Ceili Canning

A middle school teacher smiling while teaching a CommonLit 360 lesson.

A Guide to CommonLit 360 Professional Development

At CommonLit, we've always believed that great curriculum is only part of the equation. The research is clear: materials alone are not enough. What truly moves the needle...

Ceili Canning

June 9, 2026 5 min read

A student completing a CommonLit 360 writing lesson.

How CommonLit 360 Integrates Writing Across ELA Instruction

In CommonLit 360, writing instruction is woven into reading and discussion lessons from the very first unit. Teaching students to write while also teaching them to read closely and discuss...

Ceili Canning

May 28, 2026 3 min read

A student taking the CommonLit Assessment Series pre-assessment

CommonLit's Assessment Series Gives Teachers a Clearer Picture of Every Reader

Know where every student stands—and how to think about what comes next The CommonLit Assessment Series is your school's tool for tracking student reading growth across the...

Ceili Canning

May 15, 2026 4 min read

Students working in a CommonLit classroom.

10 Texts to Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month in Your ELA Classroom

These engaging texts help students explore identity, culture, and belonging through Asian American and Pacific Islander voices and experiences. Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is an opportunity to...

Ceili Canning

May 7, 2026 4 min read

A middle school teacher in a CommonLit 360 classroom.

Building Consensus Around Your Next ELA Curriculum Through a CommonLit Pilot

Making a confident curriculum decision is a major investment. Once you begin the adoption process, it requires time to review your options, determine what will work best for your school,...

Ceili Canning

April 10, 2026 4 min read

Secondary students in a CommonLit classroom

9 Impactful Texts for Arab American Heritage Month

These engaging texts help students explore identity, culture, and belonging through Arab American voices and experiences. Arab American Heritage Month offers an opportunity to center stories and perspectives that reflect...

Ceili Canning

April 6, 2026 3 min read

A middle school student in a CommonLit ELA classroom.

10 Engaging Poems to Teach for National Poetry Month

These engaging poems help students explore voice, identity, imagination, and the power of language. National Poetry Month is the perfect time to bring poetry into your classroom in ways that...

Ceili Canning

April 3, 2026 3 min read

A CommonLit 360 teacher instructing her students.

How to Help Your School Pilot CommonLit’s Full Program

Choosing the right curriculum is one of the most important decisions a school makes. Teachers and leaders want to know how materials support real classroom instruction, how students respond to...

Ceili Canning

March 26, 2026 4 min read

High school student in a CommonLit 360 classroom

CommonLit 360 in 12th Grade: Independence, Belonging, and the Search for Meaning

Explore what a year looks like in a 12th grade CommonLit 360 classroom Twelfth graders engage with the year-long theme of Independence and Belonging, exploring cultural conflict, self-determination,...

Ceili Canning

March 20, 2026 5 min read

CommonLit 360 in 11th Grade: Examining the American Dream

Explore what a year looks like in a 11th grade CommonLit 360 classroom Eleventh grade invites students to analyze the evolution of the American Dream, including its ideals and contradictions....

Ceili Canning

March 20, 2026 5 min read

CommonLit 360 in 10th Grade: Finding Your Voice

Explore what a year looks like in a 10th grade CommonLit 360 classroom Tenth graders engage with the year-long theme of Finding Your Voice through characters who face moral...

Ceili Canning

March 20, 2026 4 min read

A high school student in a CommonLit 360 classroom

CommonLit 360 in 9th Grade: Civic Responsibility and Our Role in Society

Explore what a year looks like in a 9th grade CommonLit 360 classroom Ninth graders engaging with the year-long theme of Civic Responsibility ponder their rights and duties in...

Ceili Canning

March 20, 2026 5 min read

Middle school students in a CommonLit 360 classroom.

CommonLit 360 in 8th Grade: Courage, Justice, and Understanding Complex Issues

Explore what a year looks like in a 8th grade CommonLit 360 classroom Eighth grade invites students into exciting and moving stories that challenge them to think deeply about courage,...

Ceili Canning

March 20, 2026 5 min read

CommonLit 360 in 7th Grade: Identity and Belonging

Explore what a year looks like in a 7th grade CommonLit 360 classroom Seventh grade is a time when students begin asking deeper questions about who they are and how...

Ceili Canning

March 20, 2026 5 min read

A middle school student completing a CommonLit 360 unit

CommonLit 360 in 6th Grade: A Year of Change, Growth, and Meaningful Work

Explore what a year looks like in a 6th grade CommonLit 360 classroom Sixth grade centers on change—in ourselves, in others, and in the world around us. Students are...

Ceili Canning

March 20, 2026 5 min read

A middle school teacher smiling with her students.

Why Teachers Love the CommonLit Text Library

With engaging texts, built-in supports, and flexible lesson options, the CommonLit Text Library makes it easier for teachers to plan meaningful reading instruction. Teachers are always looking for texts...

Ceili Canning

March 19, 2026 3 min read

An ELA teacher guiding a student through a CommonLit reading lesson

Powerful Women’s History Month Speeches for Middle and High School Classrooms

These influential speeches help middle and high school students explore women’s leadership, equality, and social change through powerful primary sources. Women’s History Month is an opportunity to examine...

Ceili Canning

March 11, 2026 4 min read

10 Spring Poems and Stories for Your ELA Classroom

These spring-themed poems and stories for elementary, middle, and high school classrooms help students explore nature, change, and the season ahead. As the weather warms and signs of new...

Ceili Canning

March 11, 2026 4 min read

A high school student working on a CommonLit 360 lesson.

CommonLit 360 Edition 2.0 for grades 11-12 is coming!

CommonLit 360 is a comprehensive, full-year ELA curriculum for grades 6-12 designed to support student growth in reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. Our curriculum provides teachers with...

Ceili Canning

February 5, 2026 3 min read

How to Advocate for CommonLit 360 at Your School

Learn how to confidently advocate for CommonLit 360 at your school or district. Teachers know what works. Every day, you see what motivates your students, what supports real growth, and...

Ceili Canning

November 4, 2025 3 min read

Two high school students collaborating on a CommonLit 360 lesson.

Announcing New CommonLit 360 Units for Grades 9 and 10

CommonLit 360 is a comprehensive, full-year ELA curriculum for grades 6-12 designed to support student growth in reading, writing, and speaking and listening skills. Our curriculum provides teachers...

Ceili Canning

February 21, 2025 10 min read

CommonLit’s Summer Reading Challenge 2023

CommonLit’s Summer Reading Challenge is back for 2023! Explore our reading lists full of engaging stories for all grade levels. CommonLit’s Summer Reading Challenge is back with new...

Ceili Canning

July 10, 2023 3 min read

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