best nonfiction essays for high school students

12 Nonfiction Literature Must Reads in the High School English Classroom

Jun 20, 2023

English teachers love a good work of fiction; we find many ways to include such works in our classrooms. Where we might need a bit more guidance or support is with the inclusion of more nonfiction literature in our lessons.

With nonfiction, students can use many of the same skills they do with fiction, but nonfiction lit offers some additional options and benefits. 

Through its focus on historical or current events, nonfiction literature provides background knowledge that will be useful as students continue in school and beyond. It also provides opportunities for critical thinking and connection-making between texts.

Finally, nonfiction literature teaches students about the ‘real world’ that can widen their understanding and point of view! 

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Table of Contents

Nonfiction Literature Definition

Nonfiction includes any text based on facts and real events about real people while fiction tells made-up stories even though it might adapt or adopt elements from real life. 

Types of nonfiction text stretch far and wide! From biographies, memoirs, or personal essays to textbooks for science, history, and geography, to any true account of current or historical events in newspapers or diaries, through to letters, reviews, and advertisements. 

Want help with teaching poetry in April?  Check out “Making the most of National Poetry Month!”

12 Nonfiction Literature Examples 

1. speeches  .

Focusing on the spoken word and referencing written forms, speeches fit into the realm of nonfiction literature. A good speech shares a person’s point; a great speech does that but with flair using rhetorical devices and figurative language to engage the audience! Teaching different speeches is important because speeches teach a lesson in getting an audience to care about a subject. Speeches additionally provide a closer look at rhetorical and figurative language in action.

• Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t a Woman” – Delivered in 1851 at the Women’s Rights Convention in Ohio, this speech focused on equality for race and gender. As an abolitionist and women’s rights activist, Truth’s speech is a must-read with your students! Begin your study of the speech with this series of quiz questions focused on comprehension using Common Core standards-aligned questions .
• “Declaration of Sentiments”- This 1848 speech from the first women’s rights convention is so named for its similarities to the US Declaration of Independence. This speech is a great one because it focuses on examining the author’s purpose of rhetorical devices like repetition, imagery, parallelism, historical allusion, and religious allusion. Grab this ready-made resource to examine all of these aspects!

2. TED Talks ™

Extend from historic speeches to more current incarnations with TED Talks™. They offer dynamic and diverse topics and speakers. At Ted.com you can search based on topic, duration, and popularity or check out what is trending based on months of significance or current events. What an easy way to include more Nonfiction Literature!

3. Essays/Research Papers

Secondary sources such as essays and research papers take a deeper dive into a subject and usually do so with a more narrowed focus. One option is to search Google Scholar for scholarly publications relevant to a topic you’re studying in class. Google Scholar includes a wide variety of disciplines and you can usually find a PDF version of the source ready to download.

4. Narratives  

Nonfiction literature narratives include memoirs, personal essays, and literary journalism. The stories told remain grounded in facts but include more literary elements to tell a gripping story. 

Here are some nonfiction literature narrative ideas with contemporary and/or historical elements: 

• “Hardware” by Kristin Menke – This personal essay is about a father who owned a hardware store and some of the people and situations he encountered; it is told from the perspective of the subject’s daughter. This original nonfiction narrative is an ideal jumping-off point for examining content and style. Check out this digital and printable resource with a detailed lesson plan, a variety of reading activities, and a full answer key .  
• Other narratives like Mark Twain’s semi-autobiographical travel narrative “Roughing It” work as a way to examine different genres. Such narratives are also good for lessons focused on skill development such as inference skills, summarizing, or citing evidence like in this no-prep lesson . 
• Jack London’s “The Road” is an autobiographical narrative about the author’s experiences as a wanderer at the end of the 19th century. Like Twain’s text, this one also works for a skill development lesson, this time with a focus on the author’s purpose using an excerpt from this narrative . 

5. Autobiographies and Biographies  

Accounts of others’ lives written by a third party in the case of biographies or by the subject (him/herself) in the case of autobiographies offer unparalleled insight into notable topics and time periods. Peeking into others people’s lives is not only exciting but highly informative since these texts offer a closer look into a person or moment.

If you want to integrate some science and history in your ELA class, consider an excerpt about Isaac Newton. Gaining insight into the mathematician and physicist renowned for discovering gravity is sure to pique students’ curiosity and provides a cross-curricular connection, too. Use this lesson with a biographical feature of Newton that digs deeper into the structure of such texts .  

6. Satire as Nonfiction Literature

The ultimate goal of satire is commentary that is either light-hearted or scathing in order to evoke a change of some sort. Exploring the rhetorical language used in such texts gives students a chance to see how authors play with language to great effect.

Here are 2 prime examples of similar satire: 

• A Modest Proposal is Jonathan Swift’s (in)famous satirical political pamphlet with a far-fetched solution to famine that is always a hit with students. Check out this rhetorical analysis and reading activities bundle that teachers say is comprehensive and easy to use ! 
• “Sending Grandma to the Ovens” by Colin Cohen is similar in structure, purpose, and topic to Swift’s piece but just as easily stands on its own. This lesson pack includes standards-based activities, graphic orga nizers, essay prompts, and everything else you need to teach rhetorical analysis, so your students can write with confidence!  

7. Paired Passages  

There is an art to using paired passages because you don’t want anything too obvious or too obscure. The goal is to have students ruminate on shared ideas so you want to ensure students can make those connections. Grouping like-texts together is vital because it provides a richer and more engaging learning experience!

For example, the following texts share a theme of fighting to defend the country but are dissimilar in time periods:

• FDR’s “Day of Infamy” speech delivered the day after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 is a major speech in the history of our country as part of the declaration of WWII. Get students to read and analyze the speech with this FREE lesson . 
• Then pair FDR’s speech with Patrick Henry’s “Give Me Liberty” speech from a decidedly different time but with a similar message. Compare the use of rhetorical appeals to the audience in each speech. Prep students for this analysis with a series of activities focused on Henry’s speech in this lesson pack . 

8. Historical Passages  

First-person accounts of historical events provide a window into the past. Unlike biographies or autobiographies, historical passages are often less edited and therefore can provide a better sense of the time. For example, this lesson pack focuses on citing evidence from a passage about the Oregon Trail from Ezra Meeker’s accounts of his travels from Iowa to the Pacific Coast. 

9. Important Documents  

As the name implies, these nonfiction literature documents are important to the establishment of government, political thinking, and more that reverberate through history up to our current day. 

In the United States of America, teaching “The Declaration of Independence” is obviously vital. Students have likely encountered it in other courses so use this familiarity to dig deeper into rhetorical analysis. And make your life easier with this lesson pack that includes everything to teach step-by-step from the reading of the text all the way to the final essay .

10.  Sermons/Religious Texts  

These types of nonfiction literature texts, like so many of those listed, provide insight into another facet of history. Consider sermons as another genre through which you can analyze rhetoric, structure, and connections to the overarching topic of religion.   

One foundational American Literature text is this classic religious text. “Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God” by Jonathan Edwards is an early American sermon awash in rhetoric. Make teaching this nonfiction text stress free with this series of lessons all about Edwards’ historic sermon . 

