I did that one year with a class of eighth graders reading at about a fourth grade level. They really improved their reading. And each of them read a “classic” they chose once I figured out what they liked. Somebody read The Count of Monte Cristo, someone else read Jane Eyre. Just a bunch of different classics, which…

The Hobbit is an easy reader, and written for children. Perfect intro to fantasy for kiddos! And a little scary which many littles love.

I’ve always wondered if it would help kids learn to read better if we scrapped the “one size fits all” reading curriculum and just encouraged kids to read difficult books about subjects they loved. A kid’s into fantasy? Give him/her The Lord of the Rings or The Dark Elf trilogy. Mystery? Start ‘em early with The Woman…

I agree. They can be ok for kinders & some first graders who are just excited to read a book by themselves, but they’re terrible for older kids who are reading below grade level.

When I was doing literacy tutoring with a 3rd grader we read all the Frog & Toad books. Most easy readers are just awful, but Frog & Toad books are lovely.

here come dat boi!!!

My ex’s 17 year old “babysitter” took his virginity when he was 12. When he told me this, I asked if he ever got counseling for being molested and he acted like what happened to him was completely normal. Fast forward to nearly 13 years later and he still doesn’t think he was raped/taken advantage of. As a friend (&…

I recently met someone who went to the same high school as I did. She was a couple of grades ahead but we played “jewish geography” until we stumbled onto a few people. Then she asked me if I knew X. Well, I did, and I also knew that he, at 17, had been involved with a 23 year old teacher. I didn’t offer the info. She…

it me.

every time i get sick of my boyfriend, i think about this and it puts everything in a new perspective.

OMG YES BLACKFISH IS GOING TO FUCK. SHIT. UP.

I basically spend my days waiting for Tormund to show up.

I respect her so much. She has some very biting things to say about purity culture in general and it is wonderful.

I always meant to watch this, the trailer alone had me dying of laughter. I need to get on that...

Oh shit. It’s gonna be reefer sheep madness!

I learned the word for that a few years ago— apostasy. I love it. I think sharing our apostasy stories can be as powerful as people sharing their “born-again” stories.

In practice, the only group in this country that’s actually pro-abortion are men like these, who don’t think we have the right to make proactive reproductive choices.

He always seemed really smart and precocious to me, just watching his work as a kid, so I really wouldn’t be surprised if he’s got a higher than average level of intelligence. I’m glad to see that he’s doing as well as someone with that kind of baggage can be doing, and that he’s trying to do what he can to call…

I get the feeling that Obama could run into a burning building and singlehandedly rescue an entire Lamaze class full of women and fetuses, plus a basket full of adorable puppies, and certain people would still find something to criticize about it.

Yeah, this is the part that’s super scary about the 20-week bans. Now you’re in a situation where doctors have to weigh the legal pros and cons of providing treatment to a pregnant woman in the midst of a medical emergency.