January 2024

Trailblazers, Syllables, Decodables, Riddles, Dinosaurs, and More!

In this issue: Children’s Books & Authors / In the Classroom / Sister Site Spotlight / Literacy at Home / Events & News

Children’s Books & Authors

Books for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (and All Year-Round)

On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we celebrate the life and civil rights work of Dr. King. It’s recognized as a National Day of Service where volunteers across the country work together to make a difference in their communities — taking action to create the “Beloved Community” that Dr. King devoted his life to. Browse our list of children’s books about the life and work of Dr. King, fiction and nonfiction books about ordinary people who stand up for what's right, and stories about helping others and giving back.

Meet the Trailblazers

“Trailblazers go places. Despite challenges, trailblazers move forward. They mark the way.”

Through our collection of inspiring picture book biographies, you’ll meet remarkable men and women of color who helped to shape our world. Our Trailblazers Guide offers 14 book titles accompanied by reflection questions, hands-on activities, and writing prompts — to jump-start conversations, curiosity, and exploration. (From our sister site, Start with a Book)

Our Video Interviews with Newbery Medal Winners

Over the years, we’ve had the incredible opportunity to interview many winners of the prestigious Newbery Medal and Honor Award.

In this video collection, you’ll meet some of your favorite authors, including Meg Medina (Merci Suárez Changes Gears), Erin Entrada Kelly (Hello, Universe), Matt de la Peña (Last Stop on Market Street), Christopher Paul Curtis (Bud, Not Buddy), and Kate DiCamillo (Flora & Ulysses).

See all of our author and illustrator interviews

Kid Lit Alert! Winners of the 2024 Newbery, Caldecott, Pura Belpré Awards, Coretta Scott King, and all of the other ALA Youth Media Awards will be announced on Monday, January 22 (8:00–9:30 a.m. ET) during ALA’s conference, LibLearnX. Watch the live webcast!

In Search of Free Books

Where can your school, library, or community group find free or low-cost books for kids? There are a number of national organizations as well as local programs you can turn to for help filling the shelves of your library, classroom, or literacy program and putting books into the hands and homes of young readers.

In the Classroom

Featured Strategy: Anticipation Guides

This comprehension strategy activates students’ prior knowledge, builds curiosity about a new topic before learning about it, and then checks for understanding after reading. Go inside Cathy Doyle’s second grade classroom in Evanston, Illinois to observe how Cathy uses the anticipation guide strategy to pique her students’ interest in the book they are about to read together, Jin Woo by Eve Bunting.

Related strategies:

• Concept Sort
• First Lines

Blending Sounds in Syllables

In this video, reading expert Linda Farrell helps kindergartener Autumn learn to blend two parts of a syllable (onset and rime). Watch how Ms. Farrell gives Autumn explicit practice with onset and rime — a core phonological awareness skill that helps kids recognize and blend sound chunks within syllables.

Watch other episodes in our Looking at Reading Interventions series. You’ll also find professional development guides to use with these videos. (Developed in partnership with the National Education Association)

Related strategies:

• Onset-Rime Games
• Blending and Segmenting Games

Using Decodable Texts

Learn more about the value of using decodable books in phonics instruction to reinforce your students’ decoding skills and reading fluency. You’ll also find a link to free decodable texts aligned with phonics skills from our sister project, Reading Universe.

Related: The Drudgery (and Beauty) of Decodable Texts

Sister Site Spotlight: BrainLine

A bump on the head can affect learning over a child's lifetime. Our WETA Learning Media sister site, BrainLine.org has information and resources for parents and educators on how to help students who have experienced a concussion or traumatic brain injury. Browse the resources below to learn more:

• Children with TBI
• School and Education

Literacy at Home

Is My Child Getting Good Reading Instruction at School?

It can be daunting to ask questions about reading instruction when you don’t have teaching experience. Here are some questions to think about:

• What should you ask your child’s teacher?
• What are the signs that your child may not be receiving the instruction needed for later school success?
• What should you look for in reading instruction in the primary grades?

Find answers in Reading 101 for Parents, and help support your child’s reading journey in the New Year.

My third grader reads accurately but very slowly. Should I be concerned?

In this brief video Q&A, literacy expert Kegi Wells explains that what's most important is if your child understands what they are reading. Kegi offers simple ways to check for understanding and how to model expressive reading.

Get more expert answers to parent questions about reading and writing in this special Reading Rockets video series, Reading SOS.

Playing with Words: Riddles

Riddles are an excellent way for kids to learn how to really listen to the sounds of words, understand that some words have more than one meaning, and how to manipulate words. And riddles are fun — a good incentive for thinking about words and reading. (In English and Spanish)

For more ideas, browse our Growing Readers library of easy-to-use tips about reading aloud and helping your child build reading and writing skills, literacy in science, and more. Available in English and Spanish.

Digging Into Dinosaurs!

Do you know any kids who are fascinated by dinosaurs? We do! And we've gathered up a great collection of books and activities — as well as kid-friendly apps, podcasts, and websites — for learning all about these fascinating prehistoric creatures. (From our sister site, Start with a Book)

Did you know that birds are the only living descendants of dinosaurs? Check out “Flying Dinosaurs” and other bird-themed activities in our free Bird Buddies STEAM toolkit.

Events & News

Plain Talk About Literacy and Learning
January 31-February 2, 2024 | New Orleans, LA

60th Annual International Learning Disabilities Association Conference
February 20-22, 2024 | Orlando, FL

The Reading League Summit
Finding the Alignment: From Research to Practice
April 27, 2024 | San Diego, CA

Learning cursive in school, long scorned as obsolete, is now the law in California
Los Angeles Times

3 New Studies to Know on Screening Students for Dyslexia
Education Week

What to Know About the Science of Reading
The New York Times

What’s behind a spike in childhood speech development delays across the U.S.
PBS NewsHour

No, AI Can’t Teach Children to Read. Yet
Education Week

Four lessons from post-pandemic tutoring research
KQED Mindshift

Love Stories: Kate DiCamillo on the Hope, Humor, and Love that Fill her Books
School Library Journal

‘Richard Scarry’s Cars and Trucks and Things That Go’ Turns 50
The New York Times

What parents of English learners need to know
Ed Source

Exploring Argument Writing With Visual Tools
Edutopia