11. News Articles  

With a wide variety of digital publications from around the world, news articles are another must-read for high school English. It’s important to know about our world through past and current events because they inform so much of our day-to-day lives. Therefore, make sure to include local, national, and international news sources. News articles are another chance to teach about the realities of different forms of media, a perfect addition to a nonfiction literature unit. 

12. Podcasts   a Different Type of Nonfiction Literature

Harkening back to the long-gone days of radio, podcasts have made a big comeback in the last decade. And the best part of this comeback is the variety that is available to use in high school English. Whether your students are into science, crime, love stories, current events, politics, or music, you name it and there’s a podcast to fit their interests. With a focus on oral communication, nonfiction literature podcasts provide a different form through which students can complete analysis activities and hone their skills for summary, author’s purpose, and just about everything else! 

Need help with teaching poetry?  Check out “7 Must Teach Middle School Poetry Activities!”

Why Teach Nonfiction Literature?

Two favorite podcasts include This is Love and Criminal by the same creative team and they are perfect for including more nonfiction literature in your classroom. Episodes in each series are a little off-beat from their key focus on love and crimes. For example, Episode 20 from This is Love tells the story of a man and his guide dog on 9/11. For Criminal , there are stories about witness protection, someone who habitually steals a community statue, police dogs and horses, and more. They are intriguing, relatively short (usually 30 minutes and often less), and just quirky enough to hook students!

Including nonfiction literature in any number of forms is important for student growth. And reading and analyzing different types of nonfiction at all levels of high school creates a framework for growth in background knowledge, comprehension, and skill development. 

But incorporating nonfiction texts into high school English classes can seem daunting. Just look at the list of options in this post! However, look at what you currently have as part of your lesson plans and consider where you could add a complementary nonfiction text. If you’re teaching a classic novel, incorporate an excerpt from an author’s biography or think about the big ideas of the novel and find some news articles, a Ted talk, or a speech (historical or contemporary) that can work. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel or suddenly create a whole new unit. Instead, focus on small steps to get more nonfiction literature into your students’ hands.

Need more ideas for English Lesson Plans for Teachers that include Nonfiction Literature ? Check out my store  Kristin Menke-Integrated ELA Test Prep !

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Engaging Nonfiction for High School Readers

Let’s face it….

Let’s face it: Nonfiction isn’t most readers’ favorite genre. Heck, I’ll admit it! I appreciate nonfiction as much as the next ELA teacher, but when it’s time to pick my next book to devour while I sip hot cocoa in a cozy blanket, I’m probably reaching for fiction. It’s not that I don’t like nonfiction; it’s just that fiction feels easier. Easier to find, easier to read, and easier to love. Sure, there are some incredible nonfiction texts out there, but there’s nothing like plunging head-first into a dystopian world and escaping reality. So it should come as no surprise that our high school students are hesistant to approach the nonfiction section of our classroom libraries.

These shelves don’t get nearly enough love because our students are even more intimidated by nonfiction. While that’s perfectly normal, it just means that we have a little bit of extra work to do to reel our high school readers in when it comes to nonfiction.

Just like I have to work a little harder to keep a healthy dose of nonfiction in my personal reading diet, I, too, have learned that I have to work a little harder to get my students hooked on nonfiction. It’s more work, but it’s worth it! Whether it’s through Book Trailer Tuesday , First Chapter Friday , our “Bookflix” display, my book recommendation brochures , or the titles I line up on my whiteboard, I’m always “advertising” nonfiction. If students aren’t going to approach the nonfiction shelves themselves, then I’m going to bring the shelves to them.

THE GOOD NEWS…

The good news is that there are plenty of incredible nonfiction texts to recommend to your students! And with the right high-interest texts and enough “advertising,” it’s easy to trick even the most reluctant of readers into finding a nonfiction book they love. To get you started, here are 10 of my favorite high school nonfiction books to recommend to your students (Pssst…if you’re looking for middle school recs, you can find them HERE .)

The Borden Murders by Sarah Miller

If you have true crime fans in your classroom, this book is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. The Borden Murders is the fascinating story of one of the most infamous murders in all of American history. Well-researched with lots of primary sources, it’s the book equivalent to a maddening unsolved mystery show/podcast that leaves you wondering “whodunnit.” This is another example of “clean” YA that can work for middle school, too. (Well, as clean as murder in cold blood can get, but still).

The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater

This masterfully written book explores one fateful bus ride that changed the lives of two teens forever. Through alternating perspectives, texts, letters, and other media, Slater tells the story of how 17-year-old Sasha’s skirt was set on fire as a reckless “prank”-turned hate crime in Oakland, CA in 2013. The book explores gender, poverty, racism, and more, making it a great text for powerful discussions in the classroom.

Call Me American (YA Adaptation) by Abdi Nor Iftin

This young adult adaptation of a story you may have first heard on This American Life , Call Me American is a moving memoir of a young Somalian refugee who grew up dreaming of America while war threatened his everyday survival. Fast-paced and accessible, Abdi Nor Iftin’s memoir is inspiring and informative for teen readers (even mature middle schoolers).

They Called Us Enemy by George Takei

This recommendation goes out to all of the graphic novel fans sitting in your classroom! This powerful graphic memoir gives readers a glimpse into Star Trek actor George Takei’s life growing up in WWII internment camps. They Called Us Enemy is incredibly eye-opening because it gives readers the chance to witness injustice from the eyes of a child. This is nonfiction your high school readers won’t forget!

The Far Away Brothers (YA Adaptation) by Lauren Markham

Similar to Enrique’s Journey (another fabulous nonfiction read), this is the incredible true story of two identical twins who fled for the US when their home of El Salvador became too dangerous for them to stay. The Flores twins’ story sheds new light on the reality of immigration and puts two human faces to the policies, stories, and debates your teen readers have likely seen in the news. This is one of those empathy-building books you need in your classroom library!

Every Falling Star by Sungju Lee & Susan Elizabeth McClelland

If you want to recommend nonfiction that feels like fiction straight from a dystopia, then this is your book. Every Falling Star is the unbelievable account of Sungju Lee’s life as a “street boy” in North Korea and his eventual escape from the country. Your high school readers will not be able to put this one down!

March series by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, & Nate Powell

March is another great option for graphic novel fans, reluctant readers, or anyone looking to learn more about Senator Lewis and the Civil Rights movement. Told in black and white illustrations across three books, this story brings history alive for readers in a powerful way! These graphic memoirs are a must-have for any classroom library, whether it’s middle or high school!

It’s Trevor Noah: Born A Crime (YA Adaptation) by Trevor Noah

For nonfiction with a healthy side of humor, I highly recommend Trevor Noah’s entertaining, informative, and powerful memoir of growing up during Apartheid in South Africa. The child of a black mother and a white father, he’s quite literally “born a crime.” Still, he manages to tell his story with a satisfying, sincere mix of painful scenes, hilarious moments, and earnest reflection. This book appeals to a wide range of readers, so you’ll find it on my middle school nonfiction list , too.

