About

My name is Sarah and I am the face behind TheReadingZone. I am a former 6th grade Language Arts teacher and current high school English teacher who strives to instill a love of reading and writing in her students. I am a National Board Certified teacher and a regular contributor to The New York Times Learning Network Blog.

 

I can’t imagine my life without books- the many overflowing bookcases in my house and classroom are a testament to this. When I began teaching I discovered the lack of middle school teachers who blog and set out to make a difference. I read and review all the books I place in my classroom library and hope that my reviews can help other students, parents, teachers, and librarians choose the perfect book.  Now that I have taken my journey into high school, I continue to share my love of reading and writing with my students.  I also try to integrate as much tech as I possibly can. Reading and technology do not have to be at odds!  I teach at the #1 STEM high school in the nation and I am also an alumnus of the school.  I am passionate about science and technology and that tends to carry over into my English classroom.

I love my students. I love raising monarch butterflies. Besides my rampant love of books and writing, I also work as a volunteer staff member for the Monarch Teacher Network. My students and I raise and release monarch butterflies every fall, track their migration each winter, and await their return in the spring. In February 2008 I was privileged to travel to Michoacan, Mexico to visit the overwintering grounds of the monarchs, which was a life-changing experience.

My blog focuses on reading, with a lot of writing and writing workshop thrown in. I also talk about my classroom and classroom projects. I currently team-teach humanities, which is English and World History in one double-period. I also teach (solo) a section of senior English. I frequently share my classroom experiences and projects here on the blog, especially when they combine more than one content area. I work hard (alongside my colleagues) to collaborate and model as much real-world learning as possible.

I do accept review copies of books. I promise to read each book but cannot guarantee I will review each one. A review is a courtesy, not a guarantee. I tend to focus on young adult literature, fiction and non-fiction. I also review some middle-grade fiction/non-fiction.  Please email thereadingzone@gmail.com for mailing address.