HISTORY… 1789 The First US Congress proposes the Bill of Rights, a set of amendments to the Constitution that guarantees essential liberties, including freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the right to peaceful assembly… 1906 Leonardo Torres Quevedo successfully demonstrates the Telekino in Bilbao before a large crowd, guiding a boat from the shore, considered the birth of remote control…** 1926** Henry Ford announces an eight-hour, five-day workweek for factory workers at Ford Motor Company… 1981Sandra Day O’Connor is sworn in as the first female US Supreme Court Justice
MUSIC… 1976Bono, David Evans, his brother Dik, and Adam Clayton respond to an advertisement on a bulletin board at Mount Temple posted by fellow student Larry Mullen Jr. to form a rock band, which becomes U2 1981The Rolling Stones begin their sixth US tour at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia 2007 Verve Records “River: The Joni Letters”, the 40th studio album by keyboardist Herbie Hancock; the tribute to songs of Joni Mitchell is first jazz album to be named Grammy Album of the Year in over 40 years, and rises to #5 on the pop charts 2017 American rockers Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers end their 40th Anniversary Tour with a concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Hollywood, California, in what becomes Tom Petty’s final performance; the last song played is their early hit “American Girl”
SPORTS 1844 Canada defeats the USA by 23 runs in the first international cricket match at the grounds of St. George’s Cricket Club in Manhattan, New York…SAY WHAT??? 1924Malcolm Campbell sets world auto speed record at 146.16 miles per hour 1926 NHL grants franchises to the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings 1934Lou Gehrig plays in his 1,500th consecutive game 1936 Joe Medwick sets a National League record with his 64th double 1962 Challenger Sonny Liston knocks out Floyd Patterson at 2:06 of round 1 at Comiskey Park, Chicago, to win the world heavyweight boxing title
FILM/TV… 1947 Second Cannes Film Festival ends with six different awards presented, including Best Musical for Vincente Minnelli’s “Ziegfeld Follies” and Best Animation for Walt Disney’s “Dumbo” 1959 Hammer horror film “The Mummy,” starring Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, is first released in the UK 1961 “The Hustler,” directed by Robert Rossen and starring Paul Newman, premieres in Washington, D.C. 1970Ringo Starr releases his second solo album “Beaucoups of Blues,” a collection of country music recorded in Nashville, Tennessee
Inaugural National Silent E Day Declared for September 29 to Spotlight Literacy and the Magic of Spelled Words
MANDAN, ND — September 2026 — Today, the National Day Calendar® Registrar officially marks September 29 as National Silent E Day, an annual celebration dedicated to one of the most hardworking yet quiet heroes of the English language: the final, silent e.
Founded by Stacey Roselli—a Structured Literacy Specialist, Reading Interventionist, and Founder of The Reading Village—National Silent E Day was established to highlight how explicit, structured literacy instruction empowers readers and spellers of all ages, especially students with language-based learning differences such as dyslexia.
While it makes no sound of its own at the end of a word, the silent e performs several critical jobs that completely change how words are read, spelled, and understood:
The Vowel Transformer: It changes short vowel sounds into long vowel sounds (turning cap into cape or kit into kite).
The “V” Companion: English words almost never end in the letter v, so e steps in as a silent partner in words like have and give.
The Sound Softener: Positioned after a c or g, it softens hard consonants (turning a hard c sound into the soft c in peace).
The Word Anchor: It prevents confusion with plural suffixes and ensures every written syllable retains its required vowel anchor.
“When children understand the rules and patterns behind our written language, reading stops feeling like random guessing and starts feeling like solving a puzzle,” says founder Stacey Roselli. “National Silent E Day is a fun, accessible way to bring educators, families, and communities together to celebrate foundational literacy skills and foster a lifelong love for reading.”
How to Participate on September 29th
Classrooms, libraries, families, and book lovers nationwide are invited to join the celebration:
Play & Win: Visit the official National Silent E Day website to participate in literacy games, friendly learning competitions, and prize raffles.
Community Events: Check for local reading events and story times at participating public libraries and Barnes & Noble locations.
Show Your Support: Wear your favorite Silent E swag or create classroom activities highlighting silent e transformations.
Join the Conversation: Share pictures, word-building activities, and classroom wins on social media using the hashtag #NationalSilentEDay
Stacey Roselli is a Structured Literacy Specialist and Reading Interventionist with over two decades of experience supporting students with language-based learning differences, including dyslexia. In 2014, she founded The Reading Village, a private educational organization serving students from kindergarten through high school. She has served as Vice President of the International Dyslexia Association (Florida Branch) and continues to advocate for high-quality, structured reading instruction nationwide.