How Dare The Sun Rise by Sandra Uwiringiyimana & Abigail Pesta

This gripping, inspiring memoir is the incredible story of Sandra Uwiringiyimana, a  “war child” who survived a brutal refugee camp massacre in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In it, Sandra recounts not only her survival story, but reflects on the trauma, grief, and racism she faced after moving to the United States. But perhaps the best part is what she turned all of that into: resilience, hope, and activism. In addition to being a great addition to any high school classroom library, this book is a great option for mature middle school readers. 

Unbroken: An Olympian’s Journey from Airman to Castaway to Captive (YA Adaptation) by Laura Hillenbrand

Want something to recommend to the survival/war story-obsessed readers in your classroom? The inspiring survival story of Olympian runner and WWII airman Louie Zamperini is sure to captivate these readers. This biography is a bit longer than some of the other texts on this list, but its thrilling narratives, photos, and perfectly-paced chapters will keep readers engaged. Your readers will be happy to know that there’s a movie, too: the perfect incentive for finishing a good book!

I hope these high school nonfiction books help your students learn to love a healthy dose of nonfiction in their reading diet! These are just a few of my favorites, but there are plenty of other high-interest biographies, memoirs, and other nonfiction texts available for your readers. In fact, many of the middle school nonfiction recommendations listed HERE would work for high school, too. If I’ve missed one of you or your students’ favorites, let me know in the comments. I love discovering new books and adding more to my tried-and-true reading recommendation toolbox.

WANT MORE BOOK RECS?

If you like these recommendations, then you’ll love my book recommendation brochures. The high school bundle is currently in progress and will be available soon, but you can check out the middle school collection in the meantime. Each brochure includes an interactive reader personality quiz that automatically gives students personalized book recs based on their interests. In fact, all of the above books (and dozens more) are featured in the different genre brochures.

These high school book brochures are the perfect way to take your book advertising to the next level! You can check out the growing collection of different genre brochures HERE. It’s a magical, self-sustaining system that will help your students answer the question, “What do I read next?” With over 250 book recs within the brochures, your students will never run out of books to read!

WANT MORE IDEAS TO HELP YOUR STUDENTS FALL IN LOVE WITH READING?

Want more ideas to help your students fall in love with reading? Check out the following blog posts:

• Engaging Nonfiction Books for Middle School Readers
• 5 Ways to Help Your Students Fall in Love with Reading
• Book Trailer Tuesday: How to hook students on books in 3 minutes!
• Book Recommendation Brochures: FAQ
• 15 Ways to Use Book Recommendation Brochures
• 10 Reasons to Try First Chapter Friday
• First Chapter Friday: Frequently Asked Questions
• 15 Tips & Tricks for First Chapter Friday
• First Chapter Friday: Middle School Book List
• First Chapter Friday: Middle School Book List PART 2

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An Essential Nonfiction Reading List for High School and Beyond

Recently, we took in a fascinating article entitled “ What Should Children Read? ” over at the Times ‘ Opinionator. In it, Sara Mosle briefly outlines elements of the new Common Core State Standards , contentious national curriculum guidelines which will begin to be implemented in public schools in 2014, and takes a look at some of the arguments over the new standards, suggesting that part of the problem is that high school English curriculums are often lacking in good narrative nonfiction that appeals to teenagers. Inspired by this question of what high school kids should be reading, we’ve put together an essential reading list of narrative nonfiction and memoir, from the canonic to the contemporary, that we think would benefit anyone under (and let’s face it, over) the age of 18. Click through to see our picks, and since every high schooler, past or present, should read way more than ten nonfiction books in their lives, be sure to add your own favorites to our list in the comments.

Maus I & II , Art Spiegelman

You can keep your Anne Frank s and your Night s — while those are excellent and canonical Holocaust texts, nothing brought the horror to life for us as teenagers better than Spiegelman’s postmodern graphic novel, which was, rather appropriately, the first graphic novel ever to win a Pulitzer prize. Part of the story’s power is that it isn’t limited to Nazi aggression and World War II, but focuses on the way families relate, Spiegelman’s relationship with his father in particular, showing trauma on both a minor and maximalist scale.

The Devil in the White City , Erik Larson

Want kids to pay attention to lessons about the turn of the century and the 1893 World’s Fair? Throw a serial killer in there — and don’t worry, he was there already. Larson’s acclaimed and highly novelistic book follows the lives of Daniel H. Burnham, the fair’s architect, and H.H. Holmes, the serial killer who used it as his playground, with special appearances from folks like Susan B. Anthony and Thomas Edison. In our experience, it is un-put-downable.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings , Maya Angelou

This is already a classic work of nonfiction in high school classrooms, so we thought we’d just reinforce the idea here — everyone should read Angelou’s beautiful, heartbreaking coming of age story, whether you need a little push towards self-actualization and inner strength (as teenagers often do) or not.

Into the Wild , Jon Krakauer

This book may have slightly less impact on those not living in snowy climes themselves, but we recommend it anyway. Krakauer is a master of the general interest narrative nonfiction style, and this book is our favorite of his oeuvre, following the story of Chris McCandless as he abandoned everything he knew to hike in Alaska, surviving on almost nothing for months until he finally succumbed to the winter. This book has a special quality for teenagers — or at least it did for us when we were among them — dealing as it does with the urge for separation from society, independence, and the fearsome capabilities of a young person on a mission.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X , Malcolm X

An incredibly important part of American history, one of the most classic American autobiographies of all time, and a fascinating and gripping story to boot, this 1965 book still holds up today. Though the book may not have the same effect on contemporary teenagers as it did on young readers in the ’60s with demonstrations on their minds, it is still a powerful story of change and strength that will help any American understand their country’s legacy.

Persepolis , Marjane Satrapi

Yes, another graphic memoir — but can you blame us? Satrapi’s memoir/bildungsroman of growing up as a young girl during the Islamic Revolution and the Iran-Iraq war is luminous, inspiring, and perfect for any teenager disinclined to hide their band t-shirts from their teachers. Which, as far as we can tell, is just about all teenagers.

A Room of One’s Own , Virginia Woolf

Woolf’s famous and oft-referenced extended essay, originally published in 1929, should still be required reading today, considering how the arguments over “women’s fiction” and the attention given to female writers versus their male counterparts rage on. But even if that were not the case, student could read this as a source text for learning about feminism, or read it simply for its beauty.

Slouching Towards Bethlehem , Joan Didion

Didion’s first collection of non-fiction, published back in 1968, is still one of our favorites, filled as it is with smart reportage mixed with the skeptical, open-eyed musings and incisive criticism that have made her one of the most important writers of all time. Of particular interest to California kids and the children of ex-hippies, we would imagine, but essential for everyone.

Friday Night Lights , H.G. Bissinger

How do you get today’s TV-addicted, bored young men to read narrative nonfiction? Give them the excellent book that spawned their favorite football-based television show, which follows the Permian Panthers of Odessa as they carry an entire town on their backs. Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Bissinger after spending a year in 1988 in Permian, the view isn’t always pretty, but it is truly fascinating, in all its dusty glory and anti-glory.

