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When winter arrives, student engagement can sometimes dip along with the temperature. At ReadWorks, we know how challenging it can feel to keep learners motivated during these colder months. That’s why we’re here to support you with resources that are both engaging and easy to use, so you can spend less time planning and more time teaching. We’ve compiled more than 30 high-interest nonfiction passages from our free library, each one designed to spark curiosity while strengthening winter reading comprehension. Every passage includes its own set of reading comprehension questions that are perfect for:
How ReadWorks Builds ComprehensionEvery article at ReadWorks includes powerful tools that support reading comprehension:
In fact, ReadWorks tests these resources in real classrooms. In a recent 9-week Article-A-Day study showed a 11% boost in science knowledge—and students who used the Book of Knowledge saw even bigger gains. Read the research brief. Winter Reading Comprehension for Grades 3–4These high-interest nonfiction articles created for 3rd- and 4th-grade students cover a range of engaging topics such as weather, survival, health, and cultural winter celebrations. Weather, Science & Survival
Traditions & Celebrations 10. Seijin no – Japanese coming-of-age celebrations. Built-in questions make it great for social studies connections. 11. ’ Tis the Season – Explore global holiday traditions. Ideal for comprehension practice during whole group lessons. 12. Honoring King – Focuses on Martin Luther King Jr. Day with thoughtful comprehension questions for discussion. Health, Curiosity & Fun 13. Beating the Winter Blues – Strategies for well-being, with comprehension questions to guide small group reflection. 14. Winter Worries and Health Hazards – Real-world safety article with comprehension practice perfect for test prep. 15. Health and Safety in Winter – Another safety-focused passage with comprehension checks. 16. What’s This? A Frozen Frog – Fascinating animal science, with multiple-choice and open-ended comprehension questions. 17. What’s This? Brain Freeze – Relatable science article, with comprehension activities built in. 18. What’s This? Surviving Without Oxygen – High-interest science with test-style comprehension questions. 19. Nobel Work – Inspiring biography that comes with comprehension prompts for discussion. Winter Reading Comprehension for Grades 5–6For older students, these articles dive deeper into history, culture, and science – while still offering built-in comprehension questions for practice and prep. Science & Weather 20. Winter Is on the Way – Weather changes with comprehension checks for whole group lessons. 21. Winter Workouts – Physical activity in winter, with questions for small group work. 22. Ice Picks – Glaciers and climate science, paired with comprehension prompts. 23. Icy Voyage – Polar explorers’ journey with test-ready comprehension questions. 24. Hot Tips – Safety-focused nonfiction with multiple-choice comprehension items. 25. Winter Is Coming – Seasonal science text, with comprehension checks for practice. 26. Let It Snow! – Perfect for group instruction, with snowflake science and comprehension questions. 27. Health and Safety in Winter – A cross-grade article with flexible comprehension activities. 28. Winter Worries and Health Hazards – Safety and science article, great for test-prep style comprehension practice. Culture & Celebrations 29. The Sport of Snowsnake – Native American sport, with comprehension questions for discussion. 30. Judaism: Hanukkah – Holiday history with text-based comprehension prompts. 31. The King Holiday: A Day to… – MLK Day, with built-in comprehension questions. 32. Honoring King – Another MLK Day article, perfect for paired passages and comprehension practice. Health, News & Curiosity 33. Beating the Winter Blues – Mental health strategies with comprehension prompts for group or individual use. 34. News Debate: Snowed Out! – Nonfiction debate with built-in comprehension questions—perfect for critical thinking. Wrapping UpThis collection of winter reading comprehension activities for grades 3–6 offers engaging nonfiction paired with ready-to-use comprehension questions.
Whether you’re planning whole group lessons, small group differentiation, state test prep, or individual homework assignments, these passages make it easy to build strong reading skills while keeping learning connected to the season. → Explore even more nonfiction texts in the free ReadWorks library and keep your literacy block engaging, relevant, and winter-ready.
