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Parent Guide: Dreams
This week in class, we’re reading “Dreams” by Langston Hughes. In the poem “Dreams,” Langston Hughes uses metaphors to describe what life would be like without dreams. As we read, we will be discussing the theme of Beauty & Happiness as it relates to the text. We are trying to answer this big question : “How can…
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Parent Guide: Sometimes a Dream Needs a Push
This week in class, we’re reading “Sometimes a Dream Needs a Push” by Walter Dean Myers. In Walter Dean Myers’ short story “Sometimes a Dream Needs a Push,” a boy must change his approach to basketball when he loses the ability to walk. As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Friendship & Family and Resilience…
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Parent Guide: The Scottsboro Boys
This week in class, we’re reading “The Scottsboro Boys” by Jessica McBirney. In “The Scottsboro Boys,” Jessica McBirney discusses the historic event in which nine black boys were wrongfully accused and convicted of assault. As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Justice, Freedom & Equality, Prejudice & Discrimination, and Social Change & Revolution as they relate…
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Parent Guide: Self-Care
This week in class, we’re reading “Self-Care” by Set to Go. The informational text, “Self-Care” describes some self-care strategies and their benefits on physical and mental health. As we read, we will be discussing the theme of Growing Up as it relates to the text. We are trying to answer this big question : “What does it…
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Parent Guide: The Three Questions
This week in class, we’re reading “The Three Questions” by Leo Tolstoy. Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) was a famous Russian author, perhaps best known for his novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina. In this short story, a king looks for three answers to three questions in order to make himself a better ruler. As we read, we will be discussing…
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Parent Guide: Identity
This week in class, we’re reading “Identity” by Julio Noboa. In Julio Noboa’s poem “Identity,” a speaker explains why they would choose to be a weed over a flower. As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Beauty & Happiness, Identity, and Social Pressure as they relate to the text. We are trying…
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Parent Guide: The Scarlet Ribbon
This week in class, we’re reading “The Scarlet Ribbon” by Emily Hoffman. “The Scarlet Ribbon” explores how difficult it is to keep people away from what brings them joy. As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Beauty & Happiness, Fate & Free Will, and Love as they relate to the text. We are trying to answer…
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Parent Guide: Herd Behavior
This week in class, we’re reading “Herd Behavior” by CommonLit Staff. “Herd Behavior” describes how individuals change when they are part of a crowd. As we read, we will be discussing the theme of Social Pressure as it relates to the text. We are trying to answer this big question : “Why do people follow the crowd?”…
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Parent Guide: The Rose that Grew from Concrete
This week in class, we’re reading “The Rose That Grew from Concrete” by Tupac Shakur. In Tupac Shakur’s “The Rose That Grew from Concrete,” the speaker describes a flower that grew in an unlikely place. As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Fate & Free Will and Resilience & Success as they relate to the text.…
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Parent Guide: Five reasons why being kind makes you feel good
This week in class, we’re reading “Five reasons why being kind makes you feel good — according to science” by Jo Cutler, Robin Banerjee. In the informational text, “Five reasons why being kind makes you feel good — according to science” Jo Cutler and Robin Banerjee discuss why being kind to others can improve your mood.…