If there’s one thing we love even as much as reading at Success Academy, it’s helping our scholars find and develop their writing voices. From elementary school onwards, our scholars practice writing every single day. Once they’ve learned to convey strong and precise ideas with clarity, purpose, and structure, they have a lifelong tool for […]

Every fall at Success Academy, our school communities become extremely excited for several not-to-be-missed events. One, of course, is the annual Halloween Parade. Another is far less commonly found in schools these days: a good old-fashioned Spelling Bee. We love our Bees because they foster determination and confidence in scholars — plus they’re fun!

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 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.

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.

Perhaps no other American writer offered a more critical and searing look at racial inequality in America than James Baldwin, who published poems, non-fiction essays, and books from the 1950s until his death in 1987.

The day after the election, scholars had many questions about the future of our country.

On Friday, October 7, our scholars spent an entire half day composing stories in different genres, from dystopia, to romance, to thrillers.

I was studying for my nursing exam and couldn’t be interrupted, so I told her to read a book. “I’m not reading a book,” she said. “I’m going to write one.”

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!

For the past few weeks, I’ve focused on ways to help kids’ reading and writing soar while school is out. But children aren’t the only ones who keep learning over the summer; all our school team members learn, too.

Four ways to take your scholar’s summer writing to the next level!

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

This past week has been an emotional one. I’ve been struggling to put into words the grief and sorrow I feel for the terrible killings in Charleston. While words can fail at a time like this, silence feels unacceptable as we each grapple with the heartbreak of this tragic event.

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…