Most Recommended Content

Adolescent Literacy Glossary

Adequate Yearly Progress, Small Learning Communities, Explicit Instruction — do you know what these phrases mean? Find these and other commonly used terms related to reading, literacy, and reading instruction in our glossary.

Grace Lin

Fairy Tales, Folktales and Myths, Fantasy, Fiction

Grace Lin

Black male high school teacher helping Black male student in class

Essentials of Literacy Instruction

Get the basics on effective practices in teaching word study, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, motivation, writing, and content area literacy.

Latina high school student talking with classmate

Teaching English Language Learners

What do teachers of English language learners (ELLs) in middle and high school need to know to support their students’ success? Take a look at these resources, as well as additional information from our sister site, Colorín Colorado.

Author Angie Thomas smiling at the camera with her hands under her chin

Fiction

Angie Thomas

“What’s the point of having a voice if you’re gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn’t be?”
― Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give

National Summer Learning Association

Engaging Family and Community in Afterschool and Summer Programs

Informal literacy experiences often serve to shape young people’s identity as readers and writers as much as or more than formal schooling.Community and family support can emphasize the importance of reading and writing, build confidence, influence young people’s literacy habits, and encourage youth to seek out ways to engage in literate activities. Through a renewed national push for literacy on all levels, both families and community members have diverse opportunities in which to impact students’ literacy skills.This article offers strategies to develop community engagement.
He Said, She Said

Kwame Alexander

He Said, She Said

Sparks will fly in this hip-hop-hot teen novel that mixes social protest and star-crossed romance, from Newbery Medal winner Kwame Alexander (The Crossing). Two high school seniors are thrown together when they unexpectedly end up leading the biggest social protest this side of the Mississippi — with a lot of help from social media.

Kristina Robertson, Susan Lafond

Getting Ready for College: What ELL Students Need to Know

For ELLs, the challenges of going to college and finding the right opportunities can be overwhelming, but ELL teachers can play an important role helping students apply to college and preparing for the application process as well. This month’s Bright Ideas article offers some great ideas for ways that you can support ELL students as they consider their future plans.
A Hispanic mother and child walk with clouds and flowers behind them

Picture Books for Teens

Picture books can help middle school and high school readers build background knowledge and visual literacy. The endless range of subject matter presented in picture books, in the hands of skilled storytellers and artists provides many opportunities to explore different paths for learning and getting excited about reading and information. 

Sebastian Wren

Ten Myths About Learning to Read

There are many beliefs and a great deal of dogma associated with reading acquisition, and people are often reluctant to let go of their beliefs despite contradictory research evidence. Here are 10 of the most popular and most potentially pernicious myths that influence reading education.

Affordable Assistive Technology

When teachers don’t use assistive technology, cost is often a factor. Are there good low tech solutions — or maybe some tools that are free or inexpensive that more teachers might consider?

Close up portrait of author Walter Dean Myers with Dope Sick cover using bold hand drawn typography

Walter Dean Myers’ Second Chance Initiative

Inspired by Walter Dean Myers’ powerful book, Dope Sick, the Second Chance Initiative is an effort to motivate teens to overcome life’s challenge, move beyond mistakes of the past, take advantage of the second chances they are given, and make better choices in the future.