Let’s Talk About: African Americans and the Vote

Each year the Association for the Study of African American History (ASALH) announces a theme for Black History Month. The theme serves as a spotlight for historical issues and developments that are important for race relations in America.  ASALH encourages those with interest in black history to use the month of February as a time … read more »

African American History, Not Just for February!

 African American history is celebrated every year during February. Why not all year long? African American history has existed as long as America. If you are looking to add more African American History in your classroom, there are a multitude of resources available. No matter whether you are looking for general African American history … read more »

Celebrate African American History Month!

 African American History Month began when Carter G. Woodson created Negro History Week in 1926.  It is always celebrated in February. According to the Library of Congress, it “celebrates the contributions that African Americans have made to American history in their struggles for freedom and equality and deepens our understanding of our Nation’s history.” … read more »

Digging Deeper: Using Thinking Routines to Build Empathy During African-American History Month

As we celebrate and observe African-American History Month in February, we must recognize the importance of making this topic relevant to students beyond just learning about famous African Americans and their contributions to this country’s history. Including specific activities that promote deeper thinking allows us to deepen understanding while building empathy for others. Developing empathy … read more »

Let’s Talk About: Oral Language Development

Oral language development is a crucial part of the Science of Reading. The science tells us that while phonics, decoding, and sight recognition (the lower strands on Scarborough’s Reading Rope) are foundational, students will only become fluent readers with appropriate language development. Language skills help students to understand and discuss texts. Weaving oral language development … read more »