Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz has launched the Commissioner’s Book of the Month. Among the four books in the inaugural list is one that Duval County last year took off its schools’ bookshelves – “Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates,” by Jonah Winter.
Last month, the Duval County School District reinstated the elementary-level biography – just in time for the Diaz Book of the Month club. If you think this is a coincidence, then you should bet heavy on Vermont to win the NCAA basketball tournament.
Meanwhile, Escambia County Public Schools are reviewing “When Wilma Rudolph Played Basketball.”
Tallahassee, Fla., March 15, 2023 – Today, Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. launched the Commissioner’s Book of the Month, a monthly reading challenge to promote literacy and reading engagement in K-12 schools. Each month, Commissioner Diaz will highlight four recommended books – one per selected grade range.
“The Commissioner’s Book of the Month will be an opportunity to highlight authors and titles, offering students rewarding opportunities for classroom and at-home discussion,” said Education Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr. “This new initiative will add to Florida’s ever-present focus on providing students access to challenging books that increase critical thinking skills and deepen understanding.”
The Commissioner’s recommendations for March 2023 are:
Grades K-2 – “The Lion and the Mouse,” by Aesop
Grades 3-5 – “Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates,” by Jonah Winter
Grades 6-8 – “Lifeboat 12,” by Susan Hood
Grades 9-12 – “The Raft,” by S.A. Bodeen
The selections, along with guiding questions for educators and parents, can be found each month on the Commissioner’s Book of the Month page of the FDOE website.
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