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For more than 20 years, ReadWorks and New York City Public Schools have partnered to bring free, evidence-based reading resources to students. What began with print resources for classroom use has evolved into an award-winning educational technology platform offering over 6,000 reading passages for grades K-12, Spanish-English Paired Texts, differentiated StepReads™, and more—all free for educators. Today, the number of educators in NYC public schools signing up to use ReadWorks’ free reading comprehension resources continues to grow, increasing by 10% each year. More than 80% of educators return to use the platform each year as well. This year, ReadWorks has made access for NYC educators even easier by rolling out a direct integration with NYC’s Department of Education Single Sign-On (SSO) platform, ensuring that every NYC teacher can seamlessly bring ReadWorks into the technology that they are already using in their classrooms. ReadWorks is proud of the continuous effort to strengthen reading instruction these past years in New York City schools, especially during this pivotal time when New York City is evaluating their reading scores and growth. Recent reports show the city’s students are making their strongest gains in literacy in over a decade. According to new statewide test results, 56.3% of NYC students in grades 3–8 scored proficient or better in English Language Arts (ELA) in 2025, up from 49.1% the previous year — a 7.2% increase. (Source: NY Times, August 2025) “These scores are a win for everyone, because it’s really the result of great collaboration and the hard work that our kids put in,” The New York Times reported that much of this growth reflects the city’s NYC Reads initiative and the adoption of new, research-based English Language Arts (ELA) curricula. ReadWorks partners with NYC teachers and leaders, listening closely to understand where support is most needed. There is a growing need for resources that support background knowledge and vocabulary, which is often called “the other side of learning to read, beyond phonics” on Scarborough’s reading rope. ReadWorks responded by creating curriculum alignments tailored to NYC’s ELA curricula. These alignments provide curated, grade-level texts by topic, along with vocabulary exercises and question sets. For example, when 3rd graders study the ocean in their Wit and Wisdom ELA October unit, teachers can quickly access free ready-to-use passages that deepen understanding and build vocabulary about oceans. In Harlem’s District 5, 24 schools have spent the past two years deepening the use of ReadWorks resources to strengthen reading instruction. Educators and paraprofessionals have embraced the ReadWorks Article-A-Day™ routine, a daily practice that builds background knowledge, vocabulary, and reading stamina. Starting in Fall 2023, District 5 staff participated in customized professional development sessions from ReadWorks, focused on using Article-A-Day in small-group interventions. This hands-on training gave paraprofessionals the tools and confidence to support students effectively. A few weeks later, PS 175 reached its ambitious goal of having students read a ReadWorks article daily to expand knowledge and vocabulary. “ReadWorks has become an essential companion to our reading block, providing Article-A-Day and differentiated, high-quality texts that align with the Science of Reading and deepen comprehension practice. In schools where educators use ReadWorks consistently, we are seeing notable gains in student engagement and reading growth. Its ease of use and accessibility for all staff have made it an invaluable tool in advancing our district’s goals.” District 5 is now among the top three districts in NYC for ELA progress in the 2023–2024 school year, with three schools reporting double-digit gains. This success reflects the dedication of teachers, paraprofessionals, families, and school communities working together to create joyful, knowledge-rich classrooms filled with confident readers.
ReadWorks remains deeply committed to supporting one of the largest and most dynamic school systems in the world, ensuring that every educator and student, especially those in under-resourced schools, has free access to the high-quality reading materials and support that ReadWorks is known for and that are proven to strengthen reading comprehension. As the city continues to make meaningful progress in reading, we are excited to build on this district collaboration and expand our work to even more NYC school districts.
As we approach Thanksgiving, educators are often searching for high-quality, engaging resources. For students in grades 4-8, it’s a critical time to move beyond simple holiday stories and engage with history, diverse perspectives, and tradition in a more meaningful way.
