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.

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Featured Stories

The Donkey Who Lost His Memory
by Ruben, 2nd grade
James Hurst Elementary, Portsmouth

 

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The Scared Little Fish
by Sahasra, 1st grade
Kiln Creek Elementary, Newport News

 

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Cory Clanet
by Grace, 3rd grade
Hermitage Elementary, Virginia Beach

 

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The Adventures of Oreo the Rat
by Holly, 1st grade
Carver Elementary School

 

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Meatball's Adventure
by Kiera, 4th grade
Star of the Sea School, Virginia Beach

 

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Stacy and the Candy Dimension
by Aynslee, 3rd grade
Tidewater Academy, Wakefield

 

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Bubble Trouble
by Kennedy, 2nd grade
Nansemond Parkway Elementary School, Suffolk

 

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Ranger Bill
by Deonta, 3rd grade
Kiptopeke Elementary School, Cape Charles

 

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The Scissors Go To School
by Ruby, 1st grade
Occohannock Elementary, Exmore

 

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The Baker Princess
by Lara, Kindergarten
Norfolk

 

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Do Not Waste Water
by Aaria, 1st grade
John B. Dey Elementary, Virginia Beach

 

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The Adventures of Net Man
by Frank, Kindergarten
Suffolk

 

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The Bunny Who Saved His Family
by Victoria, 2nd grade
Norfolk

 

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The Ups and Downs of Earth
by Zoey, 5th grade
Pembroke Meadows Elementary, Virginia Beach

 

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Earth's Cardboard Creations
by Evie, 4th grade
Kilby Shores Elementary, Suffolk

 

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Recycle Me!
by Aanya, 3rd grade
Old Donation School, Virginia Beach.

 

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Kitty's Garden
by Isaac, Kindergarten
Great Bridge Presbyterian School, Chesapeake

 

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Saniya And The S-Bots
by Saniya, 5th grade
Carver Elementary School, Newport News

 

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Magical Art
by Taryn, 3rd grade
Chesapeake

 

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Splash Splash Mermaddy (with First Lady of Virginia)
by Madison, 2nd grade
Corporate Landing Elementary, Virginia Beach

 

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Daisy the Dolphin and the Adventures in the Elizabeth River
by Moriah, 5th grade
W.H. Taylor Elementary School, Norfolk

 

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Whoo-ty's Great Idea!
by Alissa, 2nd grade
Saunders Elementary School, Newport News

 

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Nature Helps Timmy to Read
by Josiah Williams, 4th grade
Chesapeake

 

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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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