The Whole Shebang , Timothy Ferris

They don’t call Timothy Ferris “the greatest science writer in the world” for nothing. This volume, cheekily subtitled “A State of the Universe(s) Report,” seeks to answer some of the unanswerable questions, explaining the many views of the universe — its structure, its shape, its basic geometry — in lucid, welcoming prose. Science nerds and curious teenage stargazers alike will likely fall under its spell.

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The Best Nonfiction Texts For Teaching ELA

Nonfiction texts are incredibly valuable for your secondary ELA classroom, and there are so many things you can do with them, from pairing them with poetry to using them as springboards into discussion about societal issues. 

One of my favorite classes to teach is AP Lang because it is packed to the brim with nonfiction, but you know what's funny? I didn't even read nonfiction until I was in my late 20s. I'm a lover of literature (as you probably are if you're an English teacher). So, if you are like me, and you have come to the world of nonfiction a little later, I've got good news: we've narrowed down some amazing nonfiction texts to start using in your classroom this week. No need to sort through the bowels of the internet to piece something together. 

This is a collaborative blog post where I include my favorite nonfiction text to teach, and my fellow teacher friends chime in on theirs!

A Nonfiction Text That You Can Pair With Poetry

Jeanmarie from McLaughlin Teaches English loves to be able to pair non-fiction with fiction and poetry.  So, when she stumbled upon the essay, “I Too, Sing America” by Julia Alvarez , she was excited for the possibilities because she was immediately reminded of the poems by Walt Whitman and Langston Hughes.

In this essay, Alvarez recounts the role that books and education played in her early years, growing up in the Dominican Republic. She chronicles how she felt lost once she came to America because she had lost almost everything in the move.  It was the 1960’s and she faced prejudice and a melting pot mentality.  She struggled to find her place.  That is until she found the pair of poems “I Hear American Singing” by Walt Whitman and “I, Too” by Langston Hughes .

Langston Hughes’ words resonated for her.  It made her realize there was a place for her and she talks about the importance of “one human family.”  She ends with is own poem:  “I, Too, Sing America.”

How To Teach This Nonfiction Text 

Have students first read the essay for its big ideas.  Have them annotate for anything that pertains to identity.  Then share the three poems (Alvarez’s poem appears at the end of her essay) to make comparisons.  Students could work in groups on one poem and then share or each group could work on all three poems.  Consider a three way venn diagram or having the students begin with dialectic journals .  Your choice.  Enjoy this non-fiction-poetry pairing.  Your students certainly will.

A Nonfiction Text With Unlimited Possibilities: Teen Vogue

It’s difficult to pick just one non-fiction piece so why not look to a source of many and offer options to students? 

Lesa from SmithTeaches9to12 loves Teen Vogue to offer different points of view on a variety of topics! You might be thinking this publication is just about fashion or style, and that certainly exists, but it’s so much more than that too!

The Politics section focuses on government, environment, immigration, justice, and history! Here are just a few options: this one about young voters   or this one with advice to current students from graduating seniors or even this one about climate change action in the face of wildfires in California . 

The Culture section is jam-packed with music, movies, tv, books, and tech. This article with 8 profiles of creators in Hollywood making a difference combines pop culture with difference-making.

The Identity section includes health and wellness as well as relationships and advice, but the best part of this section is Voices. In Voices current and trending events and ideas are addressed in a teen-friendly and teen-accessible way. This one about residential schools or this one about Muslim women in sport could be great.

Lesa uses a variety of articles about self-love and self-care as part of an SEL approach in her English courses. Luckily Teen Vogue has lots to work with on those topics too! 

To avoid having to sift through the site, check out this ready-made lesson with suggested articles, key questions for reflection and discussion, plus extension activities too. This lesson can work at any time of year but Lesa finds it particularly helpful as we approach Valentine’s Day. The lesson shifts the focus away from romantic love and this has been really helpful for all students in class!

Nonfiction Text For Developing Empathy

And now it's my pick! I have a deep love for this article by Tom Junod about Mr. Rogers that first appeared in 1998 in Esquire. 

Maybe you've seen the film staring Tom Hanks, but didn't know that you can still find that article? Well, yep! You can, and it is outstanding. You can also go to Esquire and see the actual article (but you have to pay). 

I actually used this article on a job interview a few years ago. For the interview I was required to teach a class of AP Lit students whom I'd never met before. It was scary, to be perfectly honest. But the students loved the article and they did fabulous with that lesson (and I got the job!). 

This article is so rich in use of language as well as it's structure, but perhaps the best thing about it is that it can actually serve to help teach empathy. 

How To Teach It:

You can use the whole article, or you can condense it, and just focus on a few parts. I've got to say that using the whole article is quite powerful, and I'd strongly suggest doing the whole thing if you can.  It's a long article, but students can still read and interact with it in a single class period. 

I love having students focus on what sentences stand out to them in the article, and even having them jot down sentences that "pack a punch." Then we talk about  why those sentences got their attention. Was it the imagery? The symbolism? The repetition? 

After reading the article and discussing some particularly powerful sentences and the crafting of those sentences, I'll have students do what Mr. Rogers himself would do: ask the group to think about an adult who deeply impacted their life. Sit and think about them for 2 minutes (it describes Mr. Rogers doing this in the article). 

After students have done this, I'll ask them to write about who they were thinking about. If we have time, I might have them go back and craft a few of their sentences in a way similar to Junod (i.e. using repetition or strong imagery). 

If you want to see exactly what I used for my interview, check the lesson out here. 

For most students, this is a powerful lesson that put them in a state of sincere gratitude for the adults in their lives. 

Using nonfiction texts allows your students to jump into deep and meaningful topics without reading a full-length novel: they're accessible, relevant, and absolutely necessary for the ELA classroom. 

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12 Nonfiction Books for Teens That Are Total Page-Turners

By iva-marie palmer.

In their world of sometimes-dull textbooks and term papers on often pre-assigned topics, it’s natural for teens to flock to fiction in their spare time. But they would be remiss to overlook some of the amazing nonfiction works that are equally captivating, thought-provoking, and even worldview-affecting. Here are 12 extra-compelling nonfiction books for teens that span all kinds of interests and curiosities.

Yes She Can

compiled by Molly Dillon

Yes She Can gathers the inspiring recollections of ten female staffers who joined the Obama White House in their twenties. They share how they got there (most having never considered a life in public service before), their triumphs, and even their rookie mistakes. Empowering and relatable, it’s a must-read for young people — especially young women — setting off into a world of possibilities.

The Faraway Brothers (Adapted for Young Adults)

by Lauren Markham

A remarkable story of brotherhood, immigration, and finding home, The Faraway Brothers follows the lives of 17-year-old twins Ernesto and Raúl Flores, who are forced to flee El Salvador for America after being targeted by a local gang. While the journey itself is harrowing, so too are their lives as undocumented migrants. Ernesto and Raúl must adapt to all-new surroundings and anxiously await their immigration court hearing, all while experiencing the typical trials of adolescence.

Just Mercy (Adapted for Young Adults)

by Bryan Stevenson

Through his work with the Equal Justice Initiative, attorney Bryan Stevenson fights every day for the vulnerable and wrongfully imprisoned, and also to reveal the inequities and racial bias of America’s criminal justice system. This YA adaptation of his bestseller — now a film starring Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx — relays the stories of Stevenson’s clients and how they wound up in the system. An eye-opening and galvanizing read.

