By Cana Short ReadOasis Step 2 Mother Teresa in 1986 (Image Wikipedia) It was pouring rain. I was walking to a store, and as I did, I passed by a man. A homeless man for sure. He was huddled under a bench, trying to shield himself from the rain... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) Courtesy of RNLI/Grace Darling Museum It was a cold autumn day—windy, gray, and rainy. Like most stormy days in the north of England, the wind and rain came hard. People hurried through gray village streets in dark coats, holding onto their hats. Sharp sheets... Read more
The Wonder of the Taj Mahal
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By Mirah Mayer ReadOasis Step 2 The Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It was completed around 1649 by the Muslim king Shah Jahan. Over 1,000 elephants and 22,000 workers took 22 years to build it. The Taj Mahal is located in the beautiful... Read more
Bill Gates: A Model for Business?
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By Tek Smith ReadOasis Step 2 As a young man, Bill Gates had the idea to make a company. In 1975, he left Harvard University, and he started Microsoft with his friend Paul Allen. By 2007, Microsoft employed 78,000 people in 105 countries. Today about 90% of the world’s... Read more
Walt Disney’s Impossible Dream
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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 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
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 full of regretGoodbye... Read more
ReadOasis Step 1 Be careful of the man who really knows how to be a fool. Alec Fronimites Knowledge is power. Through science, we have learned to fly. We make medicine and build great cities. We use the power of nature. And we fill our cities with energy. Through... Read more
Seven Elements of Story Grammar (Step 2)
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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
Johnny Cash: The Man in Black (Step 2)
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ReadOasis Step 2 Johnny started singing, but he looked uncomfortable. The audition was not going well. Sam Phillips, the producer, listened politely. But he didn't smile. Johnny kept singing, but with no confidence. Then Mr. Phillips said, "Hold up!" Johnny and his friends stopped playing. Phillips said, "I hate... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 A man was trying to understand the nature of time. In prayer, he asked God, "How long is a million years to you?" God answered, "A million years is like a minute." Then the man asked this. "God, how much is a million dollars to you?"... Read more
By Aesop ReadOasis Step 2 One day a Wolf was walking through the forest. A light snow was falling among the tall, green trees, floating down like little white stars. The Wolf wandered slowly on, for he was sick, weak, and bony thin. His eyes were dark as death,... Read more
Adapted from “The Fortune” In “The Golden Windows” By Laura E. Richards ReadOasis Step 2 One cloudy day a man was walking along the street. He was sad because his business was not going well. On top of that, he wanted to buy a horse, but he didn’t have... Read more
By Robert Louis Stevenson ReadOasis Step 1 As from the house your mother sees You playing round the garden trees, So you may see, if you will look Through the windows of this book, Another child, far, far away, And in another garden, play. But do not think you... Read more
By Aesop Retold by ReadOasis ReadOasis Step 1 Two men were walking together through the woods. As they walked, they enjoyed the smell of flowers and the songs of birds in the air. But then suddenly, everything became quiet. The men looked around, feeling that something bad was about... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) Once upon a time there lived a little girl. She was sweet and pretty and good, and everybody loved her. Her old grandmother was very fond of her. So the grandmother made the little girl a cute red coat with a hood. It suited... Read more
ReadOasis Step 1 Many years ago there was a King of Prussia. His name was Frederick. He was very wise and very strong. People called him Frederick the Great. Like other kings, he lived in a beautiful home. He had many fighters and servants to serve him. Carl was... 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 3 By Aesop There were two Cocks on the same farm. They fought to decide who should be master. When the fight was over, the loser went and hid himself in a dark corner. The winner flew up to the roof of the barn. He called out... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) There once was a man who worked as a Merchant at sea. He had many ships, and he was rich. He had three daughters. The youngest was so beautiful that everyone called her Beauty. This made the two older sisters jealous. They were mean... Read more