by Madison, 2nd grade Corporate Landing Elementary, Virginia Beach
Daisy the Dolphin and the Adventures in the Elizabeth River by Moriah, 5th grade W.H. Taylor Elementary School, Norfolk
Whoo-ty's Great Idea! by Alissa, 2nd grade Saunders Elementary School, Newport News
Nature Helps Timmy to Read by Josiah Williams, 4th grade Chesapeake
Past Seasons
Click on a season to expand the section.
One Inch Tall by Mariana, 3rd Grade Stonehouse Elementary, Williamsburg
The Talking Flower and Alex Makayla, Kindergarten Achilles Elementary, Glouchester
Kids Meet An Alien by Skylar, 1st grade Homeschooled
The Magnet Who Lost Magnetism by Michael, 3rd grade Creekside Elementary School, Suffolk
One Brave Arachnid by Daxton, 2nd grade Walsingham Academy, Williamsburg
The New School by Erin, 2nd grade Oceanview Elementary, Norfolk
The Mean Tree by Savannah, 5th grade Camden Intermediate School, Camden
The Mysterious Mermaids by Sidney, Kindergarten Great Bridge Presbyterian Preschool, Chesapeake
The Snowman of Norfolk by Ela, 3rd grade Larchmont Elementary School, Norfolk
Duck and Zebra by Ava, Kindergarten Kiptopeke Elementary, Cape Charles
George's Adventure by William, 2nd grade Hermitage Elementary, Virginia Beach
The Mermaids Save the Dolphins by Grace, 2nd grade Kilby Shores Elementary, Suffolk
The Man and the Island by Vadun, 41st grade Hampton Roads International Montessori School
The Adventures of Giraffe and Ostrich by Bryson, 4th grade Alanton Elementary, Virginia Beach
Bubba The Hero by Phillip, 4th grade Tidewater Collegiate Academy, Virginia Beach
The Little Cup Cake by Laila, Kindergarten Kiptopeke Elementary, Cape Charles
Millie Gets A Home by Hudson, 3rd grade Occohannock Elementary, Exmore
Ivy's Fairy Tale by Wylesia, 5th grade Kiptopeke Elementary School, Cape Charles
The Tooth Fairy Meets Friends by Scarlett, Kindergarten Achilles Elementary, Hayes
The Kids and The Secret Portal by Ethan, 4th grade Home School, Chesapeake
Plants vs Cheese Balls... It's About Time by Grayson, 3rd grade Larchmont Elementary School, Norfolk
Rosie the Mermaid by Madison, Kindergarten Cape Charles Christian School, Chesapeake
The Princess by Savannah, Kindergarten Achilles Elementary School, Hayes
The Magical Adventure of Grayson and Bubba by Grayson, 1st grade Carver Elementary, Newport News
Beth Goes To Camp by Elizabeth, 1st grade Greenbrier Primary, Chesapeake
My Friend Sharko by Siddhant, 2nd grade Old Donation School, Virginia Beach
The Funny Pizza by Jayd, 3rd grade Atlantic Shores Christian School, Virginia Beach
The Girl Who Cried Santa by Savannah, 4th grade Sewells Point Elementary, Norfolk
Just with Juice to Make Magic by Tra, 3rd grade Larchmont Elementary, Norfolk
The First Kid President by Selena, 2nd grade Carrollton Elementary, Carrollton
Wenny Waffle Goes to Breakfast School by Mahika, 1st grade Cape Henry Collegiate School, Virginia Beach
My Special Surprise by Saniya, Kindergarten Carver Elementary, Newport News
The Friendship Fraud by Dianna, 4th grade Virginia Beach
The Fairy Princess by Lillian, 1st grade Kings Park Elementary, Springfield, VA
Life Was Different When Aunt Margaret Was Growing Up by Keegan, 1st grade Windsor Elementary, Windsor, VA
The Magic Wishing Powder by Savannah, 3rd grade Matthews Elementary School, Cape Matthews County
Fun Taco by Isabelle, 1st grade Trantwood Elementary School in Virginia Beach
The Rainbow Fossil by Mckinley, Kindergarten Great Bridge Presbyterian School, Chesapeake
The Puppy Pizza Place by Lucy 2nd grade Deer Park Elementary, Newport News
The Day I Glitched by Kylen Boyer, 3rd grade Sedgefield Elementary, Newport News
Albino by Zymier Smith, 2nd grade Kiptopeke Elementary School, Cape Charles
The Hungry Little Fawn by Adilynn Kindergarten Williamsburg
There’s No Place Like Home by Malayia Charles, 3rd grade College Park Elementary School, Virginia Beach
The Girl Who Cried Santa Claus by Savannah Swinson, 4th grade Sewells Point Elementary School, Norfolk
The Tooth Fairy Meets Friends by Scarlett, Kindergarden Achilles Elementary, Hayes
Dear Diary: Recess Rap Battle by Taryn Vernon, 4th Grade Chesapeake
I Am Special by Lauryn Vernon, 1st Grade Chesapeake
My Big Surprise by Saniya, Kindergarten Carver Elementary School, Newport News
A Girl's Best Friend by Keasia Carney,, 2nd Grade Cradock Elementary School, Portsmouth
Learn more about Ms. Martha Reads
When Virginia leaders announced in March that schools across the Commonwealth would close for the remaining academic year due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, the education staff at WHRO Public Media quickly changed up their normal routines to seek new ways to support teachers and parents as they ventured into at-home learning.
For our Early Childhood Learning team, this meant monumental changes. Our children’s services specialists on this team typically spend most of their time out in the community delivering lessons to children at schools, libraries and community centers to encourage reading and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) skills. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, our educators were forced to park their colorful STEM and Reading Vans and find new methods of reaching children.
One new project that will soon launch is Ms. Martha Reads. Since her team couldn’t read to children in person, Martha Razor, manager of early childhood learning, decided to bring the stories to students virtually. Each week on Facebook, Martha will read a new story aloud. Rather than reading the books that children may already know, or could possibly find on their shelves at home, Martha will read stories that were submitted in previous years to our annual Young Storytellers Contest. These short tales are stories written by children, for children, with accompanying illustrations.
Martha taught for 15 years before coming to WHRO Education, so she is no stranger to classroom activities. Developing early literacy in children has always been one of her greatest joys. As part of her role at WHRO, she helps students throughout Eastern Virginia develop reading skills through our Literacy Van program, summer reading camps, and by providing books to students in under-served communities where books are not easily accessible in the home. She especially enjoys encouraging young students who struggle with reading to practice so they can become better, as well as distributing books to children through our First Books initiative.
“Out of all the activities that I participate in at WHRO, this is my passion. I love children reading and I love literacy,” Martha explains. “Even after 14 years, I still see the same expression on a child’s face when they receive a book. The children really get excited about having their own book to hold and keep.”
According to the Casey Foundation, students who are not proficient in reading by the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of school than proficient readers. Children who receive books are more likely to increase reading time at home, have an increase in their desire to learn, and, most importantly, have a higher interest in reading.
Join us every Friday at 10 a.m. on our Facebook page for Ms. Martha Reads.
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