Flowers in the Gutter

by K. R. Gaddy

The tale of the Edelweiss Pirates reads like the most thrilling of war fiction, yet it’s the result of historian K. R. Gaddy’s meticulous research. These weren’t your typical pirates — rather, they were working-class German teenagers risking their lives to resist the Nazis during World War II. Their refusal of complacency, even as the Gestapo pursued and arrested them, is something we could all learn from.

Bonnie and Clyde

by Karen Blumenthal

Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow have gone down in history (by their first names, at least), but in her part-biography, part-true crime narrative, journalist Karen Blumenthal pauses to ask — how did these two poor teens from west Texas wind up as outlaws in the first place? The result of her curiosity is a fascinating and heart-pounding tale of love and crime set against the backdrop of the Great Depression. A page-turner, indeed.

The Truths We Hold

by Kamala Harris

VP-elect Kamala Harris' memoir has been adapted for young adults. Her book looks at her journey to becoming the Attorney General of California, a U.S. Senator, and eventually, Joe Biden's running mate. She details how she achieved her goals — and the impact her family and community had on her along the way. This inspiring and empowering memoir is sure to hook teen readers.

We Should All Be Feminists

by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

In December 2015, it was announced that every 16-year-old in Sweden would be given a copy of this book. Adapted from Adichie’s award-winning TEDx Talk of the same name (which blew up after Beyoncé sampled it), the book is a great stepping stone for discussions on gender roles and equity. Drawing from Adichie’s own experiences, it’s a key read for young women and men as they navigate the future together.

Do You Know Who You Are?

by Megan Kaye, edited by Allison Singer

Step away from the online quizzes! However you want to slice it, there’s something much more telling about digging into your true self when you do it in pen and ink. A great book for would-be journalers whose efforts never quite get off the ground, this hybrid quiz/self-help/activity book is filled with questionnaires, creative activities, and wisdom (imparted by both the professional psychologist who helped create it and the reader who does the exercises). Whatever the case, it’s a worthwhile pursuit.

The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia

by Candace Fleming

If truth is stranger than fiction, the Romanovs still get some kind of prize. Any teen who claims history is boring should get their hands on this book. (Adults should, too!) Fleming writes about Russia’s last royal family and its downfall in a gripping way, covering every spot of doom in its gilded halls (while also tending to the lives of the poor Russian masses). Fans of reality show drama will hold today’s camera-ready families to a much higher drama standard after reading this book.

by Maggie Thrash

The best memoirs are those that make you feel like the writer is a potential friend, even if their story is one that’s unfamiliar. In the case of Thrash’s graphic novel — a romantic, honest, and funny account of her falling hard for her female summer-camp counselor — the story does more than make you want to be one of Thrash’s friends. It makes you want to have under-the-stars big conversations with the ones you already have.

The Borden Murders

by Sarah Miller

There’s a reason why true crime is a genre that’s always popular: It’s addictive and thought-provoking. Miller does her homework, and tries to separate fact from fiction (news stories on Borden’s 1892 double murder trial were highly sensationalized). Readers won’t feel like they’re just gawking at a crime scene; they’ll actually learn something about the legal process in this fascinating account of an unsolved crime that’s hard to put down.

The Movie Book

Part of DK’s Big Ideas series , The Movie Book is a do-it-all compendium of movie history and looks at how films have fit into society. Examining 100 films from the silent era onward (and spanning all genres, from The Wizard of Oz to Vertigo to Pulp Fiction ), the book’s profiles include great lines, historical significance, and mini-biographies of key industry players. Any teen movie buff will be drawn instantly to the must-see content and — in this age of streaming — may be inclined to seek out older, harder-to-get fare for a true picture of movie-making’s multifaceted history.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2016 and updated in 2020.

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April 25, 2018

8 nonfiction texts that will captivate middle school and high school students.

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I'm always looking for new books to include in my classroom library. These are fantastic recommendations!

Thank you for the recommendations! I've had The Other Wes Moore on my WTR list forever...I need to get that book! :-) I have an Audible subscription, and, luckily, my students this year really like to listen to audiobooks. I have low-level freshmen, so hearing it as they read really pulls them in and helps them get a better understanding of the text. Plus, the narration is so much more engaging than my daily "performance." Hehee! Right now, I'm going to go check out How They Croaked; it sounds perfect! Thank you, again!

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by Michelle Boyd Waters, M.Ed.  

Essays Every High School Student Should Read

December 4, 2016 in  Pedagogy

One of the most important goals of any English class should be to help students learn how to express themselves to an audience — how to tell their own stories, how to provide much-needed information, and how to convince others to see things from a different perspective.

Below are some essays students can read, not only to help them see how such writing is done in the real world, but also to learn more about the world around them.

[bctt tweet=”Need a #mentortext for student essays? Check out these exemplars for personal narrative, argumentative, and expository essay writing.”]

Note : This is a living list. I will continue adding to it as I find important essays and articles, and as my readers make suggestions.

If You Think Racism Doesn’t Exist by Jordan Womack | Lesson Plan

A 17-year-old Oklahoma author details incidents of discrimination he has faced within his own community. Brief, yet impactful, the author’s authenticity strikes readers at their core and naturally leads the audience to consider other perspectives.

Facebook hack ‘worse than when my house burned down’ says teacher by Michelle Boyd Waters, M.Ed.

When a hacker destroyed my Facebook account and I couldn’t find a way to reach out to Facebook, I decided to use my story, voice, and platform to shed light on a situation faced by people around the world. This can serve as a mentor text for students writing personal narratives on shared experiences in the context of current events.

Letter from a Vietnamese to an Iraqi Refugee by Andrew Lam

Vietnamese lecturer, journalist, and author Andrew Lam offers advice in this letter to a young Iraqi refugee he sees in a photograph on the Internet.

Allowing Teenage Boys to Love Their Friends by Jan Hoffman

Learn why early and lifelong friendships are as vital for boys as they are for girls and what happens when those friendships are fractured.

Chris Cecil: Plagiarism Gets You Fired by Leonard Pitts Jr

The Miami Herald columnist and 2004 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary winner castigates a Georgia newspaper editor for plagiarizing his work. This column would go great with this followup article from The Boston Globe: Ga. Editor is Fired for Lifting Columns .

Class Dismissed by Walter Kirn

The author of Lost in the Meritocracy postulates that getting rid of the high school senior year might be good for students.

Complaint Box | Packaging by Dylan Quinn

A high school junior complains about the impossible-to-open packaging faced by consumers of everything “from action figures to zip drives.”

Drowning in Dishes, but Finding a Home  by Danial Adkison

In this 2014 essay, a teenager learns important lessons from his boss at Pizza Hut.

How to Tame a Wild Tongue by Gloria Anzaldua

An American scholar of Chicana cultural theory discusses how she maintained her identity by refusing to submit to linguistic terrorism.

Humble Beast: Samaje Perine by John Rohde

The five-time Oklahoma Sportswriter of the Year features the University of Oklahoma’s running back.

