For Black History Month, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite resources and books for readers and educators alike. Though this month is dedicated to uplifting Black history, culture, movements, and game changers, we must remember that Black history IS American history and should be celebrated all year round.
Continue readingTag Archives: literacy
The Reality of Babies and Literacy: A Guest Post by Author Jean Ciborowski Fahey
In this guest post,I’ll Build You a Bookcase author Dr. Jean Ciborowski Fahey shares practical strategies for caregivers embarking on their literacy journey with their little one.
Continue readingFree Upcoming Webinar: AIR’s New Language and Literacy Program for Preschoolers (COLLTS)
Join the Center for English Learners at the American Institutes for Research® for a webinar on Cultivating Oral Language and Literacy Talent in Students (COLLTS), an evidence-based, research-backed, and classroom-tested language and literacy program for preschoolers. The event will be held on Thursday, September 16th at 4:00 PM ET.
Cultivating Oral Language and Literacy Talent in Students (COLLTS) is designed to help teachers support language and literacy development for young dual language learners. An intervention study found that children who participated in COLLTS showed significantly larger gains in oral language than children who did not participate in the program.
Creating Diverse Books for Leveled Reading: An Interview with Gaylia Taylor
In this blog post, we interviewed Reading Recovery® teacher and Bebop Books author, Gaylia Taylor, about creating diverse books for leveled reading.
Why is diversity important in books for students learning to read? How is diversity critical to your work as an author?
Gaylia Taylor: Diversity is essential for students learning to read because they are for the first time stepping out of their world into a world that exists outside of themselves. As authors, we can put readers in the proximity of others. When we are around others, we can begin to understand different cultures and appreciate others’ differences. We write to extend boundaries. Each group has a gift. If we collect all of the gifts and put them together, we know love. As an author, I write to celebrate this–the heritage of cultural diversities.
Beginning Readers Webinar Resources: Diversity in Books for Beginning Young Readers
We had a wonderful turnout for last week’s webinar, “Diversity in Books for Independent and Instructional Reading and Writing in Kindergarten and First Grade” with Jennifer Serravallo, renowned literacy consultant, expert, and New York Times bestselling author, and Adjoa Burrowes, educator, artist, and award-winning Lee & Low author and illustrator.
Keep reading for links to resources and materials shared during the webinar and feel free to reach out for more information and/or a Professional Development certificate.
Learn More about COLLTS PreK Curriculum from the American Institutes for Research
Lee & Low Books is the exclusive publisher of the American Institutes for Research preschool curriculum, Cultivating Oral Language and Literacy Talents in Students (COLLTS). Today we’re sharing frequently asked questions about the curriculum.
Is COLLTS only for dual language learners?
No! The Center for English Learners at the American Institutes for Research designed the COLLTS PreK curriculum to meet the needs of dual language learners and English learners in any PreK setting. All children can benefit from COLLTS.
Are the books included in the kits?
Book bundles are sold separately because PreK settings vary widely in how many staff at different sites want to have the mentor text to share with students. You may customize number of copies for English here and Spanish here.
Live Webinar with Jennifer Serravallo: Diversity in Books for Independent and Instructional Reading and Writing in Kindergarten and First Grade
As schools prepare for a critical academic year like no other, educators are looking to engage with students in essential literacy skills while providing high-quality literature that students can relate to, enjoy and learn from.
Join Jennifer Serravallo, renowned literacy consultant, expert, and New York Times bestselling author, and Adjoa Burrowes, educator, artist, and award-winning Lee & Low author and illustrator for an upcoming Live-Only Webinar, as they discuss:
- how diversity and identity fits into reading instruction
- how to incorporate race and social justice into your literacy block
- explicit tips for supporting comprehension, phonics instruction, and writing techniques with incredible texts
NEW Professional Development from American Institutes for Research
With the release of the new COLLTS curriculum for PRE-K, professional developers from The Center for English Learners at the American Institutes for Research (AIR) are available to come to your district or school to prepare your early childhood education teachers and/or coaches to implement the COLLTS program.
AIR offers half-day or full-day training sessions to prepare teachers, coaches, and other staff to implement the COLLTS program. Follow-up coaching is also available.
The AIR and Bebop Books team work closely with districts and schools to provide customized support that prepares instructional staff to meet the demands of high academic standards for English learners.
Parents and Caregivers: Use This Tool to Build a More Diverse Home Book Collection
We are so excited to announce that we have adapted our beloved Classroom Library Questionnaire into a tool for families and caregivers! Our newly launched Home Library Questionnaire is now available for free to download.
The Home Library Questionnaire will help you:
- Reflect on your home library
- Broaden the types of books you read with your children
- Diversify your child’s independent reading and advocate for more inclusivity in school booklists
- Choose books that are inclusive of all people, backgrounds, and cultures
Here are some additional tips about reading with your child and making the most out of your reading experience:
Diverse Texts Aren’t Just for Elementary School: Building Inclusive Curricula for Middle and High School
In this guest post, Paul Bambrick-Santoyo and Stephen Chiger, co-authors of Love and Literacy: A Practical Guide for Grades 5-12 to Finding the Magic in Literature, share different ways that high school educators can approach text selection and build inclusive curricula.
Here’s a thought experiment: Consider the two high school book lists below. Which one would you prefer for a child you love?
All of the texts above are powerful, and all could make for fruitful study. But readers of this blog won’t likely need to be convinced of the advantages of list 2. A great curriculum makes space for more than one voice; it invites students to see themselves and each other through new eyes.
Why, then, do so many middle and high schools still look more like reading list 1?