A Uniquely Educational Visit to Thomas Haley Elementary

We took our important assignment in a new direction by talking about the special way that we were taught to read without sight. We talked about our hero, Louis Braille and presented keepsake Braille alphabets for students. In a short time, students were reading Dr. Seuss books out loud using their fingertips!

On March 1st, my friend and colleague Al and I loaded into a Lyft and rode to Irving ISD’s Thomas Haley Elementary School. We had been asked to read to students for the Read Across America Day celebration, and we were excited to represent the Envision Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind. The National Education Association (NEA) promotes Read Across America every year as close to Dr. Seuss’s March 2nd birthday as possible. Across the country, thousands of schools, libraries, and community centers participate by reading kids and teen books to students. This year, Al and I shook things up a bit.

Ms. Fulture, a 4th and 5th grade teacher at Haley Elementary, had this to say about our visit: “Having Blake and Al visit our students was such an amazing and powerful experience for our students and faculty. Our students, ranging in ages from kindergarten to fifth grade, are quite diverse. We have over 20 languages spoken here at our campus, and our students come from all over the world. However, seeing someone with a disability is not very common for our students. Having Blake and Al visit gave our students exposure to and education regarding people with blindness. They showed our students that even with a disability, living a normal, successful life is very much possible. The students were so excited and fascinated to have some Dr. Seuss classics read to them in braille. As an educator, I want our children to know and understand that people are all different and we all have something incredible to offer this world. We welcome Blake and Al back any time!”