Explore

Montana 4th Grade Reading List Blends State Standards with National Titles

Montana 4th Grade Reading List Blends State Standards with National Titles

Montana's 4th-grade reading list, curated by ReadingList.school, combines books cited in the Montana Content Standards with titles from national sources. This comprehensive list includes 674 books, with 32 specifically referenced in Montana's state standards and 642 grade-appropriate titles from national reading lists and awards. The Lexile levels for these books range from 390L to 1000L, catering to transitional readers in the 3rd-5th grade band. The emphasis for this age group is on shifting from learning-to-read to reading-to-learn, encouraging engagement with longer chapter books, early novels, and narrative non-fiction. The list also incorporates titles recognized by awards such as the Golden Kite Award, the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, and the Newbery Medal, alongside those aligned with Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each book on the list provides its primary source, allowing educators and parents to verify its inclusion and relevance.

U.S. Schools Implement Composting and Food Waste Reduction Programs to Combat Cafeteria Waste

U.S. Schools Implement Composting and Food Waste Reduction Programs to Combat Cafeteria Waste

Across the United States, schools are actively implementing various strategies to reduce food waste in cafeterias. Lovin Elementary School in Lawrenceville, Georgia, serves as a prime example, where students collect leftover lunch scraps for an outdoor compost bin, utilize a shared refrigerator for unopened milk, and feed uneaten salad scraps to the school's chickens. This initiative is part of a broader movement in U.S. schools to compost, use share tables, and tailor food choices to minimize waste. Public schools serve over 30 million lunches daily, with a significant portion ending up as waste, contributing to landfill methane and financial costs for schools. Lovin Elementary, after a 2018 food audit revealed 589 pounds of discarded food during one lunch period, saw a nearly one-third reduction in waste after implementing share tables and student-led awareness campaigns. The school later expanded its efforts with on-site composting and vermicomposting bins, processing around 100 pounds of produce waste ...

Kenyan President William Ruto Directs School Heads to Prioritize Foundational Learning by 2030

Kenyan President William Ruto Directs School Heads to Prioritize Foundational Learning by 2030

President William Ruto of Kenya has issued a directive to school heads across the country, emphasizing the critical importance of foundational learning for pupils in Grades 1, 2, and 3. The President stated that by 2030, every Kenyan child must achieve essential reading, writing, and numeracy skills by the end of Grade 3. This directive was announced during the Kenya Comprehensive School Heads Association (KESSHA) National AGM and Conference. President Ruto urged school administrators to deploy their most experienced teachers to these early primary grades, highlighting their significance in a child's educational journey. He also challenged school heads to take greater responsibility for improving learning outcomes, asserting that no child should complete Grade 3 without these fundamental skills. The Ministry of Education has been instructed to collaborate with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), county governments, and school heads to establish an assessment a...

The History of Children's Books Before Modern Picture Books Existed

The History of Children's Books Before Modern Picture Books Existed

Children's libraries serve as crucial educational and cultural institutions, fostering a love for reading and learning from a young age. Across dif...

Kentucky Department of Education Updates 6th Grade Reading List with State and National Titles

Kentucky Department of Education Updates 6th Grade Reading List with State and National Titles

The Kentucky Department of Education has updated its 6th-grade reading list, incorporating both Kentucky-specific citations and titles from national sources. The comprehensive list now includes 725 books, with 36 titles directly cited in Kentucky's curriculum documents and 689 additional grade-appropriate books from national reading lists and awards. These national sources include the Common Core State Standards (ELA), the Andre Norton Award for Middle Grade & Young Adult Fiction, the Golden Kite Award, and the Newbery Medal. The Lexile measures for books on the list range from 410L to 1120L, catering to a wide range of reading abilities within the 6th-grade band, which typically falls between 925L and 1185L. Notable Kentucky-cited books for 6th grade include 'Smile,' 'The Crossover,' and 'The Graveyard Book.' The list aims to provide a starting point for educators and parents, acknowledging that individual schools and districts select their own titles.

Colorado Releases Updated 3rd Grade Reading List Incorporating State and National Standards

Colorado Releases Updated 3rd Grade Reading List Incorporating State and National Standards

Colorado has updated its 3rd-grade reading list, which now includes 493 titles, with 7 specifically cited by Colorado Academic Standards. The comprehensive list also integrates books from national sources such as the Common Core State Standards (ELA) and various literary awards like the Golden Kite Award, Caldecott Medal, and Odyssey Award. The Lexile levels for books on this list range from 380L to 990L, catering to transitional readers in the 3-5 grade band. The emphasis for 3rd graders is shifting from 'learning-to-read' to 'reading-to-learn,' with assigned readings leaning towards early novels, narrative non-fiction, and full-length stories. The text complexity generally falls between 400L and 800L, though the list includes more accessible and 'stretch' texts to accommodate varying reading abilities within a classroom. The list is intended as a starting point, allowing teachers and parents flexibility in selecting appropriate books.

