Despite massive federal and state investments in literacy over the past decades, reading achievement for middle- and high-school students has not improved since 1970, according to data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress. The "Goldilocks" reading approach, rooted in theories from the 1940s, encourages teachers to assign students books they can read with high accuracy and comprehension -- typically at or below their assessed reading level. However, this method often results in students reading material that does not sufficiently challenge them, potentially limiting their growth.

World language educators can enhance student learning by incorporating creative performance tasks that focus on authentic communication. Examples include debates, digital storytelling, mock interviews, podcasting, visual projects, role-playing, collaborative storytelling and travel itinerary planning. These tasks help students apply language skills in real-world scenarios, boosting confidence and proficiency.

The Ypsilanti Puentes Multilingual School has opened in Michigan, offering a Spanish-English dual-language immersion program from kindergarten through fourth grade. Principal Celeste Green highlights the value of bilingualism for students' future careers, and the program has grown to 125 students since its 2021 inception.

The LiTEArary Society, founded by Rania Zuri in West Virginia, is a youth-led nonprofit dedicated to promoting literacy among preschool children by distributing new picture books and reading with them. Since its inception about five years ago, the organization has grown to thousands of volunteers and donated over $1 million worth of books to more than 91,000 children. With chapters in all 50 states and an expanding international presence, the LiTEArary Society continues to address 'book deserts' and foster a love of reading in communities where books are hard to access.

Treating math as a team sport re-engaged and energized a class of Pennsylvania fifth-graders and helped them win the Prodigy National cup, outscoring students from 70,000 other schools, writes teacher Michaela Sicuranza. Team activities and competition "can reshape how students learn" through a common goal, consistent practice, collaboration and encouragement, Sicuranza says -- but "set[ting] the stage for a positive, low-stress experience" is vital.

AI tools can help teachers efficiently personalize instruction for diverse learners, writes elementary school tech coach Debbie Tannenbaum, describing how to incorporate the technology into the Universal Design for Learning framework. Tannenbaum details how educators can quickly tailor activities and prompts to foster engagement, representation and action.

The Book Buddies Program, organized by Conrad & Scherer, brought attorneys to Deerfield Beach Elementary School to engage with fourth- and fifth-grade students by reading "I Am Superman" and donating 215 signed copies. This initiative connects students with community role models and aims to encourage imagination and a lasting love of reading.

Timothy Shanahan's "Leveled Reading, Leveled Lives" examines the historical development and limitations of leveled literacy, tracing its roots from early America to its institutionalization in modern education. Shanahan argues that while the idea of matching students with texts of appropriate difficulty appears scientific, the method restricts student progress and creates unequal learning opportunities.