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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