Teachers who apply for the Rochelle Lee Teacher Award receive a $500 book grant in two allotments, which allows the recipients to purchase the books of their choice for their … Read More
Finding Belonging in Books: The Importance of Literacy
After college, I taught 9th-grade English for 4 years at a charter school in New York City. My lifetime love of learning and desire to instill that love in other … Read More
Banned Books Week: A Celebration of the Freedom to Read
Launched in 1982, Banned Books Week is an annual event that champions the freedom to read. Over the past 40 years, the number of banned and challenged books in libraries … Read More
What Keeps Employees Happy: Erica Keswin & WITS
In the summer of 2023, at the peak of the “Quiet Quitting” and the “Great Resignation” movements, I was connected to Wall Street Journal best-selling author Erica Keswin while she … Read More
Why Poetry Matters and Five Recommendations
Poetry is not a luxury. It is a vital necessity of our existence. –Audrey Lorde The WITS mission is to empower Chicago elementary students to discover themselves through reading while … Read More
Four Books about Home and Belonging
Throughout the year, WITS students and mentors build relationships together through books and the power of sharing stories. At the end of each program year, to celebrate the time students … Read More
Teachers Share Why They Like the Rochelle Lee Teacher Award
The Rochelle Lee Teacher Award is a grant for Chicago Public Schools elementary educators. Each year, teachers may apply to receive a classroom library grant. If selected, teachers receive $500 … Read More
Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May is Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. AAPI Heritage Month is celebrated in May because in May 1843 the first Japanese immigrants arrived in the US, and … Read More
WITS Summer Books Highlights 2023
An essential part of the WITS mission is to help students build at-home libraries and foster a love of reading outside of the classroom. Through the WITS Summer Books initiative, … Read More
The Books That Shape Us
I recently moved. The new place is a bit larger, which means proper book storage is possible. The bookshelf has been built, and it’s mostly empty. I don’t own many … Read More
