Tech Tool of the Month: Reading Treks

I have heard it said that books open the world to students. This month our tech tool proves that saying to be true. In honor of Read a New Book Month (happening every December), I chose a tech tool that related to reading books. Reading Treks, a TeachersFirst original, offers students the chance to visit … read more »

Happy Holiday Reading!

First published on December 19th in 1843, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is still popular today. Holiday reading is just the right thing to get everyone in the holiday spirit! In Iceland, everyone celebrates Jolabokaflod (pronounced yo-la-bok-a-flot). The holiday season is signaled by the arrival of the Bokatidindi—a catalog of every new book published … read more »

Digital Reading Takes Practice

Most of us and our students spend a large part of each day reading digital text. Although we might prefer and encourage reading traditional print sources on paper, most of our future information needs will be fulfilled online. Although studies have shown people who read printed text comprehend more–thus learn and retain more, digital access … read more »

Comic Approach to Reading: Graphic Novels

Comic books once were considered the worst things kids could read. Lots of irresistible issues were hidden under beds or between the covers of textbooks. Many comic books were banned because of their ephemeral nature, graphical format, and often mature and violent content. Think of those lurid covers featuring a scantily-clad, buxom girl in the … read more »

Summertime and the Reading Is Easy

“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” Henry James. Ah, summertime and the reading is easy. Finally, time for teachers to read something just for fun. Nothing is more enjoyable than sitting under a tree with a cool drink and a good book written … read more »