Author: Natasha Tieman

Reading Time: 2 minutesIn a world where short-form videos and immersive digital worlds compete for a student’s attention, the dopamine hits from social media and gaming often make the steady pace of a book feel secondary. Recent APA data highlights this scale, showing U.S. teens spend an average of 4.8 hours daily on platforms like…

Reading Time: 2 minutesReading for pleasure is defined as voluntary, self-chosen reading done purely for enjoyment. Research consistently ties it to stronger vocabulary, comprehension, and academic outcomes across all grade levels. Yet student engagement has declined. The good news: motivation is buildable, and having the right tools will help. The Principles That Drive Engagement Three…

Reading Time: 3 minutesIn the rapidly evolving landscape of 2026, the classroom has become a space where technology and tradition intersect in unprecedented ways. For educators, the primary challenge is no longer just providing information, but guiding students through a world where that information is often generated by algorithms. AI literacy for educators is the…

Reading Time: 2 minutesMaximizing an ELA budget is more than finding the lowest price. It involves ensuring every dollar directly influences student engagement and reading proficiency. For school administrators and librarians, this requires a strategic shift from purchasing static materials to investing in meaningful experiences that scale across an entire district. When you view your…

Reading Time: 3 minutesThe first ten minutes of a book introduction often determine whether a student will commit to the final chapter or disengage by page ten. For many educators, the challenge isn’t just handing out a text, but sparking a genuine desire to explore it. To do this effectively, we must move beyond the…

Reading Time: 3 minutesBuilding a culture of literacy in K–12 schools is about more than just assigning chapters; it is about fostering a student’s internal drive to keep going when the work gets difficult. As educators, we know that the wall students hit is often a combination of skill gaps and a lack of emotional…

Reading Time: 2 minutesSupporting students who face challenges with reading and writing is a core mission for educators. While tracking progress is necessary, true breakthroughs often happen when we address the hidden barriers to engagement. By focusing on evidence-based instructional pillars, educators can help students transition from frustration to independent success. Evidence-Based Pillars of Reading…

Reading Time: 3 minutesSupporting independent reading requires moving beyond simply providing access to books. To foster reading independence, educators must cultivate intrinsic motivation and background knowledge. Independent reading is when students choose texts to read primarily for pleasure or personal inquiry. Research indicates that students are significantly more likely to complete a text when they…

Reading Time: 3 minutesEvery educator knows the struggle: you assign a book, but instead of sparks of curiosity, you’re met with groans or scanned summaries. When reading feels like a chore instead of a choice, students often lose their natural desire to explore stories. The key to turning this around isn’t more pressure, but about…

Reading Time: 3 minutesConnecting students with professional writers can turn a standard reading lesson into a memorable life event. For many educators, the primary hurdle is a lack of budget for guest speakers. As teachers look for ways to enhance literacy without added costs, they often ask: “Are there authors that visit classrooms for free?”…