Y'all. Better get to know your SBOE representative and legislative leaders in Texas. What a can of worms.
In HB 1605 (88R) the legislature said that Texas had to create a required reading list for all grades.
Some Facts:
- 5,700 Texas teachers completed the survey. (Texas schools employ around 380,000 teachers. So 374,300 didn't have a voice.)
- No teacher committees have reviewed the lists. And there is no plan to do so.
- TEA folks considered a bunch of stuff (9 areas) and made lists for each grade. Read more here. https://tea.texas.gov/academics/instructional-materials/house-bill-1605/sboe-tea-proposed-literary-works-list-pre-read-to-support-review.pdf
- Final adoption is expected this April. April of 2026. Then, instructional materials cycle through and full implementation begins in the school year of 2030-2031. In FOUR years.
- Some texts are expected to be read in their entirety. And recommended in printed, physical copies. Some texts can be consumed in excerpts or portions of the texts.
- Some texts must be read aloud.
- Specific versions of text are required.
- Specific TEKS are associated with each text.
- Cross curricular connections are aligned and associated with other subject area IMRA cycles.
Here is the RULE DRAFT TEXT: file:///Users/shonarose/Downloads/draft-rule-text-for-agency-recommendations-to-the-sboe-for-literary-works-list.pdf
Some questions:
- Why aren't teachers, schools, and curriculum departments at the local level involved in the process?
- What about alternative campuses that teach a whole year in one semester?
- Isn't there a law somewhere that says Texas Legislature can't get involved in pedagogy? Text selection is a key component of meeting the needs of diverse populations.
- Has anybody done a feasibility study on how much time it would take to complete all required readings?
- In looking at the research to support the decision, the research and match came after the legislative process and requirements. Isn't that backwards? I'll need to do some more digging on the research.
- Why are we prioritizing some versions, authors, and publishers over others? There are good and bad answers for that.
- Will all students have an opportunity to see themselves in these texts? NOPE
- Will these texts represent diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and economic realities? Lived experiences? Doesn't look like it.
- Why aren't kids "required" to read anything for themselves until 3rd grade?
- What's NOT there and should be or doesn't exist?
- Of ALL the things that have ever been written and will be written, THIS is what we are selecting?
- Why is The State of Texas listed as an author? Have you read their constitution? Convoluted mess.
- Why do the read alouds become fewer over time? Where is the multimedia stuff?
- After looking at the lists - ooooo....there's a LOT more questions that we OUGHT to be asking.
- Why are we reading Texas History crap in 5th grade? Isn't that an American History survey course?
- Some adults can't handle the fantasy and weird world of The Phantom Tollbooth - how will all 5th graders understand that level of abstraction when we know what brain research and development say about cognition at those ages?
- What socio-emotional needs have been considered for life in this century?
- I mean - I own and have read most of these texts. I would buy and read them over and over. Good stuff, most of it. But is this REALLY what the legislature had in mind...what it actually means for what happens to our kids?
- Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti Gerald McDermott
- April Rain Song Langston Hughes
- Are You My Mother? P. D. Eastman
- The Bald Eagle Norman Pearl
- Blueberries for Sal Robert McCloskey
- The Cat in the Hat Dr. Seuss
- Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
- Cinderella Marcia Brown
- Classic Nursery Rhymes (selected excerpts: Baa Baa Black Sheep, Hey Diddle Diddle, Hickory Dickery Dock, Humpty Dumpty, Jack and Jill, Little Boy Blue, Little Miss Muffet, Mary Had a Little Lamb, Old King Cole, One Two Buckle My Shoe) Nicola Baxter (compiler)
- George Washington and the Cherry Tree (excerpt from The Children's Book of Virtues) William J. Bennett (editor)
- The Golden Rule State of Texas
- The Grasshopper and the Ant Jerry Pinkney (retold from Aesop)
- Goldilocks and the Three Bears Jim Aylesworth
- The Keeping Quilt Patricia Polacco
- L is for Lone Star: A Texas Alphabet Carol Crane
- The Little Red Hen (excerpt from The Children's Book of Virtues) William J. Bennett (editor)
- The Lion and the Mouse (excerpt from The Children's Book of Virtues) William J. Bennett (editor)
- Luna Loves Art Joseph Coelho
- A Picture Book of George Washington David A. Adler
- A Picture Book of Thomas Alva Edison David A. Adler
- The Runaway Bunny Margaret Wise Brown
