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
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
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
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
ReadOasis Step 2 To inspire us read more, it always helps to have a good role model. When I was a boy, my father read to me before I went to bed. I can still remember the books he read to me! In this way, my father showed me... Read more
By James Baldwin ReadOasis Step 2 Alexander & Bucephalus by François Schommer Philip was the king of Macedon, a kingdom in ancient Greece. During his life, he had seven wives and seven children. His most famous son was called Alexander. Alexander studied with the philosopher Aristotle. And by the... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) The computer sat in a funny little room at the Lakeside School in Seattle. It was a gift from the Mother’s Club. Costing $3,000, it was expensive at the time. But the mothers wanted the students to have a computer so they could have... Read more
Lady Sings the Blues
ArtsCoursesLevelsMovies Step 2BMusic Step 2AProtectedStep 2StoriesTop Picks September 19, 2018 1
ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) Southern trees bear strange fruit Blood on the leaves and blood at the root Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees These sad words open the song “Strange Fruit.” The song was written by Abel Meeropol, and... Read more
By Edgar Allan Poe ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) This is a famous short story by Edgar Allan Poe. It was first published in 1843. The story is scary, and it may not be appropriate for young readers. Illustration by Harry Clarke It is true! I was very nervous,... 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
W.C. Handy: Father of the Blues (Step 2)
ArtsCoursesLevelsMusic Step 2BProtectedStep 2Stories September 18, 2018 0
By Maria Sonora ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) W.C. Handy at age 19 "Then I saw the beauty of primitive music." W.C. Handy, Father of the Blues W.C. Handy grew up in the southern part of the United States, in a small town in Alabama. His father was a... Read more