It's not too late to complete the 20th Annual NYC School Survey: we are still accepting responses—online only—until Thursday, April 30! The survey is an opportunity to share honest, confidential feedback about your child’s experiences in our schools so they can identify what’s working and areas for growth. Share your voice today to drive real, beneficial change for students, families, and staff members!
Learn more about how you can complete your NYC School Survey online today!
April is Earth Month! To celebrate, we're highlighting a story from our Hidden Voices series about Eunice Newton Foote, a groundbreaking amateur scientist, inventor, and women’s rights activist who today is widely considered to be the first person to discover the greenhouse effect, though her work was overlooked for many years.
Learn more about Foote's work and how it was all nearly lost to history on Hidden Voices
Celebrating Climate Action Day and Earth Month this April
During Arab American Heritage Month, we're highlighting the stories of individuals who have often been left out of traditional historical records, like Kahlil Gibran, a writer, artist, and philosopher whose words have crossed borders, languages, and generations.
Learn more about Gibran and his most famous work, The Prophet on Hidden Voices
April marks the 30th anniversary of National Poetry Month! As we celebrate the art of poetry and the many voices that shape it, these reading recommendations for students of all ages highlight poetry collections, novels‑in‑verse, and poetry‑themed picture books that represent a wide range of perspectives. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!
Early Readers (3-K–Grade 2)
- C Is for City, by Nikki Grimes; illustrated by Pat Cummings
- Emma’s Poem, by Linda Glaser; illustrated by Claire A. Nivola
- For a Girl Becoming, by Joy Harjo; illustrated by Adriana M. Garcia
- I Talk Like a River, by Jordan Scott
- Kiyoshi's Walk, by Mark Karlins; illustrated by Nicole Wong
- Runny Babbit: A Billy Sook, by Shel Silverstein
Elementary (Grades 3–5)
- In Praise of Mystery, by Ada Limon; illustrated by Peter Sis
- Explosion at the Poem Factory, by Kyle Lukoff; illustrated by Mark Hoffmann
- Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks, by Suzanne Slade; illustrated By Cozbi A. Cabrera
- The Gift of the Broken Teacup, by Allan Wolf; illustrated by Jade Orlando
- I Am Kavi, by Thushanti Ponweera
- Land of the Cranes, by Aida Salazar
Middle School (Grades 6–8)
- Alias Anna, by Susan Hood with Greg Dawson
- Beanball, by Gene Fehler
- Brown Girl Dreaming, by Jacqueline Woodson
- Dear Mothman, by Robin Gow
- Please Pay Attention, by Jamie Sumner
- When Clouds Touch Us, by Thanhhà Lại
Upper Grades (Grades 9–12)
- An Appetite for Miracles, by Laekan Zea Kemp
- The Black Flamingo, by Dean Atta
- The Boy Lost in the Maze, by Joseph Coelho; illustrated by Kate Miliner
- King of the Neuro Verse, by Idris Goodwin
- The Poet X, by Elizabeth Acevedo
- Voices in the Air: Poems for Listeners, by Naomi Shihab Nye
You can find these books and many more great reads on Sora, our Citywide Digital Library, which provides free access to thousands of digital e-books and audiobooks for our students. You can also find even more recommendations in the Poetry, Spoken Word, and Novels in Verse Collection on Sora for even more great recommendations.
Missed our previous book recommendations?
Check them out in the "What We're Reading" Archive!
SPOTLIGHT ON OUR SCHOOLS
Last month, NYC Public Schools and Mikva Challenge partnered up to host SoapboxNYC, our annual celebration of youth voice and public speaking for students in grades K–12. Held at the iconic Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan, the event featured outstanding student finalists who courageously stepped on stage to answer the question, "What is the biggest issue facing your community, and what should be done about it?"
Judging from these photos, it's clear that this year's SoapboxNYC will be remembered for years to come! We thank Mikva Challenge for their partnership and ongoing support for our Civics for All initiative!
Make Your Own Self-Watering Plastic Bottle Planter
Join in on the fun and learning happening during our next Climate Action Day on April 22! Learn how to make your very own greenspace at home, with this step-by-step guide to create a self-watering planter out of recycled water bottles—an easy, low-maintenance home garden that helps conserve water by keeping the soil moist all on it's own!
