By: Ronell Whitaker If you ask your students who Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was, you can be confident that they will spit out facts about his involvement in the Montgomery bus boycotts, or how he was a civil rights leader. Some kids may even be familiar with his “I Have A Dream” speech or

All reading communities should contain protected time for the sake of reading. Independent reading practices emphasize the process of making meaning through reading, not an end product. The school culture (teachers, administration, etc.) should affirm this daily practice time as inherently important instructional time for all readers. (NCTE, 2019)   The Penguin Random House High

In celebration of Native American Heritage Month this November, Penguin Random House Education is highlighting the stories of our authors and illustrators who represent the Indigenous Experience. Using #StoriesoftheLand, #NativeAmericanbooks, and #Indigenousreads, join us in putting a spotlight on the rich and diverse stories showcasing the important contributions and experiences of Native people. Here is

Check out these new and essential books for the English Language Arts classroom. Click through each title to see a description, read an excerpt, and download educator resources.

Carl Hiaasen, author of best sellers like Hoot, Flush, Scat, Chomp, Skink, and Squirm answered our questions about his latest book, Wrecker. You have written books for both adults and kids. What inspired you to become a writer, and what helped you decide that you wanted to write for a young reader audience?  Carl Hiaasen: I loved to read

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus is a novel that is as original and vibrant as its protagonist. Elizabeth Zott is an ambitious and determined scientist living in the early 1960s. Her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute takes a very unscientific view of equality and her career plans are thwarted by discrimination. Elizabeth’s life

Penguin Random House is committed to the freedom of expression and protecting teachers, students, parents, librarians, booksellers, and authors against the dramatic rise in book bans across the country. Our mission is to give information on the issue and provide valuable resources to help fight censorship. Below is a comprehensive list of all the free

Contributed by Malaina Kapoor, co-author of Defiant Dreams: The Journey of an Afghan Girl Who Risked Everything for Education. A searing, deeply personal memoir of a tenacious Afghan girl who educated herself behind closed doors and fought her way to a new life, the book has received advance praise from Bill Gates, Sal Khan, and

The Penguin Random House Education Middle School and High School Digital Collections feature outstanding fiction and nonfiction from across Penguin Random House’s publishing divisions and distribution clients. Peruse online or download these valuable resources to discover great books in specific topic areas such as: English Language Arts, Social Studies, STEM, Authentic Spanish, and Professional Learning.

Poetic voice, according to former U.S. Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman, is an “artistic choice,” and in her 2019 TED-Ed Talk, she compelled students to “speak up.” The immense popularity of poetry slams, open mic nights, and other spoken word poetry events attests to the power of poetry to provide a platform for social commentary,

Contributed by Firoozeh Dumas, author of Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America. 2023 marks the 20-year anniversary of the groundbreaking memoir, which has remained a classroom favorite for two decades.  When I was in high school, a major news outlet took a poll to find out the most unpopular country

April is National Poetry Month, reminding us of poetry’s important role in our culture and in our classrooms. We are celebrating by showcasing a few titles that highlight the lives and work of inspiring poets.   Discover more titles Poetry Titles for Middle School Poetry Titles for High School