Reading has always been important in a child’s development, especially for younger kids who are learning to read and write. It improves skills such as vocabulary, storytelling and writing. But with all of the new technology popping up in today’s world, reading for fun is not a common second thought anymore to a lot of people, including high school students.

Avid and English teacher Amy Rasmussen is the proud founder of Farmer’s Read, which is a new program that encourages all students in the LISD Central Zone to simply just read.

From the prekindergarten students to graduating seniors heading off to college, everyone is encouraged to give away old books, start book clubs and learn to love to read again for fun. Even for those who are not fans of reading, just ten minutes a day is improvement.

“It’s a literacy campaign that starts at the high school level and goes all the way down to the elementary school,” Rasmussen said. “[Teachers and staff] know and agree that we need to do more because if students don’t get read to at home or if they’re not reading at home when they are young, then they are less likely to read when they are juniors and seniors in high school and then we have major problems.”

Not only does reading improve different skills, but it also allows your brain to de-stress and helps with formulating new ideas.

“We started noticing that we have a lack of readers on our campus and when students can read well, they write a lot better and they are more literate,” Rasmussen said. “They [then] have a better chance of getting good jobs, and getting into college. Being a good reader ties exactly into our hopes and dreams of becoming proper adults.”

It’s important to recognize that one doesn’t have to completely give up technology to read. Reading books and blogs online or downloading them to an iPad or e-reading device are options as well.

There is a Farmer’s Read club in F211 during B-block lunch on Monday’s for anyone who wants to help with the first book drive. More than 1,000 books were donated at Hey Day, and club members will sort them into bags and send them home with students.

“The ultimate goal of #FarmersREAD is to get books into the hands of all LISD Central Zone students as well as to reinforce the idea that reading and learning are cool,” English teacher Amber Counts said. “Lewisville High School students will serve as the leaders who demonstrate that reading is a lifestyle as we encourage each other to read, to learn and to grow in the knowledge and empathy that books provide.”

Join the campaign by tweeting #FarmersREAD to promote more awareness for this year-long event. Donating to local book drives, building classroom libraries and reading with children inside and outside of school are just some of the ways students can contribute.