AdLit News Headlines

These authors are consistent top picks of middle school students and may help inspire a lasting love of reading.

It was just weeks ago that Marlin High School in Texas abruptly postponed its graduation ceremony, saying only a handful of its seniors had met requirements to get their diploma. In an update, school officials say that because of the seniors’ hard work, all of them will graduate later this month.

Some folks devour books by the dozen, while others rarely crack one open. It turns out, though, that the avid readers might have a real edge. Learn the unexpected benefits of reading, and check out our own collections of favorites to add to your own must-read list.

Despite decades of research, there’s no clear answer on whether grade retention in early grades is a good idea. Existing data is open to competing interpretations, and big questions about the policy remain unanswered.

Yes, we do know how to help students succeed in school. Too many schools just don’t do it. This post looks more broadly at four important lessons on how schools can help students succeed that are explained in the book “Schools of Opportunity: 10 Research-Based Models of Equity in Action.”

The new official will work under the department’s Office for Civil Rights and provide training on how book bans may violate federal civil rights laws.

Laws under consideration in New York and elsewhere aim to highlight the contributions of LGBT people

An independent school uses art and movement to set students with learning differences up for success.

Finding dystopian books for middle school readers can be tricky because some of the novels descend into extremely dark territory that some readers can handle, but might be too much for others. It can be a challenge to pull together the right books, but when you do, and you hook a student on a great series, it can be an amazing experience for everyone. Diving into fictional worlds that deal with bleak futures can be a great way to escape our own troubles or makes us feel a little better about the future in general.

First-of-its-kind analysis uncovers widespread use of suspensions for attendance violations in Arizona.

Consistent interaction with fellow students who know what it’s like to learn a new language can offer multilingual learners essential support.

Analogies help students remember new information by connecting it to frameworks or contexts they already know.

In recognition of LGBT Pride Month, The Conversation reached out to Professor Jonathan Alexander for recommendations of young adult fiction books that feature LGBTQ characters. What follows is a list that Alexander, who has just stepped down as the children’s and young adult fiction section editor for the Los Angeles Review of Books, considers as “must-reads” for this summer.

After the murder of George Floyd, school districts across the country reconsidered the presence of police in public schools. But with the threat of school shootings three years later, many are opting to reverse course, bringing police and school resource officers back on campus. 

Teachers, principals, parents and officials must listen to the most marginalized girls, use their input to create systems of belonging.

Utilizing five-year estimates and chatting with a few experts who added useful context to the numbers, we looked at how one school district has responded to its evolving demographics and what implications the changes have for students who are learning English as their second language.

The Margaret A. Edwards Award winner took over SLJ’s Instagram for a live Q&A that spanned his books, inspiration, censorship, and AI. Here’s what he shared.

If requested, the Common App will conceal basic information on race and ethnicity — a move that could help schools if the Supreme Court ends affirmative action.

The 14-year-old wins $50,000 in cash, a commemorative medal and the Scripps Cup.

Studies show too much noise, particularly loud, irregular noise, can hurt a child’s brain development, because if sound is irregular, it distracts our brains and makes concentration more difficult.

Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro’s middle grade adventure receives a star this month, as do a Jarrett Lerner early reader and the Nintendo game Metroid Prime Remastered. 

Iowa BIG is revolutionizing high school, collaborating with districts to give students opportunities to learn & grow through community-based projects.

As clinical psychology researchers, we study why social media challenges are so appealing to teens despite the dangers they pose, and steps parents can take to protect their kids. We offer five ways parents can help their teen resist social pressure and avoid risks linked to social media trends.

Teachers can use these strategies to help students in grades 6 to 12 develop skills that are crucial to scientific study and exploration.

School districts that created online academies to cater to families who preferred virtual education are struggling to keep them open as enrollment drops and costs rise.

While nearly three-quarters of the high school class of 2023 aspired to attend college, a lesser share, two-thirds, actually expected to enroll, according to a new survey from nonprofit YouthTruth. These gaps worsened for certain groups.

In a course exclusive to the Maryland county school system, students invent objects they think would improve life on the planet.

Parents had objected to Thomas Jefferson High School in Virginia changing its admissions policies, including getting rid of an exam.

Concerned parents have many tools, including free software from Apple and Google, to actively oversee how children use their tech.

Text messages, Instagram posts and TikTok profiles. Parents often caution their kids against sharing too much information online, weary about how all that data gets used. But one Texas high schooler wants to use that digital footprint to save lives.

Nearly a quarter of adolescents struggle with insomnia. Do you?