We’re here to support you with a free bundle of high-interest articles and activities designed to make your planning easier and your instruction more impactful. Featuring nonfiction content from ReadWorks experts and our partners at History.com, this packet helps your students build crucial background knowledge and literacy skills. ➡️ Download Your Free Thanksgiving Reading Bundle Now 
Build Knowledge Before Your Students Read
We know from the Science of Reading that background knowledge and vocabulary are key to unlocking comprehension. Our evidence-based vocabulary activities are designed to set all your students up for success before they even read the first sentence.
With this bundle, your students will discover and explore important words like ancestor, celebrate, harvest, honor, invent, myth, and tradition. Our integrated activities are clear, accessible, and supportive:
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 | Dr. Susanne Nobles Recognized as Top 10 Chief Academic Officer of 2025 We’re proud to share that Dr. Susanne Nobles, Ph.D., Chief Academic Officer at ReadWorks, has been named one of Education Insider Magazine’s “Top 10 Chief Academic Officers of 2025.” This national recognition honors education leaders who have demonstrated exceptional impact on education through innovation, research, and a deep commitment to equity. Dr. Nobles’ inclusion in this outstanding list of finalists follows a selection process based on nominations, editorial review, and advisory board evaluation. |
| How Partnerships Expand the Minds of Readers: Stitching Culture into the Curriculum ReadWorks' partnership with The International Quilt Museum (IQM) is made possible thanks to philanthropic support from the Robert and Ardis James Foundation. |  |
This one-of-a-kind museum is home to the largest public collection of quilts in the world and is housed at the University of Nebraska. Our partnership amplifies the rich history of this art form and helps to preserve and share the diverse stories told through quilting.
ReadWorks and IQM bring these narratives to life in classrooms across the country—providing 92 high-interest texts and questions to engage readers and explore culture, folklore, history, and design. You can read more about the impact and reach of our partnership in the case study.
ReadWorks and IQM bring these narratives to life in classrooms across the country—providing 92 high-interest texts and questions to engage readers and explore culture, folklore, history, and design. You can read more about the impact and reach of our partnership in the case study.
 | ReadWorks Receives SOC 2 Compliance Status Developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), SOC 2 is the gold standard for evaluating how organizations manage data. An independent audit has meticulously reviewed our platform and systems to confirm that ReadWorks effectively manages and secures data. |
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Your commitment to reading comprehension is instrumental to the work that ReadWorks is doing to impact millions of students and teachers. Thank you!
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Download a free, easy-to-use handout for parent-teacher conferences. Give parents the tools they need to support their child's reading comprehension at home with ReadWorks.
Parent-teacher conferences are a critical, but often a brief amount of time to connect with families. You have a few minutes to discuss a student's progress and, ideally, provide simple ways for parents to help at home. When it comes to reading, bridging that home-school gap is essential.
ReadWorks is here to make that conversation easier.
➡️ Download the parent-teacher conference hand out here.
Parent-teacher conferences are a critical, but often a brief amount of time to connect with families. You have a few minutes to discuss a student's progress and, ideally, provide simple ways for parents to help at home. When it comes to reading, bridging that home-school gap is essential.
ReadWorks is here to make that conversation easier.
➡️ Download the parent-teacher conference hand out here.
Your "Done-for-You" Reading Resource for Parents and Caregivers
We’ve created a simple, one-page handout that teachers can share with families to introduce ReadWorks as a tool for at-home support, no matter the grade level K-12.
This guide helps parents quickly understand how to:
This guide helps parents quickly understand how to:
- Access thousands of FREE, high-quality reading passages for their child’s specific grade level.
- Explore fun and engaging vocabulary and reading comprehension activities.
- Support their child's reading practice at home in just a few minutes a day.
How to Use This Parent-Teacher Conference Handout
Whether your students are in kindergarten or high school, this one-pager is a simple, no-prep way to encourage family involvement in their child’s reading journey.
It's perfect to:
It's perfect to:
- Print and include in a conference folder.
- Share digitally in a follow-up email.
- Have on your table for parents to take.
Download Your Free Handout Today
Make this conference season a chance to connect families with the tools they need. Download the free Parent-Teacher Conference Handout and empower parents to become active partners in building stronger readers.