Jefferson PK-8 to Host Scholastic Book Fair in November 2026, Coinciding with Parent-Teacher Conferences

Jefferson PK-8 to Host Scholastic Book Fair in November 2026, Coinciding with Parent-Teacher Conferences

Jefferson PK-8 in Warren, Ohio, is scheduled to host a Scholastic Book Fair in its library from Monday, November 16, to Friday, November 20, 2026. The book fair will also be open during parent-teacher conferences on Wednesday, November 18, from 4:15 PM to 8:15 PM, providing an additional opportunity for families to participate. The school is encouraging the use of e-wallets for student purchases, offering a cashless transaction option. Information regarding the book fair, including a link to its website and a QR code for setting up e-wallets, has been made available. Mrs. Kittle at the Jefferson library is designated as the contact person for any questions regarding the event.

Rhode Island Updates 4th Grade Reading List with 705 Titles, Emphasizing Core Standards

Rhode Island Updates 4th Grade Reading List with 705 Titles, Emphasizing Core Standards

Rhode Island has released an updated 4th-grade reading list comprising 705 titles, with 46 specifically cited by RI Core Standards. The extensive list also incorporates books from national sources, including the Common Core State Standards (ELA) and prestigious awards such as the Golden Kite Award, Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, and Newbery Medal. The Lexile levels for these books range from 390L to 1000L, targeting transitional readers in the 3-5 grade band. The curriculum emphasizes a shift from 'learning-to-read' to 'reading-to-learn,' with assigned readings focusing on early novels, narrative non-fiction, and students' first full-length stories. While the typical text complexity for this grade level is around 400L to 800L, the list includes titles that are both more accessible and grade-level appropriate, ensuring flexibility for educators and students.

Liberia Launches National Autism Awareness Initiative with U.S. Support

Liberia Launches National Autism Awareness Initiative with U.S. Support

On November 10, 2026, Liberia officially launched its National Autism Awareness Initiative, spearheaded by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., and First Lady Mrs. Kartumu Yarta Boakai. This initiative aims to bolster support for children in Liberia who have autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. During the launch, Minister of Education Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah emphasized the necessity for awareness to translate into tangible improvements in how these children are educated and supported. Key areas of focus include early identification, specialized training for teachers, enhanced family support, and the creation of inclusive learning environments. The Ministry of Education is also reviewing Liberia’s Inclusive Education Policy to better address the diverse needs of its student population. The core message from the Minister was that the education system must adapt to accommodate all learners, rather than expecting children to conform to exclusionary systems. The Woods System of Care in Pe...

Liberia's Civil Service Agency Implements Pension Reforms, Addresses Outstanding Cases

Liberia's Civil Service Agency Implements Pension Reforms, Addresses Outstanding Cases

The Civil Service Agency (CSA) of Liberia has introduced pension reforms aimed at enhancing retirement administration and ensuring financial security for public servants. Dr. Josiah F. Joekai, Jr., Director General of the CSA, announced these reforms, highlighting efforts to transition public servants into retirement with dignity. The reforms have identified 2,718 individuals scheduled to retire by December 31, 2026. A significant achievement of these reforms is the identification and resolution of outstanding pension cases; 117 individuals who retired between 2020 and 2024 have not yet received their pension benefits. The CSA has extended the registration period for retirement documentation to November 30, 2026, to allow more eligible employees to complete their records. This initiative is part of President Boakai’s administration's commitment to institutional reform and the welfare of public servants, addressing long-standing administrative challenges in retirement processing and timely benefit payments.

EBT Cardholders Can Purchase Frozen Shrimp and Other Seafood at Authorized Retailers

EBT Cardholders Can Purchase Frozen Shrimp and Other Seafood at Authorized Retailers

EBT cardholders are able to use their benefits to purchase frozen shrimp and a variety of other seafood items at authorized retailers, including major grocery chains like Walmart, Kroger, Publix, Safeway, and Whole Foods, as well as local fish markets and some farmers' markets. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) guidelines permit the purchase of 'food for the home' that requires preparation or cooking before consumption. This includes raw fish, frozen shrimp, canned tuna, and live shellfish. The EBT card works seamlessly at checkout for cold or frozen seafood items found in the frozen aisle or at service counters. However, EBT benefits cannot be used for seafood that has been cooked or 'steamed to order' in the store if it is intended for immediate consumption as a hot meal, with the exception of the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) in participating states for eligible individuals.

Michigan School for the Deaf Announces Scholastic Book Fair Dates

Michigan School for the Deaf Announces Scholastic Book Fair Dates

The Michigan School for the Deaf (MSD) in Flint, Michigan, has announced that its Scholastic Book Fair will take place from November 16 to November 23, 2026. This event aims to encourage reading among students and generate funds for the school. Parents and guardians are invited to prepare their children for the fair by visiting the MSD Book Fair Page, where they can also set up a Book Fair eWallet for cashless purchases. The school emphasizes that the book fair is designed to get children excited about reading and is a significant fundraising event for the institution. The announcement was made on November 10, 2026, and includes details about the duration and purpose of the fair.