Becki English, a 4th Grade teacher at Randolph County Elementary School (GA), has been named the Open Up Resources Teacher of the Month for April 2023. English is being recognized for her outstanding work in her classroom and ongoing support of teachers across the country as a member of the Open Up Resources National Professional Learning Community.

English’s work with Bookworms K–5 Reading and Writing makes her one of the most innovative teachers in the country. The Bookworms K–5 Reading and Writing curriculum inspires a new way of teaching language arts by engaging students through compelling, real-world content to build equitable and inclusive learning opportunities.

Heather Melton, a colleague at Randolph County School District, nominated English for her enthusiasm and ability to engage students in the curriculum. Melton shared, “During the interactive read-aloud time, [English’s] energy hooks and holds her students’ attention. The way she reads and uses expression helps her students connect with the texts.”

In her nomination, Melton described the incredible discourse in English’s classroom. “After the read-aloud, the discussion and the conversations are so rich and smooth as the students absorb this new knowledge.” Melton shared that it’s even difficult for administrators to leave during interactive read-alouds that English leads! 

English shared her appreciation of the way reading and writing go hand-in-hand within the Bookworms K–5 Reading & Writing curriculum. She explained, “The Bookworms curriculum is structured in a way that allows reading and writing to go hand-in-hand. It’s one of the most ‘natural’ curriculums I have seen because skills are taught in context through authentic reading and writing, not in choppy isolation.” 

About her experience and implementation of Bookworms this year, English said: “Though it is our school’s first year with the curriculum, I’m all in and cannot wait to see the difference it makes in our readers for years to come.”

Open Up Resources is a non-profit on a mission to increase equity in education by making excellent, top-rated curricula freely available to districts. You can learn more at www.openupresources.org.