The Robertson’s Power of Poetry event convened educators, poets, and poetry lovers to discuss an urgent issue that gets little attention: the dwindling presence of poetry in schools nationwide.

Last week, John Snowdy found himself back in the student’s desk alongside fellow educators from across the country. They were at Success Academy’s Robertson Center, a new center for educator training, to learn more about the network’s approach to teaching middle school reading.

This is Allison Bravo’s second year teaching fifth grade, and once again, teaching The Watsons Go to Birmingham is a highlight. This is the first novel scholars read and study together as middle schoolers, and it is an introduction to the kind of literary discussion and analysis they will do throughout middle and high school.

At Success Academy, we’re obsessed with the special “lightbulb” moments that come from reading excellent books. Our kindergartners pore over picture-books, our parents and teachers spend all summer reading, and our executive leaders swap title recommendations. Everyone at SA is in love with the transformational power of books!

A few weeks ago, I sat with friends on a rooftop reminiscing about the first books to make us cry. Mine was Bridge to Terabithia. For Kelly, Old Yeller laid her flat. Joe barely made it through Where the Red Fern Grows, then nearly wore out the binding. Josh called The Giver “a crusher.” Each […]

This summer, our scholars are getting lost in great books for hours in the park, on the train, and at home.
Five Success Academy scholars dish on their favorite books of summer 2017 — and where they like to read.

All Success Academy rising 4th graders will be reading Cece Bell’s incredible graphic novel El Deafo this summer. We’re honored to share a special message from Cece about her enjoyment of reading — which developed with the help of some very special friends. We hope she inspires Success Academy families to find themselves in the pages of an amazing story this summer!

Kwame Alexander, author of 24 books (and counting) and winner of numerous awards such as the 2015 John Newbery Medal for the Most Distinguished Contribution to American Literature for Children, shares some reading encouragement with Success Academy families. Happy #summerSOAR!

Every day, 14.000 scholars walk into vibrant orange-and-blue Success Academy hallways ready to learn. Two thousand professionals — teachers, school psychologists, operations managers — enter 41 different schools ready to support those scholars.

It’s easy to put down a book after finishing the last page, but a great book like the one our school read can open up many possibilities and bring people closer together.

The book discusses class and education, violence in relationships, race, and feminism — all issues that I wanted to learn more about. I was eager to learn how to talk back about these issues when all my life I’ve heard that talking back is disrespectful.

At Success, we believe that children who love reading and select books for themselves drive their own learning and become lifelong readers. There is power and possibility in falling in love with books!

We’re incredibly lucky to live in NYC, where some of the all-time best children’s books are set…

Reading challenges are a simple, creative way to inspire the reluctant readers among us and a tool to keep pushing avid readers to new heights. They are also a powerful antidote against summer slide.

We don’t want to just prevent summer slide; we want to reverse it. We want to achieve Summer Soar.

Numerous studies indicate that kids who don’t read regularly over the summer fall an average of two months behind, and that children from lower-income homes are most at risk.

For as many reading logs, timers, incentive programs, and star charts there are, there are as many individuals staunchly opposed to applying any extrinsic motivation to reading. And I can’t say I disagree with them.

It is fair to say that I am in love with my son’s teacher, Ms. Muller.

In my one-bedroom apartment, you will also find six free-standing bookcases and a hall closet that’s been converted into a book nook.

Print books are still valuable. Here are three reasons why you should choose print over digital books, especially for younger children…

On Thursday President Obama announced a plan to make $250 million worth of e-books available to public libraries as part of an effort to expand literacy and “digital connectivity” among low-income students…

Somewhere along the way, poetry seems to have developed a reputation for being boring, old-fashioned, and impossible to understand. Sure, there are plenty of esoteric and oblique poems out there, but there are hundreds and hundreds of poems that are accessible and enjoyable for children.

I joined Success Academy because this job lets me do what I know is right: provide access to thousands of high-quality books to kids, most of whom live in neighborhoods without bookstores, and share my love of books and my belief in the power of reading with leaders, teachers, and kids.

One School, One Book is a powerful literacy initiative designed to help an entire school community—kids and grownups alike—fall in love with books. We piloted the program last year and have now rolled it out to all first- and second-year schools. Soon, we’ll take this initiative network-wide…