Diversity

Essentials for Inclusivity

If inclusion initiatives increase productivity and innovation in business, imagine how they could do the same for your classroom/institution. If inclusion initiatives increase employee satisfaction and retention in business, imagine how they could increase the attention and literacy of students.   Tony Dungy, first Black NFL coach to win a Super Bowl says, “Inclusion initiatives …

Essentials for Inclusivity Read More »

Teaching Students to L.O.V.E. Literacy

Opportunities to sharpen our literacy skills are all around us. Unfortunately, due to a variety of reasons (lack of support/resources at home, irrelevant curriculum, etc.) students can often be disengaged with literacy learning early in life. Once that foundation is shaken, it is tough to rebuild and instill the skills, confidence, and attitude necessary to …

Teaching Students to L.O.V.E. Literacy Read More »

Creating A R.I.C.H. Literacy Environment

Most students either really love to read and find joy in growing and sharpening their literacy skills, or they feel the opposite. Their experience depends on two things- the instructional decisions made and the environment in which they learn.  Educators are often told to create a “literacy rich” or “print rich” classroom setting, but what …

Creating A R.I.C.H. Literacy Environment Read More »

Let’s Leverage The Fun To Connect Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing!

The young students frantically waved their hands high in the air. They couldn’t wait to run to the front of the gym and participate in a game I call, “5 in Ten!”. I recently spoke with hundreds of students in different settings (urban, rural, and suburban) and they all enjoyed “5 in 10’!”. The gist …

Let’s Leverage The Fun To Connect Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing! Read More »

Inclusion and Diversity

Incorporating Equity and Inclusion in Early Childhood Curriculum

Early Childhood Education is a vital foundation for children of tender age. Not only are they introduced to various experiences, but they are also taught how to form and maintain positive social relationships, a sense of belonging, and developing specific skills to reach their full potential. We see regular acts of racism, sexism, and prejudice …

Incorporating Equity and Inclusion in Early Childhood Curriculum Read More »

Raised hands

Promoting Classroom Conversation

Every single day we are tasked with ensuring that our students are entering into our building safely, that they are to learn wholeheartedly, and that they get to experience a wide variety of knowledge along the way. In doing this, as educators one of the pivotal roles we play is to promote classroom conversations. These …

Promoting Classroom Conversation Read More »

Young boy sitting atop a stack of books

Poetry: My Story

In 1994, my 6-year-old son Nicholas failed first grade. Testing revealed he could read ten words, showed no strengths, and had a low IQ. The prognosis was dire, his future bleak. Finally, the diagnostician called him: “The worst child I’ve seen in twenty years of teaching.” I had the option to remove my son from …

Poetry: My Story Read More »

Raised hands of multiple bright colors

Include Me!

All children like to read things they can relate to or that make them feel good. And the best children’s stories I “read” were those on the laps of my parents. In order to write books for children of a different mold than our own, we need to know them. I grew up in a …

Include Me! Read More »

Fairytale; social emotional learning

Reading Supports Social Emotional Learning

How reading helps children learn social emotional skills I am a lover of all things book and the written word. As a child, I was precocious and very curious. Thankfully, my father had a great passion for reading and ensured that I, along with my siblings, understood the importance of literacy and that it was …

Reading Supports Social Emotional Learning Read More »

Many children on a playground slide reading books wearing Kids Read Now tshirts

Inclusion: All Kinds of Books for All Kinds of Kids

It’s in our nature to surround ourselves with those to whom we can relate the most; that’s no different for children. Here’s a list we’ve pulled together of some of our favorite books on inclusion, which you can include in your reading rotation. Books are important visual tools for children and are some of the …

Inclusion: All Kinds of Books for All Kinds of Kids Read More »

Scroll to Top