When novels burst onto the literary scene in the 18th century with Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, they presented something truly new: the idea that a common person and his pursuits could matter. This concept shattered the notion that books needed to focus on high-minded ideals and individuals of high social value. Nearly a quarter of… Read More

Literacy deeply and persistently impacts access to education, economic development, and life outcomes. Even in our modern world, the numbers are startling. Millions — around the world and in our own country — remain functionally illiterate, reading below the basic level. The International Literacy Association views “literacy as the ability to identify, understand, interpret, create,… Read More

The skill of determining importance in a nonfiction text is an area in which students of all ages often struggle. For emerging readers, it can require so much attention to merely get through reading a nonfiction text, that it’s easy not to process what the text actually says, much less pull out the important details… Read More

Think back to your middle or high school English class and the books you read. Great Gatsby? Lord of the Flies? Maybe 1984 or Les Misérables? While those are all important works, the literary canon has long been dominated by white authors, white perspectives, white characters — and those voices are often male. There are so… Read More

The United States is facing a literacy crisis. According to ProLiteracy, more than 36 million adults in the United States cannot read, write, or do basic math above a third grade level. The One World Literacy Foundation has found that two thirds of students who cannot read proficiently by the end of 4th grade will… Read More

Between required curriculum and mandated testing, it can often feel like there aren’t many opportunities to fit in enriching, fundamental activities like reading. However, the “Drop Everything and Read,” (or D.E.A.R.) movement hopes to encourage students, families, and educators to immerse themselves in reading. D.E.A.R. was inspired by Beverly Cleary (who wrote about the concept… Read More

The United States is facing a literacy crisis. Yes, crisis. It isn’t new, but its impacts upon our kids, our economy, and our society are far-reaching and expanding. How bad is it? Take a look at some numbers. More than 30 million adults in the United States cannot read, write, or do basic math above a… Read More

It’s seems obvious, right? If students have increased access to a diverse and abundant selection of books, they’ll be more likely to discover something they like and read more. And yet, many of our nation’s children lack access to books at home and have lackluster classroom libraries. Providing a bounty of books for students is… Read More

Students who avoid reading or seem disinterested can often be reached when different strategies are used to connect with them. First we have to find out why they are reluctant to read. Then we need to tap into their interests and strengths to motivate them. Here are a few common problems reluctant readers face and… Read More

Literature can help children learn to see the world through someone else’s eyes, and developing empathy for characters can help them understand people better. We asked teachers and educators to weigh in on this topic, and came up with five highly recommended children’s books that teach empathy in creative ways. 1. Horton Hatches The Egg… Read More

Each summer, educators and students alike pour out of schools ready to relax, have fun, and recuperate from their challenging years. Students definitely feel like they need the break, but the research is clear: academic skills — especially reading — decline over the summer. Why summer learning matters Most students suffer a summer slump to… Read More

Reading is one of the most important and foundational skills that all students must learn. However, there are a variety of approaches and schools of thought that can be implemented and sometimes it’s hard to know what will be the best way to teach reading. Some students benefit more from certain methods than others, and… Read More

Reading is a pivotal skill that all students need in order to succeed in school and in life. There are a number of techniques and teaching styles that educators can employ to help their students achieve reading comprehension and competency. While there are many excellent and proven methods for helping students to succeed in reading,… Read More

When students have difficulty comprehending what they’re reading, not only could they have trouble in nearly every subject in school, but they miss out on the joy of exploring new worlds, traveling back in time, and solving mysteries alongside their peers. High-interest stories sometimes are motivating enough to read, yet some students continue to struggle when… Read More