Reading Partners

On August 16, our summer engagement series continues with a tutor panel! Returning tutors can connect with other volunteers and share stories from your reading center, and new tutors can learn from experienced volunteers about what in-person and virtual tutoring are like. See you there! Register here. https://readingpartners.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tktnTCmATe2Od4s0MBZDTw

Have you ever wondered what makes it onto a teacher’s summer reading list? Education Week asked teachers, and their choices range from nonfiction to potential books for students.

Teachers' Favorite Reads This Summer Teachers shared some of their summer book selections, with a wide variety of subject matter and genres.

The Olympics are in full swing, and these book recommendations from the The New York Times are perfect to help get kids excited about this year’s edition of the international competition featuring some of the world’s greatest athletes.

On the Track or in the Stands, These Children’s Books Will Get You in the Olympic Spirit Colorful primers, inspirational biographies and books by former champions will get kids excited for the Paris Games — and teach valuable lessons along the way.

New research suggests that excessively highlighting passages while reading could do more harm than good when it comes to comprehension. In fact, constrained highlighting may be the key to strengthening literacy skills. Learn more here.

Study finds limited highlighting boosts reading comprehension If you scroll through the average student's digital textbook or reading, you will probably see multi-colored streaks scattered everywhere. However, new research reveals that excessive highlighting may do more harm than good.

The Senate Appropriations Committee will meet this Thursday to mark up their FY25 spending bill that funds AmeriCorps They're planning to slash funding in a way that would devastate thousands of nonprofits around the country just like Reading Partners.

We're powered by our service members, and without their passion for serving their communities, we'd be unable to give students the literacy resources they need to thrive in school and beyond. Learn more about the meeting happening on Thursday here, then we encourage you to take action by contacting your lawmakers to urge them not to slash AmeriCorps funding. Voices for National Service

Congress Is Poised to Gut AmeriCorps. It's a Huge Mistake | Opinion There will be other fires and other storms, and our states and communities will need the talents and toil of national service members.

To encourage her students to try reading new books, this teacher hosts something she calls “book tastings” to allow kids to take a quick look at a bunch of books and decide which one they want to try reading.

Reigniting the Joy of Reading With Book Tastings Offering students a chance to sample new genres and styles of books in the school library can help them break out of a reading rut.

Time for learning and time for play might seem like totally separate concepts, but the research shows that they often go hand-in-hand. Read more to learn how playtime is key to developing crucial cognitive and social-emotional skills.

The Learning Hidden in Play Play is a critical component of healthy cognitive and social-emotional development

The practice of banning books has been around for centuries, but what does it actually mean for a book to be banned in 2024? This story from NPR All Things Considered asks several experts and stakeholders for their thoughts.

What’s a book ban anyway? Depends on who you ask The term "book ban" is used a lot in media and elsewhere when addressing the rise in challenges to certain books being allowed in schools and public libraries. But is it more political hyperbole or a censorship alarm bell?

It’s time to Today. Voices for National Service, States for Service, Service Year Alliance, and The Corps Networks are co-hosting a virtual day of action to urge Congress to reject catastrophic cuts to in the FY25 budget. Join us! It takes just 2 minutes to use these tools to send an email, place a call, or post on social media urging your lawmakers to invest in – not cut – AmeriCorps. https://voicesforservice.org/take-action/contact-congress/

What’s the big deal with the science of reading? This Magazine article breaks it down into six components that can help you unpack what it all means.

Unpacking the science of reading – what the research says A new paper by ACER’s Greta Rollo and Dr Kellie Picker unpacks the science of reading. In a 3-part series for Teacher , they explain each of the…

Unlock a world of possibilities with service at Reading Partners! Not only do you make a difference in students’ lives, but you also receive a living stipend, professional development opportunities, an end-of-year bonus, and more. We still have open positions in South Carolina, Tulsa, and Minnesota. Apply today at readingpartners.org/americorps.

Creating a dedicated space for summer reading can make the experience feel more exciting for young readers. These five tips from will help you brainstorm how to build the coziest reading nook.

5 Tips for Creating a Summer Reading Environment for Kids By devoting a special area in your home to summer reading, you’ll help your child find joy in books.

Native American history is integral to an inclusive and well-rounded curriculum. offers some tips for how to integrate Native American perspectives into learning.

How to Integrate Native American Perspectives in Social Studies and Science Lessons To counteract the imbalance in information about Indigenous people, teachers can respectfully share resources that highlight important and deeply rooted knowledge.

Every student learns to read differently, but some experts think that reading journeys can be broken down into three main categories. If you have a young reader at home or in the classroom, familiarize yourself with these categories to best support them as they learn to read. KQED

Each Student Has a Different Reading Journey. Many Fall Into These 3 Categories. | KQED Understanding three types of readers can help English teachers tailor their interactions with students to spark a love of reading.

This KQED article looks at 5 reasons that read alouds are valuable, even for kids who capable of independent reading.

5 Reasons To Keep Up Read-Alouds Beyond Kindergarten | KQED Read-alouds tend to peak around age 5, but kids of all ages can benefit from teachers and parents reading to them.