In Praise of the F Word by Mary Sherry

An adult literacy program teacher argues that allowing students to fail will actually help them.

The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me by Sherman Alexie

A Native American novelist recounts his experience loving reading and finally writing in spite of a culture that expected him to fail in the “non-Indian world” in order to be accepted.

Lane’s Legacy: One Final Ride by Keith Ryan Cartwright

A heartbreaking look back at the hours before and the circumstances surrounding Lane Frost’s untimely death, followed by reflections on his rise to fame — before and after death.

Learning to Read by Malcolm X

The 1960s Civil Rights leader writes about how educating himself in prison opened his mind and lead him to become one of the leading spokesmen for black separatism.

Learning to Read and Write by Frederick Douglass

A former slave born in 1818 discusses how he learned to read in spite of laws against teaching slaves and how reading opened his eyes to his “wretched condition, without remedy.”

Learning From Animal Friendships by Erica Goode

Scientists consider studying the phenomenon of cross-species animal friendships like the ones you see on YouTube.

Losing Everything, Except What Really Matters by Dan Barry

After a 2011 tornado destroys a house, but spares the family, a reporter writes about what’s important.

The Marked Woman by David Grann

How an Osage Indian family in Oklahoma became the prime target of one of the most sinister crimes in American history.

Meet Mikey, 8: U.S. Has Him on Watch List by Lizette Alvarez

Read about what happens if you happen to share a name of a “suspicious person” on the U.S. No-Fly List.

Newly Homeless in Japan Re-Establish Order Amid Chaos by Michael Wines

After the tsunami that resulted in nuclear disaster in 2011, a reporter writes about the “quiet bravery in the face of tragedy” of the Japanese people.

No Ordinary Joe by Rick Reilly

Why in creation did American Football Conference’s 1981 best young running back Joe Delaney jump into that pit full of water that day, even though he couldn’t swim?

Politics and the English Language By George Orwell

Animal Farm and 1984 author, Orwell correlates the degradation of the English language into multi-syllabic drivel and the corruption of the American political process.

Serving in Florida by Barbara Ehrenreich

The Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America author tells about her experiences attempting to survive on income of low-paying jobs.

Starvation Under the Orange Trees by John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck, who later authored the fictionalized account of Okies in California, The Grapes of Wrath, first wrote this essay documenting the starvation of migrant workers in California during the Great Depression.

To Fall in Love With Anyone, Do This by Mandy Len Catron

Is falling in love really a random event, or can two people “love smarter?”

We’ll Go Forward from this Moment by Leonard Pitts

The 2004 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary winner pens a column chronicling the toughness of the American family’s spirit in the face of the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center attacks. He wrote the column one day after the attacks.

What’s Wrong with Black English? by Rachel L. Jones

Jones, a student at Southern Illinois University in the 1980s, wrote this piece for Newsweek. In her essay, Jones adds her story and perspective to the debate over Black English.

Related topics: Mentor Texts , Teaching Writing

About the author 

Michelle Boyd Waters, M.Ed.

I am a secondary English Language Arts teacher, a University of Oklahoma student working on my doctorate in Instructional Leadership and Academic Curriculum with an concentration in English Education and co-Editor of the Oklahoma English Journal. I am constantly seeking ways to amplify students' voices and choices.

A wonderful list of essays! I have neglected to teach essays as literature (only as student writing samples before we began work on an essay, after a novel). I’m looking forward to using these!

Thank you very much! I’d love to hear (or read) your feedback on the selections. Your input can help other teachers decide which essays to teach their students.

This list looks really great. Unfortunately, the first two links I chose were not working. One took me to a professors homepage and the other never opened.

Thank you for letting us know. I checked the “If you think racism doesn’t exist” went to the WordPress.com site where the author wrote his article and “Letter from a Vietnamese to an Iraqi Refugee” went to the Huffington Post article. Is it possible that your school web filter is blocking WordPress and Huffington Post?

Thank you for this. I am teaching a summer class that prepares 8th graders for high school essay writing. Trying to find a way to make it more creative and interesting, even interactive. I like the essays. If you have ideas about specific ways to use them, beyond reading and discussion, I would love to hear them.

You’re welcome! I think additional activities would depend on who your students are, their interests, and which essay(s) you plan to use. Perhaps if you join our RTE Facebook group and tell us about your kids and the essay you want to use, we can devise some activities to help them engage. Check us out here .

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Home › Blog Topics › Literacy › Engaging Nonfiction Titles for High School Students

Engaging Nonfiction Titles for High School Students

By Karin Greenberg on 08/30/2022 • ( 0 )

Summer is a reading marathon for me. Each year, as I prepare to go back to my high school library, I take stock of titles I’ve read that might engage my students. I’m not always successful at motivating resistant teenage readers but with the right content (narrative nonfiction seems to be a favorite genre) I stand a better chance of creating interest. Here are four books I think high school students will enjoy:

The Man Who Could Move Clouds by Ingrid Rojas Contreras

Heartbreaking, uplifting, mystical. . .a unique memoir that transports readers to the mountains, forests, rivers, and communities of Colombia. Contreras traces her family’s history and their connection to ghosts, dreams, and the power of healing. She and her mother both suffered from amnesia many years apart and through this shared experience she explores memory and its relationship to the way we make sense of life and death. The memoir has many of the same magical elements as her novel Fruit of the Drunken Tree.

Never Simple by Liz Scheier

With her honest, funny, New-York-sarcastic tone, author Liz Scheier writes about her complicated life growing up in Manhattan with a single mother whose mental illness was a mystery to her until she was an adult herself. Not knowing the identity of her father is the catalyst for all kinds of soul searching by Scheier; she learns intriguing and unexpected details about her family’s past. Incredible writing, impeccable editing, and a joy to read. 

Bookends by Zibby Owens

She’s become known in literary circles as a famous bookfluencer. Zibby Owens not only has a thriving podcast, Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books , but she published a children’s book and wrote this personable, page-turning memoir. In it, she recounts formative times of her life, the most poignant being when her best friend and college roommate died in 9/11. Her writing is just like her interviews: open, honest, and not afraid to tackle the deep questions that keep her up at night. At the same time, she’s quick to laugh and adds humor to the pages.

The Ravine: A Family, A Photograph, A Holocaust Massacre Revealed by Wendy Lower

One Photo. A young mother in a polka dot dress. Holding her toddler’s hand. Hugging another child close to her. It could be any picture of a mother and her children taken in 1941. Except that it isn’t. This mother was forced to flee her home with her family on October 13, 1941 and was brought through the forest behind her hometown of Miropol, Ukraine to a ravine where she was brutally shot while holding her children. In this devastating, important, well-researched book, Wendy Lower investigates this photograph, which she came across at the United States Holocaust Museum, to uncover information about the victims and their perpetrators. Six million lives lost. Lower reminds us that every single death was connected to a person who had relationships and plans for a future. 

Author: Karin Greenberg

Karin Greenberg is the librarian at Manhasset High School in Manhasset, New York. She is a former English teacher and writes book reviews for School Library Journal. In addition to reading, she enjoys animals, walking, hiking, and spending time with her family. Follow her book account on Instagram @bookswithkg.

