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Home › Classroom Resources › Calendar Activities
February 01
Take part in the African American Read-In!
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| Grades | K – 12 |
| Calendar Activity Type | Literacy-Related Event |
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Celebrate Black History Month by taking part in the National African American Read-In. Sponsored by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and NCTE, and endorsed by the International Reading Association, the goal is to document readers making the celebration of African American literacy a traditional part of Black History Month activities.
The National Director has extended the African American Read-In for the entire month of February, beginning on Friday, February 1, 2013 and ending on Thursday, February 28, 2013.
Schools, churches, libraries, bookstores, community and professional organizations, and interested citizens can make literacy a significant part of Black History Month by hosting and coordinating community Read-Ins.
Hosting a Read-In can be as simple as bringing together family and friends to share a book or as elaborate as arranging public readings and media presentations that feature professional African American writers.
To be counted as a participant, simply:
- Select books authored by African Americans;
- Conduct your Read-In(s) on the days designated; and
- Report your results by submitting the African American Read-In Host Report Card.
- 2013 National African American Read-In
This webpage from the National Council of Teachers of English is the official homepage for the African American Read-In. Included are details on the role of a host, how to submit the report card, background materials, and booklists for all ages.
- African American Read-In: Suggested Activities
This University of Minnesota resource provides a list of activities for the Read-In.
- African American Odyssey: A Quest for Full Citizenship
This Library of Congress exhibit features documents that tell the story of the African American experience, from slavery to civil rights.
- African American World
This PBS website offers an extensive collection of articles, classroom resources, and reference materials related to African American history and culture.
Grades 1 – 12 | Calendar Activity |  October 17
Black Poetry Day is celebrated.
Books and webpages are gathered that focus on the work of African American poets and students explore the resources and find a poem to contribute to a poetry reading.
Grades 7 – 12 | Calendar Activity |  April 9
In 1939, Marian Anderson was denied permission to sing at Constitution Hall.
Students view Eleanor Roosevelt's resignation letter to the DAR in response to Andersen being denied permission to sing. Students write a letter to a newspaper editor about social injustice.
Grades 7 – 12 | Calendar Activity |  February 1
Langston Hughes was born in 1902.
Students examine the poem "Dreams" and identify metaphors in each sentence. Groups of students then compose poems with metaphors for dreams.
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