Hokie ClubFormer Tech and current Carolina Panthers linebacker JamesAnderson will be visiting three elementary schools in his hometown ofChesapeake, Va., on Friday, May 4, to distribute summer reading books tofirst-graders.
The visit is part of Anderson’s new literacy initiativeentitled “Read Like a Pro.†He is teaming up with Scholastic Inc., theglobal children’s publishing, education and media company, to promote theimportance of reading and literacy, and to help the schools hehas “adopted†tackle the summer reading slide. In addition toproviding books to first-grade students, Anderson will read aloud to thestudents and talk to them about how literacy and reading affected his life andgot him to where he is today.
When students don’t readover the summer, teachers typically need 4 to 6 weeks in the fall to re-teachmaterial students have forgotten. What researchers call the “summerslide†in reading skills is a major concern for educators and isresponsible for the majority of the achievement gap between children frommiddle class and low-income families. Children from low-income families areless likely to have access to books at home.
Anderson played atTech from 2002-05. In the 2006 NFL Draft, the Panthers selected Anderson in thethird round, and he has been with the team ever since. Last year, he finishedwith 145 tackles, two interceptions and 1.5 sacks. In 2010, he recorded 130tackles, 3.5 sacks and an interception.
In July of last year, thePanthers rewarded Anderson for his steady play, signing him to a five-yearcontract worth $22 million, $8.5 of which was guaranteed.