I am very excited to share a new program called LitWeaver. It features literary selections devoted to grades 5-12 and is an excellent resource to teachers. And here is the great news…IT IS FREE! Teachers can create a sign up and browse the library. They can print out the literary selections or send them to students’ digital devices. The designers (Will Weaver, Don Gallo, and Mary Dennis) promise they will always feature free selections, but eventually, there may be a low cost to teachers. Each week, they plan to add more selections to the library with a goal of 100 high-quality selections by 60 authors in the first year. The selections include: short stories, poems, plays, essays, and a few novels (on the way). When classes are reading and discussing a work, the authors will be be able to access the selection’s discussion board.
I’m really excited about this resource and decided to devote a full blog post to it because I wanted to spread the word. I’ve been aware of this resource for quite some time, but I was thrilled when I heard that it officially launched this month. I worked in a school where resources were always an area of concern, and I wish I had this program available. I hope you find it to be useful!
Some of the featured authors (you might recognize a few—wink):
Will Weaver
Rich Wallace
Alden R. Carter
Charlie Price
Lisa Rowe Fraustino
Joseph Bruchac
Rodman Philbrik
Kelly Milner Halls
Marc Aronson
Nikki Grimes
Joyce Sweeney
Gary Blackwood
Kao Kalia Yang
Susan Beth Pfeffer
Dian Curtis Regan
Don Gallo
Ellen Conford
Annette Curtis Klause
René Saldaña, Jr.
Harold Schechter
Richard Peck
Naomi Shihab Nye
Deborah Noyes
Alex Flinn
Walter Dean Myers
Alan Sitomer
Pete Hautman
Jerry Spinelli
Sue Ellen Bridgers
Anton Treuer
Sharon Dennis Wyeth
Elsa Marston
Lensey Namioka
Gordon Korman
Marsha McGregor
Sandy Asher
Ellen Hopkins
Gloria Skurzynski
Chris Crowe
Jane Yolen
Bruce Coville
Katie Williams
Terry Trueman
Katherine Paterson
Lauren Oliver
Jean Davies Okimoto
Jan Cheripko
David Lubar
Ron Koertge
Mel Glenn
LitWeaver has had early success—a 7120% increase of new teachers signing up since launching the beta 3 ½ weeks ago! This confirmed their idea that YA lit should be more accessible, more varied, and more affordable. There will eventually be 200 pieces of content (in various genres) in their library.
In addition to teachers signing up, they’ve already been contacted by Rutgers University, publications, and several blogs. Here’s something from School Library Journal.
They’re working right now on how to provide more and more free content for teachers. They believe this is doable but will need everybody’s support to help shape the product—so please spread the news!
Enjoy!
Wow, this sounds wonderful! Thanks for sharing, Ricki.