W.C. Handy: Father of the Blues (Step 3)
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ReadOasis Step 3 "Then I saw the beauty of primitive music." W.C. Handy, Father of the Blues W.C. Handy at Age 19 W.C. Handy grew up in a small town in Alabama in the southern part of the US. His father was the pastor of a church, and Handy... Read more
Master of Words: Bob Dylan (Part 1)
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ReadOasis Step 2 It was January 1961. In the cold north of Minnesota, a young man of 19 years packed his bags. He was going to New York City. By car, the trip would take over 18 hours. And he was travelling by his thumb. In other words, he... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) An old man is walking along a rocky river bed. He is a traveller, but he is carrying only a few things. He can hear the songs of birds and the breath of the wind. The sound of the River Fuji is clear in... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 There was a Caliph of Persia whose name was Al Mamoun. He had two sons. He wanted them to be honest and noble men. So he found a wise man to be their teacher. The teacher's name was Al Farra. One day, after their lesson, Al... Read more
By Dr. Richard WisemanReadOasis Step 2 This exercise is all about re-living happy memories. Research shows that reflecting on what went well yesterday, no matter how trivial the event will make you feel happier. So simply think back about the last 24 hours and focus on what went well.... Read more
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
ReadOasis Step 2 Will walked into the large office area and looked around. He was carrying a cup of coffee, and he spilled some on his hand. “Ouch!” he said. “That’s hot!” He looked around, but all the other workers were busy. They didn’t even notice him. He walked... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 By W.W. Jacobs (Part 1) Outside the night was cold and wet. But inside the sitting room of the Whites' house, the curtains were shut and the fire burned brightly. Father and son were playing a game of chess. The son always took big risks when... Read more
By Dr. Richard WisemanReadOasis Step 2 Note: the following is a text of a short talk given by Richard Wiseman. This exercise is all about the power of gratitude. Research shows that thinking about aspects of your life for which you’re grateful will make you feel happier. So spend... Read more
Drifting Cowboy: Hank Williams (Step 3)
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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
Making Work Fun: The Levity Effect (Step 2)
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ReadOasis Step 2 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 answered with great confidence. “Sir, your search ends here! I’m... 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
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 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 2 As a boy, Gunpei loved to play with toys and machines. He often took his toys apart to see how they worked. Then he put them back together again. One day, Gunpei took apart his father's expensive watch. He wanted to see how the little machine... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2(Part 1) 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... Read more
The Drama of Darwin (Step 3)
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ReadOasis Step 3 Annie Darwin was her father's joy, and she treated him with tender kindness. But in 1849 Annie became sick with severe fever. Charles struggled to cure her, but in 1851, Annie died and was buried in a small church in Worcestershire. The words on her grave... Read more
By William Byron Forbush (Public Domain)ReadOasis Step 3 A long time ago pigs could talk. No one had ever heard of bacon. And pigs lived happy and long lives together with their families. In one of those families lived an old, piggy mother and her three little sons. They... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3 Three farmers were walking across a field. They were looking for tracks in the soft ground. One carried a gun. One had a sharp tool for lifting hay, called a pitchfork. The third had an ax. "Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!" they cried. They met another farmer, who... Read more