Juneteenth in the Classroom: Exploring History Through Timelines, Stories, and Student Projects

On June 19, 1895, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, with life-changing news: the Civil War had ended two years prior, and all enslaved individuals were now free. Despite the belated announcement, the city erupted in joyous celebrations filled with prayers, feasting, and lively singing and dancing. June 19 is an annual commemoration within the … 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 »

Celebrating Juneteenth in the Classroom: Commemorating Freedom and Celebrating Resilience

Juneteenth has never been a celebration of victory or an acceptance of the way things are. It’s a celebration of progress. It’s an affirmation that despite the most painful parts of our history, change is possible—and there is still so much work to do. Barack Obama As educators, you have the honor of imparting knowledge … read more »

Happy 223rd Birthday, Library of Congress!

April 24th is the 223rd birthday of the Library of Congress! The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library and an agency of the legislative branch of the U.S. government. It serves as the main research arm of the U.S. Congress, is recognized as the national library of the United States, and is the … read more »

Women as Leaders: Eleanor Roosevelt Biography Project

“I have spent many years of my life in opposition, and I rather like the role.” Eleanor Roosevelt In his March 2021 newsletter, Vivek Gambhir shared eight crucial lessons we can learn from successful women leaders. Although the article focuses on women’s leadership during the pandemic, the lessons learned relate to women as leaders in … read more »