Ed Eng 10 class of Xavier University School of Education displayed their personalized WRAD materials during the activity. Supplied photo.

Students from Xavier University School of Education celebrated World Read Aloud Day, a global movement that promotes the joy and importance of reading and storytelling, through a series of interactive activities held at the XU American Corner CDO Lecture Space. The celebration was participated by BSEd and BEEd students from Ed Eng 10 (Language Programs and Policies in Multilingual Societies) and Ed EE 18 (Teaching English in the Elementary Grades Through Literature) under SOE faculty Anito R Librando, Jr.

World Read Aloud Day, celebrated on the first Wednesday of every February, underscores the power of reading aloud in building literacy, fostering imagination, and strengthening human connection. In line with this advocacy, the SOE undergraduate students designed creative and participatory storytelling activities that allowed them to experience reading as a communal and dynamic practice.

SOE sophomore Neill Gralph Dayham shares his original story from the Build-A-Story Challenge. Supplied photo.

The event featured various storytelling strategies, including Story in the Round, where participants collaboratively created a narrative; It Happened to Me, which invited personal storytelling and reflection; and A Picture Is Worth 1000 Words, a visual storytelling activity that challenged students to craft stories based on images. These activities highlighted the role of storytelling as both a pedagogical tool and a means of self-expression.

To further enrich the celebration, students created creative reading crowns and bookmarks, symbolizing their identity as readers and future educators. A highlight of the program was the Build-A-Story Challenge, where students worked on challenge prompts to develop original stories, encouraging creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking.

Ed EE 18 class of Xavier University School of Education displayed their personalized WRAD materials during the activity. Supplied photo.

For the participants, the celebration reinforced the value of storytelling in education and its relevance in engaging learners of all ages. SOE sophomore Ariane Maryz Lozada reflected on her involvement in the celebration, saying, “Taking part of the World Read Aloud Day 2026 made me feel elated, as the activities did not simply feel like tasks but meaningful moments that allowed me to reconnect with the joy of reading, express myself freely, and feel a sense of belonging within a shared love for stories.”

SOE sophomore Neill Gralph Dayham also shared his experience, saying, “Our WRAD activities in the American Corner were like catalysts for increased participation, which enabled the development of understanding with voices, presence, and interaction.”

The XU American Corner CDO, a partnership between Xavier University and the U.S. Embassy, provided an ideal venue for the event, supporting initiatives that promote literacy, cultural exchange, and global citizenship—core values reflected in the celebration of World Read Aloud Day.

Through this activity, the future educators demonstrated how reading aloud and storytelling can be meaningful, inclusive, and engaging learning experiences. The celebration also affirmed the School of Education’s commitment to forming future educators who view reading not only as an academic skill but as a powerful tool for connection, creativity, and community building.