Many students are looking to escape the harsh realities of COVID-19. Online learning, social distancing, closure of many businesses and recreation areas, a
Read MoreLiteracy
The American School System Must Push Back on Fascist Ideas
I am going to share a dirty little secret. For over 20 years, I have been a frequent viewer of “Fox & Friends.” The blame for this behavior falls at the fo
Read MoreBlack Boys’ Can Help You Reach African American Males in Your Classroom
The week that it was Black History Month, I grabbed two assignments. One from a district that was serving mostly white kids, and they were reading the Lett
Read MoreKids Need to Write More. A Lot More.
Growing up with teachers for parents, my siblings and I were taught that writing is an indispensable skill. We attended rigorous schools and enrichment pro
Read MoreIf You Want Justice, Teach Kids How to Read
In 1990, I was a brand-new teacher in an unusual environment: a Chicago alternative high school where teens and young adults could earn their diplomas afte
Read MoreLeveled Texts Are ‘Exhibit A’ for the Soft Bigotry of Low Expectations
The scene occurs daily in classrooms across the United States. Students, grouped by reading ability, come to the teacher’s table to read their leveled read
Read MoreLet’s Focus on Our Students’ Health and Humanity, Not on ‘Getting Back to Normal’
I almost forgot we were stuck at home. My daughter’s pre-K class was on a field trip to the zoo through a Zoom meeting and I could hear kids oohing and awi
Read MoreTo Teach Black Children Superbly Is a Revolutionary Act
Dear Freedom School Literacy Team 2020, Across the nation, we started the summer of 2020, lighting up the streets with rage. We rage for George Floyd’s sen
Read MoreEpisode 41: How Oakland Is Tackling the Reading Crisis (ft. Lakisha Young, Dirk Tillotson, and Kareem Weaver)
In this episode, you’ll hear from Oakland activists Lakisha Young, Dirk Tillotson, and Kareem Weaver about the Literacy for All campaign, which is describe
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