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Online reading resources to encourage youth literacy for International Read to Me Day

Families around the world, get ready to put on your comfy clothes and snuggle up with a good book, because Sunday, March 19, is International Read to Me Day(Opens in a new tab).

The worldwide literacy development campaign is sandwiched between February’s World Read Aloud Day(Opens in a new tab), supported by nonprofit LitWorld(Opens in a new tab) and sponsored by Scholastic(Opens in a new tab), and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO’s) International Literacy Day(Opens in a new tab), officially recognized on Sept. 8. Each is a large-scale initiative that aims to reduce global illiteracy and promote empowering learning environments for developing children.

A brightly colored illustration of various animals wearing human clothes and barbequing on the beach. The top text reads

Credit: Vaughan Duck / International Read to Me Day

A pink and blue watercolor illustration of a mother bunny reading to a group of smaller bunnies. The top text reads

Credit: Yvonne Mes / International Read to Me Day

Since relaunching the campaign in 2021, International Read to Me Day has become a year-round, 24/7 effort to provide reading opportunities and physical books to the global community. The organization assembles groups of volunteer “Reading Champions(Opens in a new tab)” who help in its mission to read to 1 million children each year.

Early access to language and reading is crucial to childhood development(Opens in a new tab) and the development of later literacy(Opens in a new tab). Nationwide, a significant decline in 2022 reading scores(Opens in a new tab) on NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) tests speaks to a need for broad and equitable access to literacy support.

PBS

A leader in free educational content for the public, PBS is a one-stop shop for literacy resources for educators, parents, and kids.

Reading Rainbow(Opens in a new tab)

Millennials probably remember Reading Rainbow, the PBS original hosted by Levar Burton that brought interactive stories to the screen for families around the country. You can still find original episodes of the show online, as well as accompanying reading and literacy activities(Opens in a new tab).

It’s also streaming on Amazon Prime(Opens in a new tab).

PBS KIDS YouTube(Opens in a new tab)

PBS KIDS posts free episodes of shows including reading-focused SUPER WHY!(Opens in a new tab) (catch them airing live all day long) and read-along videos(Opens in a new tab) on its YouTube page, as well.

LearningMedia(Opens in a new tab)

The main page for PBS learning resources is LearningMedia, which publishes free resources for educators across all K-12 subjects, including Social Studies(Opens in a new tab), English Language Arts, and the Arts(Opens in a new tab). You’ll find educational videos, interactive lessons and lesson plans, and other multimedia activities.

Head to the English Language Arts and Literacy page(Opens in a new tab) for foundational lessons(Opens in a new tab) on phonics, sentence construction, and reading comprehension. The Literature(Opens in a new tab) page hosts a collection of videos, plot summaries, and excerpts to practice spotting main ideas, character studies, and literary techniques.

PBS KIDS for Parents(Opens in a new tab)

PBS KIDS’ parent-oriented web page publishes activities and learning advice(Opens in a new tab) for building strong readership in kids ages 2-8 years old. The page also directs caregivers to resources tied to PBS shows that focus on building a strong vocabulary and literacy foundation, like the generational classic Sesame Street and Word Girl(Opens in a new tab).

As the organization writes, “The most powerful ways to develop children’s literacy skills are also the simplest: talk to them, listen to them, read to them and write with them.”

Scholastic

Publishing house and youth education resource Scholastic fosters greater at-home reading through online resources and reading opportunities, as well as its Raise a Reader blog(Opens in a new tab) for caregivers.

Scholastic Parents(Opens in a new tab)

Scholastic’s Parents website, a quick stop offering suggested readings and tips for growing young readers, publishes online read-aloud guides for caregivers(Opens in a new tab), reading resources and tips(Opens in a new tab), and printable activities(Opens in a new tab).

Storyvoice app(Opens in a new tab)

Storyvoice is Scholastic’s live read-along app for grades K-5, which brings together popular children’s books authors and illustrators, reading advocates, and kids themselves to read aloud, dance, and enjoy popular stories. Each week, families can tune in to hear a live reading(Opens in a new tab), interact with the day’s host, and watch the previous session’s recordings.

The free app is available for desktop viewing(Opens in a new tab) and is downloadable on the App Store(Opens in a new tab) and Google Play(Opens in a new tab).

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Reading Is Fundamental

Reading is Fundamental(Opens in a new tab) is a nonprofit literacy organization that runs several programs and grant partnerships with the goal of fostering greater reading at home, in classrooms, and in communities.

