Join the 2022 Read to ME Challenge

The 2022 Read to ME Challenge is a month-long public awareness campaign to promote childhood literacy in Maine. It’s held annually during February and is brought to you by the Maine Department of Education. This year, in addition to sharing posts through social media, organizers will celebrate with a series of recorded videos by students and adults.

What is the Read to ME Challenge?

The Read to ME Challenge is an opportunity to contribute to a child’s literacy growth by reading aloud to one or more children for at least 15 minutes. The steps for taking the challenge are listed below.  You can also read about how the challenge is spreading across Maine by visiting the Read to ME Challenge articles.

“When you read aloud to a child it helps them build their own reading and vocabulary skills, exposes them to the world, establishes reading as an enjoyable and valuable activity, strengthens their bonds with trusted adults, and provides a foundation for future success as adults. I encourage everyone to join educators, parents and others across the state by completing the Read to ME challenge and making a difference for Maine children.”  Pender Makin, Maine Education Commissioner 

How to Participate:

• Read to and/or have a child/children read to you for at least 15 minutes.
• Read an engaging book, chapter of a novel, newspaper or magazine article, comics, nursery rhymes or poetry.
• Capture a photograph or short video (15-30 seconds) of yourself reading to the child.
• Use #ReadtoME or #ReadaloudME to post the photo or video on social media. Challenge others to read aloud 15 minutes to a child or children they know.
• Recommended social media platforms include: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Youtube.
• If you live far away from a child you’d like to read to, use Zoom or Facetime to read aloud via digital means.
• If you are unable to complete the challenge you may want to consider:
  • Donating a book to a school or public library, a food cupboard, a homeless shelter or a little free library near where you live.
  • Singing to or having a conversation with a child (these methods build language, too).
  • Visiting the Read Across America site for additional resources and ideas.

For more information, contact Danielle Saucier, Elementary Literacy Specialist for the Maine Department of Education.