School Leadership 2.0
A Network Connecting School Leaders From Around The Globe
Getting Teens Hooked on Books With First Chapter Fridays
By reading aloud in middle and high school, teachers can expose students to new ideas, genres, and authors—and get them excited about books.
For students at St. Marys Area Middle School in St. Marys, PA, Fridays are extra special. Since introducing First Chapter Fridays (FCF) in their English language arts classes five years ago, teachers Dana Smith and Beth Penn have noticed how much students look forward to it. On Friday mornings, students come in, grab an FCF sketchnote page, and settle in. Teachers read the first chapter of a new book aloud, which usually takes 10–15 minutes, while students doodle, fill in their sketchnotes, and relax.
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Mentors.net - a Professional Development Resource
Mentors.net was founded in 1995 as a professional development resource for school administrators leading new teacher induction programs. It soon evolved into a destination where both new and student teachers could reflect on their teaching experiences. Now, nearly thirty years later, Mentors.net has taken on a new direction—serving as a platform for beginning teachers, preservice educators, and
other professionals to share their insights and experiences from the early years of teaching, with a focus on integrating artificial intelligence. We invite you to contribute by sharing your experiences in the form of a journal article, story, reflection, or timely tips, especially on how you incorporate AI into your teaching
practice. Submissions may range from a 500-word personal reflection to a 2,000-word article with formal citations.
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