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10 ultimate nonfiction guided reading activities for effective high school reading comprehension

I am going to be completely candid here… teaching nonfiction reading comprehension has never been my strong suit as an educator. 

In my five-year career as a teacher, I have often wondered: how do you engage students with nonfiction texts?

In a search to answer this very question, I have tried several nonfiction guided reading activities to better support my students. 

Regretfully, these attempts resulted in my students showing mastery in apathy and disengagement rather than high school reading comprehension.

This year I used several of the resources in Danielle’s nonfiction bundle and FINALLY feel as if I am on the right track! 

My students showcased an interest in the nonfiction guided reading activities, and the best part is… I didn’t have to prep or plan any of it.

Boost your high school reading comprehension skills with this ultimate bundle of nonfiction guided reading activities. Packed with engaging texts and comprehension exercises, this bundle is perfect for high school students of all reading levels. 

If you’re still not totally sold, read along to discover if this resource is the right fit for you and your students!

High School Reading Comprehension Passages – Riveting Nonfiction Bundle

What's included in this bundle.

✨ “Abandoned places” – vocab, creative writing from nonfiction

✨ “Double trouble: the fascination with twins” – multiple-choice (MC) questions

✨ “Off-track: train heists & outlaws” – creative writing from nonfiction

✨ “Dying around the world” – MC questions, critical thinking prompts

✨ “Demystifying fear” – vocab

✨ “Careers in video games” – inference practice

✨ “Codes & codebreakers” – creative writing from nonfiction

✨ “The rise of skateboarding” – includes QR codes for further research & discussion

✨ “Lizard make-up tutorial” – procedural writing

✨ “Dr. Daniel Hale Williams” – biography

How did I implement these nonfiction guided reading activities in my classroom?

The “appetizers” 🥗 Students played Chapter 1 of Burnbridge Breakout digital escape room 🥗 Students practiced analyzing nonfiction texts using creative writing with images of REAL (creepy) abandoned places

The “entrees” 🍔 Students have the choice of reading one of two nonfiction articles: one about careers in video games and the other about careers in STEM 🍔 Students practice high school reading comprehension with the nonfiction guided reading activities already prepped and embedded with their choice of reading 🍔 I conducted a Jigsaw reading method with this as I have large class sizes of approximately 40 students 🍔 Then, we do a whole class discussion using equity sticks or various other collaborative efforts to hear as many voices as possible

The “desserts” 🍪 Students played the remaining chapters of the Burnbridge Breakout series along with many of the included reading activities within the resource

Other helpful hints:

✨  ‘Tis the season! If you’re teaching this unit near winter break, consider including a third nonfiction text in the mix: The Hendersons Cancel Christmas. It’s a class favorite!

✨ If your students enjoy STEM, video games, and/or mysteries, have them play Terminus, a digital escape room game. Seriously, my students LOVED playing this, and it includes supplementary learning materials to pair the game with. Here’s the first chapter if you want to see how much your students will love it before buying the series!

✨ If you’re looking for a shorter nonfiction reading, consider one of these 8 excerpts from nonfiction books. 

What teachers like you are saying about this high school reading comprehension bundle :

Closing Comments

How can I help my high school students with reading comprehension? How do I teach nonfiction reading?

If you’ve ever asked yourself any of these questions, you have nothing to be embarrassed about! We all have our strong suits, and mine is NOT nonfiction reading. Whenever I struggle to create a unit that engages my students and makes the magical lightbulb go off, I reach out for support from other educator experts.

Luckily, I happen to work alongside an educator who is excellent at creating some nonfiction guided reading activities. If you resonate with any of my struggles or you simply want a rockin’ high school reading comprehension resource, you’ve found it!

In need of some more nonfiction reading support? ✨ Inclusive nonfiction reads for your classroom library ✨ More ways to use nonfiction to engage even your most reluctant readers ✨ Memorable nonfiction writing activities

Further Reading...

3 Unique and Spooky Short Stories for Middle School that Students Probably Haven’t Read Before

3 Fun and Free ELA Activities to Foster Creativity and Communication

4 Short Stories to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

Diversifying education with music: 5 popular songs with literary devices by aapi artists, include 7 unforgettable short texts for immigrant heritage month in the class this june.

10 Must Read Non-fiction Books for High School Students

Do you love reading books? Us too! Whoever said a book is a thousand journeys in a lifetime, was correct! Fiction is often immersive and thus high school students often use it as a source of entertainment. 

That said about fiction, What about non-fiction? Do you think fiction is the only thing deserving of your attention? Well, you may be surprised to know non-fiction is equally interesting! We cannot ignore that non-fiction lacks the adventure and romanticism of imagined stories, which fiction supplies well. However, non-fiction is laced with knowledge. 

High schoolers often forget that non-fiction like history, mathematics, biographies, and philosophies form great pieces for reading . This post would showcase the importance of non-fiction works, you will also look into our picks for the 10 best nonfiction books for high school students.

How reading non-fiction can benefit high schoolers?

Non-fiction includes all those pieces of writings that are true to reality for major parts. They depict an event or a personality that has gone down in history, and so, everyone should read non-fiction for information rather than entertainment. The habit of reading non-fiction pieces of writings will benefit students a lot in the later part of their education.

Here are some important benefits for reading non-fiction:

• Non-fictions is often informational and lacks the lustre of imagination. Thus, they introduce the habit of rigorous reading. 
• Non-fiction comes with facts. Reading them will increase the background knowledge, which expands the horizon of the reader’s brains to newer topics.
• Non-fiction has a unique vocabulary that is unfamiliar to those who love fiction. Reading non-fiction adds to the vocabulary of the reader.
• Non-fictional pieces are a source of visual literacies like graphs, tables, and diagrams. For instance, a graph may be used to show how sales of a product have gone up in the past few months. Different variants of a car are compared using a table. 
• Adults go through various pieces of non-fiction every day. These include manuals, memos, job descriptions, etc. As future citizens, high school students should consider reading non-fiction.

Non-fiction books for high schoolers- Our picks

Here are our picks for the 10 best nonfiction books for high school students:

1. Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You 

This book comments on the prevalent racist issues in America and inspires hope for an anti-racist future. Stamped takes the reader through a complete journey of how all this started and why this poison still exists. Gripping and fast-paced narration by Jason Reynolds makes this book a good read. 

Best for students of 10th grade, this book helps students understand various social issues. The language in the book is gripping, fast-paced, and energizing, which leaves the readers assuaged.

2. The Diary of a Young Girl 

When Nazis occupied Holland, many families fled to hide. A family, Franks, built a “secret annexe” to save themselves, where they had to face hunger, boredom, and constant cruelties. Anne Frank, a thirteen-year girl from that family wrote her vivid experience in those difficult times in her diary.

This dairy was found a couple of years after her demise and was later adapted as a book—The Diary of a young girl. Thoughtful, moving, and surprisingly humorous narration and fascinating commentary make this book a good non-fictional pick.

3. Most Dangerous 

Set in 1964, Most Dangerous is the story of Daniel Ellsberg, who was transformed into

“the most dangerous man in America.” When there was a cold war between America and the soviet union, America was ready to do anything to stop communism—with or without the consent of the citizens. 