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Fairytale Classics) Anne Bowles
- The Snowy Day Ezra Jack Keats
- Three Billy Goats Gruff Paul Galdone
- The Three Little Pigs Paul Galdone
- The Tortoise and the Hare (excerpt from Children's Book of Virtues) William J. Bennett (editor)
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eric Carle
- You Are Special Max Lucado
- Abe Lincoln: The Boy Who Loved Books Kay Winters
- Ada Twist, Scientist Andrea Beaty
- Amelia Bedelia First Day of School Herman Parish
- Exploring America’s Symbols State of Texas
- A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (selected excerpts: Won't You Be My Neighbor, I Like You As You Are, Children Can, Smile in Your Pocket, Take My Time, What Can You Hear?, I'd Like to Be Like Mom and Dad, Summer Rain, Are You Brave?, The King and the Ocean, Then You Heart is Full of Love, The Truth Will Make You Free, You're Special, Perfect Day, I'm Proud of You) Fred Rogers
- The Boy Who Cried Wolf (excerpt from The Children's Book of Virtues) William J. Ben
- Classic Nursery Rhymes (selected excerpts: Jack Be Nimble, Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater, Simple Simon, Sing a Song of Sixpence, There Was an Old Woman, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Yankee Doodle) Nicola Baxter
- Curious About the White House Kate Waters
- Daniel Boone (excerpt from A Book of Americans) Stephen Vincent Benét and Rosemary Benét
- Danny and the Dinosaur Syd Hoff
- Davy Crockett (excerpt from A Book of Americans) Stephen Vincent Benét and Rosemary Benét
- The Hare in the Moon (excerpt from A Year Full of Stories: 52 classic stories from all around the world (Volume 1)) Angela McAllister
- The Fox and the Grapes (excerpt from Aesop's Fables: The Classic Edition) Aesop (illustrated by Charles Santore)
- The Frog Prince (excerpt from A Year Full of Stories: 52 classic stories from all around the world (Volume 1)): Angela McAllister
- Invitation (excerpt from Where the Sidewalk Ends) Shel Silverstein
- Jack and the Beanstalk Thomas Nelson
- The Legend of the Bluebonnet Tomie dePaola
- The Life of Paul Revere Maria Nelson
- The Little Engine That Could Watty Piper
- Lowly Worm meets the Early Bird Richard Scarry
- Madeline Ludwig Bemelmans
- Medio Pollito/Half Chicken: A Folktale in Spanish and English Alma Flor Ada
- Millions of Cats Wanda Gág
- Now and Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin Gene Barretta
- The Parable of the Prodigal Son State of Texas
- A Picture Book of Frederick Douglass David A. Adler
- Pocahontas (Excerpt from A Book of Americans) Stephen Vincent Benét and Rosemary Benét
- Rapunzel (excerpt from Usborne Illustrated Grimm's Fairy Tales) Gill Doherty
- Red Riding Hood James Marshall
- Rumpelstiltskin (Excerpt from Usborne Illustrated Grimm's Fairy Tales) Gill Doherty
- Swimmy Leo Lionni
- The Tale of Peter Rabbit Beatrix Potter
- The Ugly Duckling Hans Christian Anderson (adapted and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
- Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing (Excerpt from Aesop's Fables: The Classic Edition) Aesop (illustrated by Charles Santore)
- America Is… Louise Borden
- Beauty and the Beast Marianna Mayer
- Bluebonnet at the Alamo Mary Brooke Casad
- Cam Jansen: The Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds David A. Adler
- Clara Barton: Angel of the Battle Field Tamara Hollingsworth
- The Courage of Sarah Noble Alice Dalgliesh
- The Donkey in the Lion’s Skin (excerpt from Aesop's Fables: The Classic Edition) Aesop (illustrated by Charles Santore)
- Follow The Drinking Gourd Jeanette Winter
- Falling Up (excerpt from Falling Up) Shel Silverstein
- Flat Stanley: His Original Adventure! Jeff Brown
- James Madison: The 4th President Josh Gregory
- John Henry Julius Lester
- Johnny Appleseed Steven Kellogg (retold and illustrated by)
- The Legend of the Dipper (excerpt from The Children's Book of Virtues) William J. Bennett (editor)
- Paul Bunyan Steven Kellogg (retold and illustrated by)
- Pecos Bill Steven Kellogg (retold and illustrated by)
- The Magic Tree House #22: Revolutionary War on Wednesday Mary Pope Osborne
- Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom Carole Boston Weatherford
- The Mouse and the Motorcycle Beverly Cleary
- The Patchwork Quilt Valerie Flournoy
- Riding the Pony Express (Chapter 1 “St. Joe,” Chapter 2 “The Pony Express,” Chapter 3 “The Stagecoach,” Chapter 4 “Owl Creek Station,” Chapter 5 “The Kelly Family,” Chapter 6 “The Stable,” Chapter 7 “Work at the Stable”) Clyde Robert Bulla
- Sam The Minuteman Nathaniel Benchley
- Stellaluna Janell Cannon
- Susan B. Anthony Laura K. Murray
- The Swing Robert Louis Stevenson
- Teammates Peter Golenbock
- The Thanksgiving Story Alice Dalgliesh
- Try, Try Again (excerpt from The Children's Book of Virtues) William J. Bennett (editor)
