Join over a million readers as part of the in February 2015! The Read-In is sponsored by the and . Throughout February, schools, churches, libraries, bookstores, community and professional organizations, and interested citizens are urged to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month by hosting and coordinating Read-Ins in their communities. can be as simple as bringing together friends to share a book, or as elaborate as arranging public readings and media presentations that feature professional African American writers
The first event was scheduled聽for a single Sunday afternoon in February, now it happens across the country all month long. You can learn more about how to start a read in聽. And you can find a list of examples of how others have done Read-Ins聽. Listen to an interview聽with AARI founder Dr. Jerrie Cobb Scott, 楼凤天堂 Deputy Executive Director Mila Fuller, and 楼凤天堂 member Jennifer Watson as they talk about the 25th 楼凤天堂 African American Read-In: “.”
The following links can get you started and provide resources as your students read and explore the works of these African American writers.
- Nikki Giovanni’s poem “The Funeral of Martin Luther King Jr.” is paired with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech, taking students on a quest through time to the civil rights movement in the ReadWriteThink.org lesson To learn more about authors with cultural backgrounds that parallel many of the lives of our students, check out , the 楼凤天堂 book that inspired the lesson plan.
- Walter Dean Myers believes that a primary cause of lack of inspiration in readers is their difficulty decoding meaning because of language and societal differences. In his article 鈥溾�� he explains how he strives to reach uninspired readers, particularly those living in the inner city, by writing using their language and contexts. shared how his own experiences as a reader shaped his approach to storytelling.
- Nikki Grimes stresses the power of poetry in “” from Language Arts. Listen to a where her writing process and what inspires the characters in her books is shared. 聽Also shared is her philosophy about writing for children and how her life has influenced her writing.
- Langston Hughes’s poetry is explored alongside rap lyrics and jazz and blues music in the English Journal article “.” Read more about Hughes in .
- Alice Walker, bell hooks, and Nikki Giovanni are all explored in “” from College Composition and Communication, which asserts that personal essays by Black feminist writers can be used to teach writers how to connect their personal and social identities. Learn more in the NCT E text
For more ideas, see the which includes more lesson plans, classroom activities, and online resources. The ReadWriteThink.org Text Messages podcast 鈥溾�� by provides recommendations of both old and new titles by distinguished African American authors who write for teens. Featured books range from historical novels to contemporary explorations of African American life in both urban and suburban settings.
How will you be celebrating the African American Read-In?