what is #Brownteensread?
we're in business to support brown teens!
Mission: to blend the arts and education to make reading accessible and enjoyable for teens in all communities equally.
Vision: to narrow the two-year achievement gap for brown teens and liberate their imagination, experiences and quality of life through reading, writing, critical thinking and creating.
Goal: to improve the reading, writing, social and cultural literacy of brown teens. By hosting literary events, publications and reading challenges that are engaging, fun and interactive, we will establish an innovative literary community for them to consistently evolve.
Academically, in order to address and improve reading and writing deficiencies, we have developed a reading method that improves literacy and cognitive development through active and engaging reading, writing, analysis and discussions. Our reading method can be used in any subject with any text!
From planning and implementation, to monitoring, grading and choosing culturally responsive titles, educators can learn how to design more rigorous, engaging and interactive reading studies and writing workshops in their classrooms with tools and resources that can scaffolded into regular teaching practices!
Cultural Equity: #BrownTeensRead recognizes the historical legacies of bias, racism and bigotry that exists in the world and especially in education. Although we want to recognize the achievement gaps among brown teens in vulnerable populations, we want all teens to enjoy reading and reap the benefits of reading regardless of their race, zip code, social status, disability, gender, sexual orientation or citizenship status. Despite our target audience, we welcome all teens to our organization! We want all teens to work together, with us, to create a literary culture as diverse and equitable as the books we'll read!
Vision: to narrow the two-year achievement gap for brown teens and liberate their imagination, experiences and quality of life through reading, writing, critical thinking and creating.
Goal: to improve the reading, writing, social and cultural literacy of brown teens. By hosting literary events, publications and reading challenges that are engaging, fun and interactive, we will establish an innovative literary community for them to consistently evolve.
Academically, in order to address and improve reading and writing deficiencies, we have developed a reading method that improves literacy and cognitive development through active and engaging reading, writing, analysis and discussions. Our reading method can be used in any subject with any text!
From planning and implementation, to monitoring, grading and choosing culturally responsive titles, educators can learn how to design more rigorous, engaging and interactive reading studies and writing workshops in their classrooms with tools and resources that can scaffolded into regular teaching practices!
Cultural Equity: #BrownTeensRead recognizes the historical legacies of bias, racism and bigotry that exists in the world and especially in education. Although we want to recognize the achievement gaps among brown teens in vulnerable populations, we want all teens to enjoy reading and reap the benefits of reading regardless of their race, zip code, social status, disability, gender, sexual orientation or citizenship status. Despite our target audience, we welcome all teens to our organization! We want all teens to work together, with us, to create a literary culture as diverse and equitable as the books we'll read!
how we serve who we serve
join our literary circle!
If you:
Become a #BTR Advocate and connect with other high school teens to read, discuss and reflect on culturally responsive literature with a Common Core aligned, but fun, curriculum. You'll read books by authors who look like you on topics that are relatable to you! These sponsor-led literature circles are engaging, interactive and fun! Oh yeah, almost forgot...there's snacks!
- hate to read
- struggle to read
- love to read
- want to start reading more
Become a #BTR Advocate and connect with other high school teens to read, discuss and reflect on culturally responsive literature with a Common Core aligned, but fun, curriculum. You'll read books by authors who look like you on topics that are relatable to you! These sponsor-led literature circles are engaging, interactive and fun! Oh yeah, almost forgot...there's snacks!
why we exist
Good readers are great writers! But, brown teens admittedly don’t do enough of either. As a result, there is a two-year achievement gap in educational performance of vulnerable populations when compared to non-students of color. The disparity is so critical that many students become seniors in high school who cannot read or write well.
As a solution, #BrownTeensRead supports, tracks, and improves the reading habits of brown teens in vulnerable populations. We do this by reading together, holding one another accountable for reading, challenging ourselves and one another to read.
Uniquely, by hosting a series of interactive, fun and relevant events, teens will get excited about reading and writing in and out of school. This way, we close the achievement gap while keeping them educated, entertained, creative, and safe.
As a solution, #BrownTeensRead supports, tracks, and improves the reading habits of brown teens in vulnerable populations. We do this by reading together, holding one another accountable for reading, challenging ourselves and one another to read.
Uniquely, by hosting a series of interactive, fun and relevant events, teens will get excited about reading and writing in and out of school. This way, we close the achievement gap while keeping them educated, entertained, creative, and safe.
equity
#BrownTeensRead wants to encourage all teens to read for school and for personal enjoyment, but the disparity in access and opportunity for brown teens is inequitable. So, our focus lies in narrowing the achievement gap in that demographic, until it is eventually closed.
Sadly, studies show that brown teens are on average at least two grade levels behind non-teens of color in reading proficiency. Because of this fact, #BrownTeensRead has no choice but to correct that disparity by offering reading opportunities and experiences that support brown teens.
Our events will expose Black, Latinx, Hispanic, Middle Eastern, North African, Armenian, Cambodian and other teens of color to literary micro-experiences that can change their lives through reading, writing, thinking and creating. And, when teens read and write well, they build artistic, social, cultural and professional skills well!
Sadly, studies show that brown teens are on average at least two grade levels behind non-teens of color in reading proficiency. Because of this fact, #BrownTeensRead has no choice but to correct that disparity by offering reading opportunities and experiences that support brown teens.
Our events will expose Black, Latinx, Hispanic, Middle Eastern, North African, Armenian, Cambodian and other teens of color to literary micro-experiences that can change their lives through reading, writing, thinking and creating. And, when teens read and write well, they build artistic, social, cultural and professional skills well!
background
The #BrownTeensRead Reading Awareness Project started as an online literary resource for high school Advanced Academics classes called English Fury. But, as we shuffled along, we detected a problem: many teens of color admit that they do not read, and even more disheartening, do not like to read! So, to address that problem, we created a solution!
As advocates for a balanced narrative of teens who do love reading and writing, we aim to appeal to more teens of color to read, and write, not just for the classroom, but for their own enjoyment!
As advocates for a balanced narrative of teens who do love reading and writing, we aim to appeal to more teens of color to read, and write, not just for the classroom, but for their own enjoyment!
social responsibility
HASHTAG MOVEMENT: The objective of our hashtag, #BrownTeensRead, is to start and trend conversations about why many teens of color do not like to read, and initiate solutions for a change.
By using language and codes that teens relate to, we can increase the number of supporters who can expand the conversation.
It is our responsibility to promote and show the critical importance of reading awareness. It is our way of supporting a cause that can improve people's lives unequivocally! We want you to bear that same responsibility.
If you need a sign to show that you're doing the right thing by supporting our cause, look no further! This is it! Check out our events and activities and take part, either as a participant, volunteer, donor, sponsor or community advocate! **And make sure you use #brownteensread each time you support us online!
By using language and codes that teens relate to, we can increase the number of supporters who can expand the conversation.
It is our responsibility to promote and show the critical importance of reading awareness. It is our way of supporting a cause that can improve people's lives unequivocally! We want you to bear that same responsibility.
If you need a sign to show that you're doing the right thing by supporting our cause, look no further! This is it! Check out our events and activities and take part, either as a participant, volunteer, donor, sponsor or community advocate! **And make sure you use #brownteensread each time you support us online!