Young adult fiction has a certain reputation with people who don’t normally read it. Since the books are about teens, the themes must be juvenile, right? What literary adult wants to read about whiny teenagers with their naive problems? Admittedly, some YA books are wall-to-wall with whiny teenagers. That isn’t what defines YA, though. In fact, there are many books that prove nothing is off limits for YA.

It’s time for algebra to consistently be seen and experienced as more than a meandering stream of abstract variables and procedures.

Here’s how using strategies that link linguistic effort with content can engage and encourage middle school English language learners.

Media literacy lessons can help high school students develop critical thinking skills as they question what they see online.

Migrant education programs support academic intervention for migrant students, as well as referrals and assistance with food, medical, dental and vision services to migrant family members. It is an all-encompassing program that is essential for vulnerable migrant families and students, yet it is rarely known or understood by educational and community institutions in the state.

President Biden is trying to appeal to working-class voters by emphasizing his plans to create well-paid jobs that do not require a college degree.

Several states have passed laws that could sentence people for years if they provide ‘obscene’ books to minors.

History matters, as does an understanding of our government and how it works. Especially in times like these. We’re an increasingly polarized country in an increasingly globalized world — and only with informed and engaged citizens can a democracy like ours function.

A writer dives deep into why today’s teen literature is far better than the books of yesteryear.

A large study across 18 countries found that adolescents with intense social media use are more likely to experience poor sleep patterns. These findings suggest that social media use by adolescents may be a global concern that should become a priority of international public health efforts.

New study finds robust aid programs cut disparities in structure, mental health, especially in states where cost of living is high.

Appointing student ambassadors and giving them significant responsibilities helps students take more control of their learning.

A recent student found that Latino youth in middle and high school have a lower sense of belonging at school and in the community overall when compared with white peers. Feelings of isolation can affect academic outcomes. 

The new film “Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret,” is shining a spotlight on Judy Blume, author of the original novel. Many of her books deal with issues of sexuality and adolescence rarely found elsewhere when Blume was writing. That brought contention, including bans, that are once again front and center. Jeffrey Brown discussed this with Blume for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

U.S. Department of Education hopes its ‘Career Z Challenge’ will allow more students to get college credit, apprenticeships and industry credentials.

New York City’s public libraries last week avoided deep budget cuts that would have reduced hours, but educators say the dearth of public school librarians affects many students.

We’ve put together multimodal lists of recommendations — including nonfiction, graphic novels, documentaries, and more — that educators can feature in classrooms and libraries alongside the exemplar texts. Our aim is to inspire educators to breathe fresh life into lessons around these works by giving students new context to understand why these classics are still relevant today.

The latest test results continue a nearly decade-long decline. Try a sample quiz to test your knowledge.

A school district in San Antonio, Texas, has built an entire high school dedicated to raising the next generation of teachers. It’s a bold experiment that could pay off big if shortages continue.

Teacher staffing levels for English learners swing widely across the country and shortages abound, but appropriate class size can hinge on many things.

Station-based book study can help build students’ background knowledge for a unit as they survey content before direct instruction.

The whole setup feels more tech startup than high school classroom. And in many ways, it is. The Synergy program at Mineola High School in Mineola, N.Y — for now, an alternative offshoot of the only high school in this nearly 3,000-student Long Island district — is the brainchild of Michael Nagler, the superintendent of the Mineola school district. He designed the model with his school-hating, computer science whiz teenage son in mind.

The provider shortage is real, but teens can be empowered to step up for each other.

The changes aim to measure mastery and account for hardships at home, though teachers say some students are gaming the system.

For readers who enjoy or want to explore reading novels in different formats, here are 15 titles about AAPI characters or by AAPI creators to recommend for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. 

Proponents say the laws aim to give parents control over their children’s education. But many educators say the rules have brought chaos and fear.

Liza Burrell-Aldana, principal of Mount Vernon Community School in Alexandria, is The Washington Post’s Principal of the Year.

Jonathan Cornejo, a Los Angeles high school senior and son of a single immigrant mother, got into his dream University of California campus but couldn’t afford to go. Then strangers stepped up.

Middle school is a unique and often difficult time. Students go from the comfort and familiarity of spending all day with one teacher and one group of students to having six teachers and a wide range of classmates. For many students, this can feel like going from being a big fish in a small pond to the small fish in a big pond. Additionally, adolescence brings many physical and psychological changes. This trifecta of challenges helps explain why in the middle school years we lose many kids to drugs, violence, and despair. Forming diverse student groups can be an asset.