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Each month, the organization selects a specific reading theme and hosts a live read-along event(Opens in a new tab), accompanied by additional reading resources like book activities(Opens in a new tab), games(Opens in a new tab), and recommendations(Opens in a new tab).

Storyline Online

Storyline Online(Opens in a new tab) was created by the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) Foundation(Opens in a new tab) and features dozens of read-along videos(Opens in a new tab) hosted by celebrities and creatives. Its read-along video library is cited by other literacy groups, like LitWorld, and the organization accompanies each video with supplemental curriculum support developed by elementary educators. The goal of Storyline Online’s videos is to encourage and strengthen reading comprehension and verbal and written skills for English-language learners, the site explains.

Check out videos like actor Kiernan Shipka reading The House That Jane Built(Opens in a new tab) or Emmy-winner Sheryl Lee Ralph reading Jabari Jumps(Opens in a new tab).

Bookmarks

If you have a Netflix subscription, consider popping on its original show Bookmarks(Opens in a new tab) for an easy read-aloud activity with your kids. The show, which premiered in 2020, was created as both an educational and empathy-building exercise, focused on stories that spark kid-friendly discussion of equality and anti-racism. Each of the 12 episodes features a well-known Black celebrity reading a children’s book written by a Black author, like Lupita Nyong’o reading her own book, Sulwe.

Vooks

Credit: Vooks

Vooks(Opens in a new tab) turns children’s books into interactive read-along videos featuring engaging animations, music, and voiceovers to encourage ad-free viewing and a 20-minutes-each-day literacy plan for kids, parents, and even teachers. The website offers a selection of free videos(Opens in a new tab), as well as subscription plans(Opens in a new tab) to unlock more content. Teachers can sign up for free(Opens in a new tab) to access a full range of Vooks read-alongs.

Find additional resources(Opens in a new tab), like writing routines(Opens in a new tab), classroom resources(Opens in a new tab), and printable activity sheets(Opens in a new tab), on the Vooks website.

YouTube reading channels

YouTube is full of free read-along accounts that post an array of books shared by a community of online readers.

Black Dad Reading(Opens in a new tab)

The Black Dad Reading channel is hosted by “Mr. Calloway” and was created in part to show a positive male figure for young viewers. The page describes itself as wanting to share diverse stories with readers of all levels.

Dixy’s Storytime World(Opens in a new tab)

This brightly-colored channel posts daily read-aloud videos of children’s books, complete with calming narration and original illustrations. The videos are intended to feel like part of a nightly bedtime routine and veer away from 3D animations and loud noises.

Reading Is(Opens in a new tab)

Another narration-based YouTube channel, Reading Is posts weekly animated read-aloud videos of popular and classic children’s books, like Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and The Kissing Hand.

The Gracie Series(Opens in a new tab)

Based on The Gracie Series(Opens in a new tab) by Dr. Grace LaJoy Henderson, this channel shares free audiobook and read-aloud versions of the autobiographical children’s stories, in an effort to foster a “love of reading and learning in preschool and elementary students.” Each video is accompanied by discussion questions for viewers following along.

How Online Learning Resources Are Helping Students Worldwide

In a globe where by information and facts is at our fingertips, the world wide web has turn into an a must have software for studying. It is no lengthier just about reading through publications or viewing videos. Now, you can accessibility a variety of methods to assist you expand as a person and increase price to your lifetime.

On line learning has grown by leaps and bounds in excess of the a long time, especially with the rise of instructional platforms these types of as SweetStudy or Coursera. These web pages give learners accessibility to hundreds of on line courses and educational resources they can discover from any where in the world. So how specifically are they assisting college students all about the globe? Let’s uncover out.

Analyze from Everywhere

When you study online, you can do so in the consolation of your property or workplace. You will not have to fear about locating a babysitter or generating absolutely sure that your transportation is accessible on time. When it comes to studying, there are no excuses any longer. You can review from everywhere with an world wide web relationship.

On the net mastering makes it uncomplicated for learners who really do not have time for lessons or commuting. It’s also an superb choice for these who perform complete time and will need assist obtaining methods that in good shape their fast paced schedules with out getting to compromise their instruction ambitions.

SweetStudy, formerly Research Current market, is a single of the on the internet discovering means that has designed schooling obtainable for all. Pupils can accessibility college notes like lecture notes, observe products, essays, and far more. All they have to have is a functioning Web relationship and a device like a pill or a notebook.

