ReadOasis Step 1 (Part 1) Jim sat into a soft, red chair. He looked down, and then he started to cry. “Am I asking too much?” he said. “I just want to be happy.” Dr. Jones gave Jim a box of paper tissues. “Thank you,” said Jim as he... Read more
By Caty Weaver Kelly Ryan was making dinner. Her ten-year-old son Benjamin was watching television in the living room. Or, at least she thought he was. “Benny-boy, do you want black beans or red beans?” “Red beans, Mama.” Ben had come up quietly right behind her. “Don’t do that,... Read more
Story Power
CoursesIdeasLevelsMovies Step 2BPublicStep 2Stories September 21, 2018
Dorothy looked up into the sky. And she started to sing. Her soft voice rose up gently in the air. Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high There’s a land that I’ve heard of once in a lullaby. Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue And the dreams that... Read more
Hank would never make it to the concert. There were too many problems. It was icy cold outside. He sat under a cover in the back of his light blue Cadillac car. He was heading to the city of Canton, Ohio, to give a big concert on New Year’s... Read more
Mike waited and waited. Was it going to be good news or bad news? Who would be in, and who would be out? Would he make the team or not? Finally, the coach put two lists on the door of the school gym. Mike looked at the list for... Read more
The Blues: Music of Survival
ArtsCoursesLevelsListen!Music Step 2APublicStep 2Stories September 21, 2018
Four men were walking across a field. They were carrying a body wrapped up in white cloth. Their strong, black hands and arms supported the body as they walked on. Other men, women, and children walked behind. And the tall green trees listened. They listened to the cries of... Read more
The bell rang. Jim’s things were already in his red book bag, which looked brown under the white lights of the classroom. Zip! Zip! He closed the bag. He stood up and let out a sigh, “Ahhhh.” It was loud enough that other students and the teacher noticed. Jim... Read more
Max is running late. He hurries out the door of his apartment, holding a cup of coffee. Then he sees his bus. “It’s leaving!” he cries. Max starts to run, but he trips over a rock and falls. His coffee flies out of his hands and spills all over... Read more
What’s the best way to improve your English? Of course, there are many ways. But big, easy reading is one of the best. And it probably has the most research and evidence to support it. What is big, easy reading? First, you read lots of books and stories. That’s... Read more
A manager at a company was interviewing a job candidate. The manager said, “We need a very responsible person for this job. We need someone who can take charge.” The candidate’s eyes lit up, and he responded with great enthusiasm. “Sir, your search ends here! I’m the one. In... Read more
By Andrew Lang (1894) ReadOasis Step 3 (Part 1) A long time ago, an Indian hunter built himself a house. It was in the middle of a great forest, far away from all his people. His heart was gentle and kind, and he was tired of the evil deeds... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3 (Part 1) Professor Harry Harlow thought that he had created a difficult puzzle. He placed a hinge on a block of wood. A hook held the hinge closed. A pin blocked the movement of the hook. To open the hinge you first had to remove the... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 Thomas Edison with Phonograph Mary Had a Little Lamb" is a famous children's song. It was written by Sarah Hale and first published on May 24, 1830. The song is based on real events. There was a girl named Mary Sawyer. She had a pet lamb,... Read more
Walt Disney’s Impossible Dream
ArtsCoursesLevelsMovies Step 2AProtectedStep 2StoriesTimes September 21, 2018 3
ReadOasis Step 2 In 1934, Walt Disney began plans to make a movie. He wanted to create the first full-length animated film. But when people heard about his idea, they said it was a mistake. They thought it would destroy the Disney studio. Even Disney's brother and wife tried... Read more
By Ambrose Bierce ReadOasis Step 3 (Part 1) Carter Druse was born in Virginia. He loved his parents, his home and the South. But he loved his country, too. And in the autumn of 1861, when the United States was divided by a terrible civil war, Carter Druse, a... Read more
ReadOasis Step 4 Rajan is from northwestern Myanmar, near the border of India. He is 12 years old and lives in a small village called Pan Saung. It is a tranquil place far away from big cities. Life may be simple in this remote village, but it is not... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) When John Adams was President of the United States, and Thomas Jefferson was Vice President, there was not one railroad in all the world. People did not travel very much. There were no broad, smooth highways as there are now. The roads were crooked... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) Harry looked at his best friends Ron and Hermione. He was not smiling. He was alone at his uncle’s house for the summer. And Harry’s uncle, aunt, and cousin were mean. Ron and Hermione stayed with their group of friends, a group that Harry... Read more
ReadOasis Step 4 It was a hot August night in New York City, 1965. Two thousand policemen supervising security watched anxiously as 55,000 fans filled Shea Stadium. But this was not for a baseball game; it was for the first ever stadium concert in the history of rock and... Read more
By Max L. Knowles ReadOasis Step 2 A great tree comes from a small seed, and from small beginnings come great things. Gregor wanted to solve a problem. It was a big and important problem. But he was not a big and important man. And he was not studying... Read more