Walter W. Stiern Library and Teacher Education Department partner for Read Aloud Series

This month’s virtual event honors Women’s History Month

By California State University, Bakersfield

March 16^th, 2021

The Walter W. Stiern Library (WSL) and the Teacher Education Department (TED) have partnered together for a reoccurring program called, the Teacher Read Aloud Series. This month’s event is centered around Women’s History Month, taking place virtually on Wednesday, March 17 at 4 p.m.

The Women’s History Month’s Read Aloud will feature “Rad American Women A-Z” read by educator, Sarah Shannon.

“Teacher Education Department wanted to connect more with the community and provide Read-Alouds for families,” said Dr. Bre Evans-Santiago, chair and assistant professor, CSUB Teacher Education Department.

Each Read Aloud event is based around a theme related to social justice with a virtual read aloud for children of staff, faculty and students. Teachers in the community choose a book, related to social justice and do a virtual reading via Zoom.

In October, WSL and TED partnered to read LGBTQ+ History Month children’s books and placed them in an LGBTQ+ Virtual Read Aloud Library with additional resources and books for others to access. During the month of February, Black History Month, their teacher reader, DeMarcus Clear, read the book, “Hair Love.”

“When Dr. Evans-Santiago contacted us for the very first Read Aloud, it was occurring right in the middle of the pandemic when so many young students were still exclusively in virtual learning environments,” said Andrea Anderson, Walter W. Stiern Library instruction and First Year Seminar (FYS) coordinator.

The two areas working together has been a meaningful way to connect the university and the wider Kern County community in a fun, educational way. Libraries are an important in developing knowledge and understanding. The stories being told connect everyone.

“The library is the source of so much knowledge! Their materials support our programs, and we want to make sure they are recognized for all of the amazing resources they provide us,” said Dr. Evans-Santiago.

“We wanted to help create a fun, meaningful storytelling experience for the community in a way that brought schools, teachers, libraries, and the university together at a time when we’ve become very isolated,” said Anderson.

Anderson hopes that the Read Aloud stories will “not only foster a love of reading, but also interest, empathy and a desire to learn about some of the social justice issues that are occurring in our society today.”

These events will also be a chance for the young people to see themselves represented in the books they read, so the two groups hope they are excited and encouraged by reading about people who are just like them.

“We hope they learn something new about elements within social justice and our society; interest in new things, or appreciation of people that may be different than themselves,” said Dr. Evans-Santiago.

“It’s been very positive. Our attendees have grown each time, and we look to co-sponsor with groups that fit our theme each month to further draw in people and support from all across campus. This month the OWLs (Organization of Women Leaders) will be co-sponsoring and drawing for a free copy of the book being read,” said Anderson.

“We hope there is a big turnout for this month and the rest of the series,” added Dr. Evans-Santiago.

Next month, a teacher will read to the virtual group on Earth Day. The semester will close out with another Read Aloud during finals week. So far, the experience has been great for students and their families all around.