On the internet Understanding Can Be No cost

On the net mastering sources are generally totally free to use. Some on line plans price tag revenue to enrol in, but the charges are usually acceptable. For example, Coursera is one of the most preferred on the internet training platforms and has additional than 1,100 courses out there for absolutely free. The corporation also presents paid subscriptions commencing at $29 for each thirty day period, allowing for you to entry extra sophisticated material and generate certificates upon system completion.

On the web discovering can be much less high-priced than traditional education solutions in some cases. For occasion, it may possibly not demand textbooks or lab service fees, so your complete charges might be lessen than all those for a common university program. And if you find you battling with an tutorial subject that necessitates extra tutoring companies or material, getting it on the net could preserve money in general because these resources tend not to be needed with on-line plans, preserving both time and cash.

You can uncover practically each system content on SweetStudy. Additionally, the website fees a nominal rate of $9 for inquiring a concern to an pro in the subject. You can request about every little thing from a doubt concern to an assignment subject matter and have your query answered in no time.

Most On the net Discovering Means Are Readily available 24/7

The most important gain of studying by means of online means is that you can do it anytime and wherever you want. You never have to fear about taking time off work or college due to the fact the elements are readily available all over the clock, seven days a 7 days. It gives learners extra overall flexibility with their schedules, which can be especially practical if they are functioning full-time whilst going to college.

It also implies that there is no require for costly textbooks. Although some may possibly believe there will be a lot less revenue invested on training over-all, most on the web understanding providers offer free obtain to their classes in exchange for viewing commercials or subscribing to electronic mail newsletters. Of system, if you favor not to see advertisements or get emails from your most loved organization daily, there are normally paid alternatives. But in common, these platforms are nevertheless pretty reasonably priced in comparison with classic textbooks or other strategies of instruction.

On line Sources are Quick to Obtain

On the net sources are accessible at your fingertips. You can discover them by means of research engines like Google, social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, on-line directories like Wikipedia, and even message boards like Quora or Reddit. Whether or not you’re searching for a particular class or just studying a thing new on a subject that interests you in standard (e.g., laptop programming), these means will enable you discover what you need to get begun instantly.

It is Straightforward to Keep track of Your Progress With On the internet Studying

Online studying resources can enable you observe your development and stay enthusiastic. As an on line university student, you really do not generally have the similar accessibility to instructors and other students in a classic classroom. But there are methods to uncover support and get solutions regarding your coursework. Online studying instruments help college students concentration on what they need to have to study even though maintaining monitor of their progress and offering motivation.

Relationship to the International Community

The net has built finding out accessible to persons all over the world. With on the web schooling web pages, learners can converse with every single other and share assets that they locate valuable. On line finding out communities give a excellent way for students to connect and understand from just about every other’s experiences.

Students who use on line studying assets can also entry resources these as research guides, flashcards, practice assessments, and more that were being not formerly readily available at their neighborhood library or bookstore, building it a lot easier for them to thrive in their courses. Some web-sites like SweeStudy have also introduced a new be aware financial institution segment, which offers notes from all common programs and universities. You can examine SweetStudy’s reviews to have an understanding of what the buyers feel about the platform.

You can down load notes of common universities like the College of Phoenix, Walden College, Strayer College, Liberty College, and Southern New Hampshire College. This area gives students access to lecture notes, assignments, and a great deal a lot more from these well-known universities.

Bottomline

The digital age has built mastering more accessible than at any time prior to. On line equipment allow for college students to study new competencies, make much better resumes and portfolios, network with friends and gurus, and even make school credit rating for the classes they complete. Online learning is not just for the self-determined or those people who need flexibility in their schedules it can also assistance teachers continue to be up-to-day on the most up-to-date pedagogical methods.

Is Your School Facing a Book Challenge? These Online Resources May Help

Reserve troubles, restrictions, and outright bans on components in K-12 school rooms and faculty libraries are popping up much more and extra across the state these times.

While this kind of issues are a perennial challenge, faculty districts have witnessed an uptick in requests to ban textbooks about LGBTQ people, race, and racism. A PEN The us report uncovered that 2 million students in 86 faculty districts across the place have experienced their access to books limited this earlier faculty year. And the American Library Association’s Workplace for Mental Freedom is now getting reviews of at minimum two—and often a few or four—book difficulties a working day, when in the past they would get that numerous instances for each week, reported the office’s director, Deborah Caldwell-Stone.

