One way I suggest engaging eleventh and twelfth-grade readers — especially for summer reading assignments — involves assigning modern novels outside of the traditional canon. Two books by Thrity Umrigar, The Space Between Us (2005) and Honor (2022) created a high level of engagement in my AP English Literature students at the onset of the […]
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Posted inDepartment of Education
New York Governor Hochul Unveils ‘Back to Basics’ Plan to Enhance Reading Proficiency
Governor Kathy Hochul has unveiled a comprehensive initiative, the ‘Back to Basics’ plan, to boost reading proficiency in New York and address the critical need for foundational skills in students. This proposal, a component of her 2024 State of the State address, focuses on transitioning the state’s education system to evidence-based best practices. In an […]
Posted inEnglish Language Learners
The Headlines About Student Reading Levels are Sobering, But There’s Hope if We Change the Conditions
This morning I opened my laptop, and in my inbox, there were two article titles on reading levels that immediately gave me anxiety. Hear me out. What Teaching Secondary English/Language Arts Used to Be Like As a former High School English teacher, my goal was to make my students think critically about the world around […]
Posted inSocial Studies
Reading Rights: Do I Have To or Can I Please: The Right to “Just Read”
By Lauren Davenport and Marie Southwell Just Read: A few years ago, on a visit to the library, a wonderful teacher I knew, Mr. Andrew Cedermark, was in the shared campus library with one of his classes. We had a history of talking shop and collaborating even though we work in separate schools, so when […]
Posted inBack to School
Middle School Summer Reading List
As educators, we are responsible for cultivating an inclusive learning environment that values and celebrates diversity. One powerful way to achieve this is by providing students with a diverse reading list that exposes them to different cultures, experiences, and perspectives. Here is a reading list specifically curated for your middle school summer reading list. Each […]
Posted inLiteracy
Eleventh-Grade Summer Reading List for Students
As educators, we are responsible for cultivating an inclusive learning environment that values and celebrates diversity. One powerful way to achieve this is by providing students with a diverse reading list that exposes them to different cultures, experiences, and perspectives. Here is a reading list specifically curated for your eleventh-grade summer reading list. Each book […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Recommended Chapter Books for 3rd Grade Summer Reading List
Reading is a powerful tool that helps children explore new worlds, develop empathy, and broaden their perspectives. In a diverse and multicultural world, it is essential to expose young readers to literature that reflects a variety of backgrounds and experiences. In this article, we will recommend a selection of diverse chapter books that are perfect […]
Posted inAsk a Teacher
Tenth Grade Summer Reading List: Embracing Diversity & Unlocking Imagination
Educators are responsible for cultivating an inclusive learning environment that values and celebrates diversity. One powerful way to achieve this is by providing students with a diverse reading list that exposes them to different cultures, experiences, and perspectives. Here is a reading list curated explicitly for your tenth-grade reading list. Each book on this tenth-grade […]