- We the Kids: The Preamble of the Constitution of the United States David Catrow
- Winnie-the-Pooh (Chapter 1 "In Which We Are Introduced to Winnie-the-Pooh and Some Bees, and the Stories Begin" and Chapter 2 "In Which Pooh Goes Visiting and Gets Into a Tight Place" A. A. Milne
- Abraham Lincoln (excerpt from A Book of Americans) Stephen Vincent Benét and Rosemary Benét
- Archimedes and the Door of Science (Chapter 1 "Who was Archimedes?", Chapter 4 "Archimedes and his Lever", Chapter 9 "Archimedes and Numbers") Jeanne Bendick
- Charlotte’s Web E. B. White
- Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective Donald J. Sobol
- Enemy Pie Derek Munson
- The Fisherman and His Wife Rachel Isadora
- George Washington (excerpt from A Book of Americans) Stephen Vincent Benét and Rosemary Benét
- Hercules and the Wagoner (excerpt from The Children's Book of Virtues) William J. Bennett (editor)
- Icarus and Daedalus (excerpt from Classic Myths to Read Aloud: The Great Stories of Greek and Roman Mythology) William F. Russell
- Inside Ancient Rome L.L. Owens
- King Midas and the Golden Touch Charlotte Craft
- The Librarian Who Measured the Earth Kathryn Lasky
- Miss Rumphius Barbara Cooney
- Mistakes that Worked: 40 Familiar Inventions & How They Came To Be (Section 2 “Doctor, Doctor” and Section 4 “All Kinds of Accidental Things”) Charlotte Foltz Jones
- The Road to Damascus State of Texas
- Seeker of Knowledge: The Man Who Deciphered Egyptian Hieroglyphs James Rumford
- Smart (excerpt from A Light in the Attic) Shel Silverstein
- The Shepherd Boy and the Wolf (excerpt from Aesop's Fables) Aesop (adapted and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney)
- Stone Soup Marcia Brown
- The Story of Benjamin Franklin: An Inspiring Biography for Young Readers Shannon Anderson
- Thomas Jefferson (excerpt from A Book of Americans) Stephen Vincent Benét and Rosemary Benét
- The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse (excerpt from Aesop's Fables: The Classic Edition) Aesop (illustrated by Charles Santore)
- What Do You Do With a Problem? Kobi Yamada
- The Wind in the Willows (Chapters "The River Bank", "The Open Road", "The Wild Wood", and "Mr. Badger") Kenneth Grahame
The Ant and the Dove (excerpt from Aesop's Fables) Aesop (adapted and
illustrated by Jerry Pinkney)
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (Picture Book Edition) William Kamkwamba and
Bryan Mealer
Brave Irene William Steig
The Door in the Wall (Chapter 1) Marguerite de Angeli
Dreams Langston Hughes
Marquette in Iowa (excerpt from Stories of Great Americans
for Little Americans) Edward Eggleston
Number the Stars Lois Lowry
Old Stormalong, The Seafaring Sailor Carol Beach York
The Road Not Taken Robert Frost
Robinhood and the Golden Arrow (excerpt from The Children's
Book of Virtues) William J. Bennett (editor)
Saint Francis of Assisi Tim Ladwig
Sea Fever John Masefield
The Spirit of the Renaissance State of Texas
St. George and the Dragon (excerpt from The Children's Book
of Virtues William J. Bennett (editor)
Stone Fox John Reynolds Gardiner
The Story of King Arthur and His Knights (Part 1 "The Winning
of Kinghood" Chapters 1 and 2) Howard Pyle (adapted by
Tania Zamorsky)
Sundiata: The Lion King of Mali David Wisniewski
Thunderstorm in Church Louise A. Vernon
Treasure Island (Classic Adventures) Robert Louis Stevenson
(adapted by Jacqueline
Dembar Greene)
Who Was Leonardo Da Vinci? (Chapter 1 "Who Was Leonardo DaVinci?", Chapter 2 "The Unwanted Boy", Chapter 3 "The Art
Studio" and Chapter 4 "The Wider World") Roberta Edwards
The Wreck of the Zephyr Chris Van Allsburg
Adventures of Don Quijote (Dover Children's Thrift Classics) Argentina Palacios
Journey to America (excerpt "Are You My Papa?") Sonia Levitin
Casey at the Bat Ernest Lawrence Thayer
A Christmas Carol (Children’s Version) Charles Dickens (Adaptation by Gil Tavner)
The Colonization of Texas: Missions and Settlers Stephanie Kuligowski
Declaration of Independence in Translation: What It Really
Means Amy Jane Leavitt
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe C. S. Lewis
Mark Twain (excerpt from A Book of Americans) Stephen Vincent Benét and Rosemary Benét
The Mayflower Compact William Brewster, William Bradford, Edward Winslow
The Monkey and the Camel (excerpts from Fables) Arnold Lobel
A More Perfect Union: The Story of Our Constitution Betsy Maestro
The Phantom Tollbooth Norton Juster
Sam Houston: A Fearless Statesman Joanne Mattern
The Village Blacksmith Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Who was Davy Crockett? (Chapter 1 "Who was Davy
Crockett?") Gail Herman
The Wright Brothers: Pioneers of American Aviation (Chapter
2 "Get It Right On Paper," Chapter 11 "In the Bicycle Business,"
and Chapter 15 "Kitty Hawk")
Quentin Reynolds
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