Some educators have been profitable in overturning this kind of attempts by supporting pupils keen to drive again, a balancing act necessitating them to observe constitutional boundaries about college student protests and Initially Amendment rights. Nevertheless quite a few now educate in states wherever pushback to ebook challenges can be even trickier, many thanks to new legal guidelines that much more broadly limit how matters these as race and gender are mentioned in college.

Below are some countrywide on the net sources for educators experiencing issues to guides in their educational facilities who want to find out a lot more about what assist they can get in tracking and pushing again towards them.

The American Library Association has a wealth of instruments

The American Library Association’s Workplace for Mental Freedom presents a kind that educators can fill out to report info on requires to clear away a e-book from a classroom or library. Doing so assists the organization hold track of e book censorship nationwide, and offers educators a confidential way to equally contribute to that monitoring effort and seek out out steering as to what extra resources are readily available to them.

Educators can file a challenge report on the web. They can also deliver an e mail to oif@ala.org or contact the helpline at (312)280-4221.

Speaking to the workplace helps educators get even more assistance. For occasion, they can be furnished book critiques that guidance the educational benefit of the book—a demand from customers some districts have created of teachers’ classroom libraries or as section of a reconsideration system.

Office environment staff can aid educators glimpse at their schools’ guidelines about instructional products or getting new publications. They can also provide referrals to lover businesses better suited for specific inquiries, such as the Comic Ebook Authorized Protection Fund, which has particular resources for graphic novel and comedian e-book worries. It most not long ago defended the graphic novel Gender Queer from an attempt to ban its revenue in Virginia bookstores, such as Barnes and Noble. The e book has been usually challenged in schools as very well.

The ALA can also source letters of assistance to deliver to university boards.

Eventually, the firm offers the LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund, which supplies support for librarians who are dealing with challenges on the position because of their guidance for intellectual freedom, or are going through discrimination on the work due to the fact of their race, history, ethnicity, or gender. When little, the fund provides seed income for authorized illustration assist, Caldwell-Stone explained.

“We sort of functionality each as a supply of support, a clearinghouse for guidance, as effectively as a knowledge selection level for censorship in the United States, particularly in colleges and libraries throughout the country,” she explained.

The Countrywide Council of Instructors of English has made e-book ‘rationales’

The National Council of Academics of English, a membership team for looking at and English/language arts instructors, gives an e-mail helpline at intellectualfreedom@ncte.org. NCTE team also offer private details, steering, help, and upcoming ways.

This calendar year, the group also launched their to start with-ever rationale databases, which make clear a specific book’s worth as a educating instrument. The databases consists of above 600 entries for guides searchable by title, writer, and quality degree. NCTE associates produce the rationales, which are peer reviewed just about every contains a guide summary, grade-stage recommendation, instructing instruments, different e book titles, and much more.

Further facts on the database can be located on the internet. Additional data on means the NCTE provides instructors can be found on the group’s site.

State-stage organizations supply tailor-made assistance

Educators also have the option to make contact with their state’s chapter of the American Association of School Libraries for extra details on point out-degree insurance policies and laws. Some of them are location up new point out-particular means, this sort of as the Texas Library Association’s new Intellectual Flexibility Helpline.

The helpline connects libraries with colleagues across the point out who can share knowledge, assets and help, matching callers with volunteers with identical library practical experience.

Associates of the Countrywide Schooling Affiliation, the nation’s most significant teachers’ union, are also inspired to get hold of their community and condition affiliates for guidance.

“Where NEA customers confront endeavours to ban books mainly because of their viewpoints, NEA stands prepared to support their initiatives to stand up for students’ legal rights to have the comprehensive and full schooling they want to thrive as citizens in our multi-racial democracy,” claimed NEA’s typical counsel Alice O’Brien.

A nationwide useful resource supports neighborhood advocacy and arranging

Caldwell-Stone of the ALA claimed that the firm has been looking at much more thoughts from educators about what they can do less than so-referred to as anti-vital race idea regulations that put limits on how subject areas of race and gender can be discussed in colleges.

In reaction to the new landscape, the ALA started a grassroots advocacy marketing campaign called Unite Against Ebook Bans.

Its internet site delivers a toolkit for any individual who desires to advocate in opposition to ebook bans in their neighborhood with social media templates, data on what info to collect for grassroots organizing, and guides on getting in touch with condition and local officers and doing the job with media retailers.

The initiative has at the very least 52 national partners, which involve civil liberties groups, booksellers, publishers, authors, and educators.