Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed is the perfect book for middle grade readers. In this book, we are taken to the country of Pakistan and follow the life of Amal. Amal is ambitious, curious, and excited about learning. She yearns to be a teacher when she grows up. Unfortunately, Amal has an encounter at the market that changes her life… Read More

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.   Little Leaders by Vashti Harrison tells the stories of women who have greatly impacted American history. From slaves to women who are still currently making big moves, their stories are just what students need exposure to. The women in this book include… Read More

Here’s ten Black History Read Alouds that are recommended for students of all ages. I wanted to find and share some stories that aren’t the typical stories we hear about every year. There is so much rich history that is skipped over in the classrooms. My hope is that this list will provide some new information for students and encourage… Read More

Are you looking for some chapter books for Black History Month? Here are three suggestions for middle and high school students. I love to read books that spark great discussion and allow students to think beyond basic comprehension and go deeper. These books do just that! This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. As an Amazon Associate, I earn… Read More

Martin Luther King Jr. Day gives our nation time to reflect on the life and impact he had on our nation. It’s very important that students learn about this leader, which is why I’m suggesting three children’s books about Martin Luther King, Jr. These books describe the life and legacy of the Civil Rights leader. Students can learn about his… Read More

The overall purpose for literacy instruction should be comprehension. Regardless of the purpose for reading, students should be reading for meaning and understanding. I recently read Sharon Taberski’s book Comprehension from the Ground Up in which she describes the essentials for an effective reading program in the early grades. Throughout the book she gives great suggestions for literacy programs, but… Read More

Three Ways to Use Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson in Your Class Use Brown Girl Dreaming as a Mentor Text Brown Girl Dreaming is an excellent book to use as a mentor text for teaching memoirs. In this book Jacqueline Woodson describes significant events in her childhood that shaped who she became. She very eloquently describes her family and… Read More

Many teachers choose the texts they read in the classroom based on what skills they can teach with that book. That makes perfect sense! However, there are other factors we need to take into consideration. We also need a variety of mirror and window texts in our classroom. What are mirror texts? Mirror texts are books that allow children to… Read More