How My School Blocked Me From Teaching ‘The Hate U Give’

While “The Hate U Give” is a best-selling book and top-rated film, I’m getting some real pushback from my administration about having my students read the…

Let’s Put The Science of Reading in Teachers’ Hands, So Kids Aren’t Left Behind

Several years ago, I found myself a parent of a struggling reader. My son was attending a very well-regarded NYC public school, but the teachers…

If You’re Not Going to Teach Our Kids to Read, Then We’re Taking Your Ass to Court

Outrage: Kids Can’t Read, America It took the kid about 5 minutes to read one sentence. He struggled to pronounce the easiest words. I was…

Books Saved Me as a Foster Child and Now I Hope They Will Save Others

Because of my young parents’ crass negligence, at age 6, I was pulled from their custody and placed in Philadelphia’s child protection services. For 15…

What If Students Were Walking Out for Better Schools?

Student walkouts have been a hot topic lately and the media has been quick to swoon with round-the-clock coverage. There is no doubt that an…

My Dyslexia and Self-Doubt Were No Match for the Supportive Teachers Who Got Me to Read

I remember walking through the doors of Blackstone Valley Prep Middle School seven years ago like it was yesterday. I didn’t know anyone. The “gymnasium”…

I’ve Done More to Help Students and Parents Than I Ever Did During My 15 Years in the Classroom

The day that I ended my career as a teacher, I woke up as a parent. I had taught for 15 years and I’d reached…

If We Really Want to Teach Black History in Schools, We’re Going to Need More Diverse Books

In 2018, classrooms around the country still do not have enough books that accurately depict the unsullied experiences of Black Americans. Every Black History Month,…

Black Literature Still Matters After February

I remember how it felt to read “Macbeth” for my high school English class. I yawned as my head went down on my desk. When…

Your Students Won’t Be Able to Stop Talking About Amazon’s Top Books of 2017

Every classroom deserves to have a more vibrant discussion, and Amazon’s list of best-sellers can be a good place to start. The Harry Potter Series…