An English Fairy TaleReadOasis Step 3(Part 1) A long time ago, a woodcutter lived with his wife in a small cottage not far from a great forest. They had seven children -- all boys, and the youngest was the smallest little fellow anyone had ever seen. He was called... Read more
Beyond the Freezing Point (Ayako Miura)
ArtsB1-IntermediateBNC LevelsCEFR LevelsProtectedStep 3Stories 0
ReadOasis Step 3(Part 1) It was much later that I finally learned what a dark age it was. It’s after you know the light that you recognize darkness. You cannot know darkness when you’re in the middle of it. Ayako Miura (1922-1999) Up to the end of World War... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3 Black liquid exploded out of the ground and towards the sky. It was oil—black gold—and it had the power to light up homes. It had the power to run the engine of the American economy. It had the power to make a man very rich. John... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3 (Part 1) There was once a Ruler of Cordova, a country that is now in Northern Africa. The Ruler’s name was Al Mansour. One day, a strange merchant came to him. The merchant had diamonds and pearls. He had brought them from beyond the sea. The... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3 I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. Charles Dickens (1786-1851) Most people know Charles Dickens for his famous ghost story: A Christmas Carol. But many people don’t realize that Dickens was the most notable English author of the Victorian period... Read more
A Force for Good in Music
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ReadOasis Step 3(Part 1) U2 in Concert It was a cool winter night in January 2002 in New York. The city that never sleeps was wide-awake and full of movement. Even in the cold, you could feel the energy of arts, entertainment, culture, and money. That week, top business,... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3(Part 1) “It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit The floor, wall, and windows began to shake violently. “What in the world?” said John as he looked out the second floor... Read more
By Cana Short ReadOasis Step 3 Harriet Tubman circa 1885 Hello. I am Harriet Tubman, formerly a slave in Maryland, but now a free woman. Freedom did not come easily—I only attained it by running away. I do not know why I waited so long to escape. Life on... Read more
Drifting Cowboy: Hank Williams (Step 3)
ArtsB1-IntermediateBNC LevelsCEFR LevelsCoursesMusic Step 3BProtectedStep 3Stories 0
By Maria SonoraReadOasis Step 3(Part 1) By MGM Records via Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain) Hank would never make it to his destination. There were too many problems. It was icy cold outside. Covered with a blanket, he sat in the back seat of his light blue Cadillac. He was... Read more
Awarding Excellence: The Pulitzer Prize
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ReadOasis Step 3 The Color Purple The Pulitzer Prize The Color Purple is a book about a black woman named Celie. The story tells of her life and struggles, as she grew up in the Southern United States during the 1930s. The book was written by Alice Walker. And... Read more
Paul Desmond and Take Five
ArtsB1-IntermediateBNC LevelsCEFR LevelsCoursesMusic Step 3BProtectedStep 3Stories 2
ReadOasis Step 3By Maria Sonora “I would also like to thank my father, who discouraged me from playing the violin.” These are the words of Paul Desmond. He is one of the most popular musicians to come out of the West Coast cool jazz scene. Surely, he liked violin... Read more
A Musical Money-Making Machine
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ReadOasis Step 3 Carrie Underwood by Eva Rinaldi (Creative Commons) Carrie was a country girl from Checotah, Oklahoma. She lived on a farm, and in the mornings, she would help her father feed the cows. Carrie loved to sing. She started singing at church when she was 3 years... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3(Part 1) It's early in the morning. A funny looking man is getting ready for work. He casually looks up at the clock on the wall. Then his eyes pop wide open. He's running late! In a rush, he hurries to the kitchen. He opens the coffee... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3 Jacques Cousteau (June 11, 1910 - June 25, 1997) studied the sea and all forms of life in the water. He was a French naval officer, explorer, scientist, photographer, author, and film producer. "Captain Cousteau," as people called him, became widely known because of his many... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3 (Part 1) Battle of Gaugamela (Photo Wikipedia) Alexander, the king of Macedon, wanted to become the king of the whole world. He led his armies through many countries. He destroyed cities. He burned towns. He killed thousands of people. Then, far in the East, he came... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3 (Part 1) Once upon a time there lived an old Queen. Her husband had been dead some years, and he left her with one child, a beautiful daughter. When this daughter grew up, she was to be married to a King's son, who lived far away.... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3 (Part 1) Long, long ago, there lived a king and queen. They had everything to make them happy. They had servants, lands, gold, and the finest castle. But more than anything, they wanted a child. But they did not have one. Finally, after many years, they... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3 The sun shined white-hot. John could feel it, almost burning his skin. The air was thick and hard to breathe. The noise and smell of cars surrounded him in a cloud. He looked at his watch. "I'm late," he said to himself, and he started to... Read more
Adapted from Aesop ReadOasis Step 3 Image by Milo Winter (1919) Once upon a time, a Town Mouse went to visit his cousin in the country. The Country Mouse was a rough and ready type, but he loved his town friend and welcomed him heartily. During the visit, the... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3 Creative Commons Photo by William Warby How can teachers help students read more and feel more like reading. Try the five minute drill! This activity helps readers avoid procrastination and kickstart their reading behavior. Readers act as if they are interested and motivated to read by... Read more