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
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
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
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 January 17, 2019
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 Hot
ArtsCoursesLevelsListen!Music Step 2APublicStep 2Stories January 17, 2019
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
ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) The midnight ride of Paul Revere happened a long time ago. At that time, America was ruled by the king of Great Britain. There were thousands of British soldiers in Boston. The king sent them there to make the people obey his laws. But... Read more
ReadOasis Step 5 Blues Legend Robert Johnson The blues is a great treasure of American musical culture. It stands as the foundation for practically every form of American music in the 20th century, including gospel, jazz, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and hip hop. Blues music has its... Read more
More Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt ReadOasis Step 2 Thomas Hart Benton's Plowing It Under At one time there were two traders who were great friends. One of them lived in a small village, and one lived in a large town nearby. One day the village trader took... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3 A Fable by Aesop, Retold by Cana Short There once was a farmer who became very ill. He visited the doctor, who told him that he would not live much longer. The farmer had a wife and two sons. He hoped to find a way to... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) George turned over in bed and went back to sleep. The alarm kept ringing. It was noisy. The neighbors could hear it through the walls. It kept ringing, so George finally opened his eyes and looked at the clock. The green numbers shined: "9:17... Read more
ReadOasis Step 4 A medical doctor was examining a patient. He summarized his diagnosis in the following way. "You're in superb health, and you'll live to be 80." The patient responded, "But, doctor, I am 80 right now. The doctor replied, "See, now what did I tell you? But... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 Alexander the Great was the king of Macedon. He wished to become the master of the whole world. He led his armies through many countries. He plundered cities, he burned towns, he destroyed thousands of lives. At last, far in the East, he came to a... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3 With apologies to all my pig farming and hog farming friends, I wrote this song, a blues song about bacon. Today I read the news. They say that bacon is bad for you. For effect, it’s like a cigarette. If you eat a lot, you’ll be... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3 (Part 1) Viktor had just married Tilly. She was the love of his life. He was a young doctor in Vienna, Austria. And Viktor and Tilly should have envisioned a bright future together, but Nazi Germany was occupying Austria, and Viktor and Tilly were Jewish. In... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 A long time ago, there was a young boy named George Washington. He had two older brothers. They were all very close. George often talked to his brothers about his dreams. “I would like to be a sailor,” George said. “Then I could go to many... Read more