This , let's support children in exploring new interests and skills. DiscoverSummer.org provides excellent resources to foster continuous learning https://bit.ly/3VP04EX
Thank you for being a champion of quality summer enrichment experiences for every kid in America!

Discover More Helpful Resources | InPlay.org NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia is inviting students in grades K-12 to draw, paint or design what’s next in science, aeronautics, and exploration in the NASA Langley Student Art Contest.

We're halfway through summer, but the fun is just getting started! Join us for our upcoming Summer Engagement Series, an opportunity to connect with Reading Partners staff and other tutors ahead of the next school year.

Our first of three events is next Friday: a webinar on adopting a growth mindset. See you there!

Register here: https://readingpartners.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Ecq0Q3vISfWOSU96LBU4Iw

For many students, the library is a place where they can explore new worlds, connect with peers, and strengthen their literacy skills. Here are some tips for making libraries more welcoming for passionate and reluctant readers alike.

Making the Library a More Welcoming Space By offering flexible areas and creative activities that give students a chance to relax and connect, the library can become a haven for belonging—and the heart of a school.

Curious about AmeriCorps service but not sure if it's the right fit for you? Attend next week's info session to find out! During this free webinar, we'll talk about what it's like to serve as an AmeriCorps member with Reading Partners, all the benefits that come with it, and how to get started. See you there! Register here: https://readingpartners.zoom.us/webinar/register/8017171883354/WN_UlYqL-odTXerM1CRtsGOHw

Neuroscientists are beginning to understand why reading comprehension is sometimes more effective on paper than on a screen. One study identifies a difference in blood flow to the prefrontal cortex, while another observed a difference in brainwaves.

PROOF POINTS: This is your brain. This is your brain on screens Scientists detect differences in brain activity that could explain why comprehension is better on paper

We are thrilled to announce the newest member of the Reading Partners national board, Dr. Sally Ann Zoll! She is an award-winning CEO, entrepreneur, and corporate strategist internationally recognized for spearheading significant organizational growth and program sustainment at the organizations she has served. Read more about Sally here: https://readingpartners.org/about-us/our-team/

In the education space, AI makes some things easier, but at what cost? This data from Research Center suggests that at least 1 in 4 teachers feel the consequences are more significant than the benefits

A quarter of U.S. teachers say AI tools do more harm than good in K-12 education High school teachers are more likely than elementary and middle school teachers to hold negative views about AI tools in education.

“Showing all children that their voices matter, that their votes will one day matter, will help build a thriving, inclusive democracy.” -Adeola Whitney, Reading Partners CEO

Happy 4th of July! What better way to show your kids that their voices matter than a democracy-themed booklist? Dive in here. https://readingpartners.org/blog/kid-lit-democracy-books/

In his 1852 speech “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?,” Frederick Douglass calls out the contradictory nature of celebrating freedom in a country that allowed slavery to exist. For some Americans from marginalized backgrounds, this tension persists today.

What does the Fourth of July mean to America's marginalized citizens? - Reading Partners | Reading Partners In 1852, Frederick Douglass asked the brave question, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” in one of his now most famous speeches.

This research offers a new strategy that considers the needs of English language learning students for developing fluency. This process, called Building Fluency Routines, involves a four step process that encourages students to interact with the text in different ways.

Supporting Multilingual Learners in Reading Fluency - Language Magazine Kate Kinsella offers evidence-aligned strategies to build reading fluency within dedicated ELD and content-area coursework

Picture books are a big part of early reading, but media literacy requires that we continue to view images as texts even off the page of a book. Here are some strategies to share with students for media analysis.

Incorporating Photos, Videos, and Other Media in the Classroom By treating media like text, teachers can create a fast, relevant, and affordable lesson that stimulates lively discussion.

Rob Sanders calls himself “a teacher who writes and a writer who teaches.” He’s the author of Q***r and Fearless, Bling Blaine: Throw Glitter, Not Shade, STONEWALL: A Building. An Uprising.A Revolution., PRIDE: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag, and more! https://www.robsanderswrites.com/

This Brightly Pride Month booklist includes 30 great books for students of all ages, with a wide variety of topics ranging from historical figures to LGBTQ families.

30 Great LGBTQ+ Picture Books for Kids | Brightly Not just for those directly connected to LGBTQ+ issues, everyone can benefit from the messages of unconditional love in these kids' books.

Writing and performing poetry is a powerful way to express yourself, and these LGBTQ+ poets did just that in each of these works displayed on the Poetry Foundation's website. Check them out here, and !

LGBTQ+ Pride Poems | Poetry Foundation A collection of poems and essays by LGBTQ+ poets on topics and themes of identity, gender, and sexuality.

For Black students, having a Black mentor has significant benefits for both their personal confidence and educational outcomes. In this tutor-student spotlight, hear about the joy of their relationship working on reading together.

The profound impact of Black tutors - Reading Partners | Reading Partners When Black students have Black tutors, their connection tends to be stronger, which has profound positive impacts on their learning.