As the war on communism soon began to pose cruelties on Vietnam, Ellsberg turned against the war. The Book “Most Dangerous” narrates the story of those crucial seven years that made Daniel “the most dangerous man in America.”

4. Drowned City

Written by Don Brown, this book revolves around the worst natural disaster in American history. On August 29, 2005, the monstrous winds of Hurricane Katrina flooded low-lying regions of New Orleans, Louisiana. This disaster recorded the deaths of 1833 individuals.

The book Drowned City shows the selflessness, heroism, and courage of people along with incompetence and criminality. Reading such books can enlighten the students with happenings of the past. Books like such provide a lot of facts, without much bias, so that students can get to know the exact picture of the incident.

5. Chasing Lincoln’s Killer

Chasing Lincoln’s Killer is a fast-paced thriller written by James L.Swanson which narrates the 12-day chase of the man who killed Lincoln. The story navigates through the streets of Washington D.C., swamps of Maryland, and forests of Virginia.

It is claimed to be the real story of a manhunt that took place in April 1865. The letters, newspapers, manuscripts, and other documents shown in this book are also original.

6. An American Plague

The American Plague shows the scenario of Philadelphia, the nation’s capital during the epidemic of Yellow fever in 1793. The author, Jim Murphy, explained the major social and political events that took place in the early 1800s due to this epidemic.

This book shows how the president had to leave the city due to the constitutional crisis. The cause and cure took almost a century to come out, which forms a riveting point of this book. Such events in history have been significant which the student must know of. The book has stories of people who suffered from yellow fever and how they got cured. 

7. The Art of Statistics

This book is a comprehensive guide for understanding everything about statistical problems. Written by David Spiegelhalter, this book shows that statistics are everywhere and thus teaches the readers to think like a statistician.

Beyond stats too, we get the idea of how to clarify questions, assumptions, and expectations when a problem is approaching. The book teaches to answer questions as simple as ‘does eating meat causes cancer?’ in a statistical way. The author has explained statistics, and the use of this concept beautifully blending it with modern problems, and situations.

8. Humble Pi

Humble Pi is the book-length answer to those who ask, “When are we ever going to use algebra or vectors in reality?”. Matt Parker, the author, managed to fill the book with fun, information, and relentless entertainment, thus, making this book a guide for all the miscalculations in life.

Humble pi makes the readers see everything including website codes and street signs in the language of maths, which makes it a unique fiction pick.

9. The Equation That Couldn’t Be Solved

Mathematicians solved a number of algebraic equations but failed to find the equation on symmetricity. The equation of symmetry did not emerge from the study of symmetry, rather from the equation that couldn’t be solved.

The book, “ The Equation That Couldn’t Be Solved: How Mathematical Genius Discovered the Language of Symmetry” narrates the story behind the equation and how it was solved.

10. The Greatest: Muhammad Ali

Written by Walter Dean Myers, this book shows Muhammad Ali, his accomplishments both inside and outside the ring, and his personal ventures up close. Biographies are usually gripping tales of courage, fight, and inspiration. The same can be said about this one too!

This book throws light on the race issues in the 1960s and how it became tough for the children to understand these gaps. The book centers around Muhammad Ali, and his struggles with racism, which finally molded him into a champion of his field.

The bottom line

Non-fictional books are a great source of knowledge. As a high schooler, you could start with our favorite ten best nonfiction books for high schoolers. The best book for a young adult is the one that focuses briefly on everything- facts, figures, language, information, and even knowledge. Books which tell about a certain past event in detail helps to broaden the knowledge of the child, whereas books which teach something better about academics are also bliss. The best part of non-fiction books is that it gives first-hand information to the reader, and it is almost like living in the era of the story, which opens many horizons for the young adult.

If you have some more additions to this list or you have a review on these books, let us know in the comments. 

Sananda Bhattacharya, Chief Editor of TheHighSchooler, is dedicated to enhancing operations and growth. With degrees in Literature and Asian Studies from Presidency University, Kolkata, she leverages her educational and innovative background to shape TheHighSchooler into a pivotal resource hub. Providing valuable insights, practical activities, and guidance on school life, graduation, scholarships, and more, Sananda’s leadership enriches the journey of high school students.

Explore a plethora of invaluable resources and insights tailored for high schoolers at TheHighSchooler, under the guidance of Sananda Bhattacharya’s expertise. You can follow her on Linkedin

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Home — Essay Samples — Geography & Travel — Travel and Tourism Industry — The History of Moscow City

The History of Moscow City

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Published: Feb 12, 2019

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How back-to-basics literacy and numeracy teaching transformed a struggling public school

When Manisha Gazula first took over as principal at one of Australia's most disadvantaged primary schools, a majority of students were moving on to high school with sub-par reading skills.

"If we were sending 100 kids to high school, 90 of them couldn't read or write as per their age — and that's failing those students," she said

Today Marsden Road Public School is a school transformed, with students achieving above the state average in writing and making above average progress in reading and numeracy.

Ms Gazula credits the shift to an approach to learning she calls the "Marsden Way".

About 90 per cent of the outer western Sydney school's students speak a language other than English and of those, 40 per cent have been speaking English for fewer than three years.

One in five students come from refugee backgrounds or have had "refugee-like experiences", Ms Gazula said.

"I've got students who have enrolled, 10 years old, and have never held a pencil or seen a book in their life," she added.

Today, every minute of the students' time is planned to make sure they make the most of their education.

At the beginning of the year all students get a two-week crash course in the Marsden Way, including basic skills such as learning to walk between classes quietly, in neat double lines, and to politely greet the teachers.

The time spent emphasising discipline has meant the school has one of the lowest suspension rates in the country.

"I don't accept mediocrity," Ms Gazula said.

"To say that our kids cannot perform, we cannot have the same expectations as the kids living on the other side of the bridge — I will not accept that."

Year 3 kids now outperforming the 'good schools'

The biggest change Ms Gazula made when she took over in 2016 was abandoning fashionable teaching practices like whole language.

Popular in the 1970s and still used in many schools today, whole learning's core philosophy is that reading is easy and natural, and students can teach themselves to read by being surrounded by good books.

Ms Gazula and many experts disagree, believing that reading is a difficult skill that must be explicitly taught.

"You wouldn't do that [whole learning] when you're trying to teach a child to play piano or to play any other instrument or to do something new — you would go step by step," Ms Gazula said.

"Yet when it comes to learning Maths or English, somehow we feel that different approaches are okay."

A recent Grattan Institute report sheeted home the blame for 30 per cent of Australian students not being able to read proficiently to whole language instruction.

It was no surprise to Ms Gazula, who adopted an explicit instruction teaching model known as the science of reading.

It takes the opposite approach to whole language – theorising that learning to read is hard and needs to be taught directly over two or three years.

The style incorporates old school practices — the teacher is firmly in charge — but it also incorporates the latest science on the way kids' brains best absorb new information.

Since adopting explicit instruction the school has transformed its NAPLAN results and sustained them, with life-changing results for students.

The school's year 3 and 5 students have outperformed the state in writing over the past three years, Ms Gazula said, and writing proficiency is over 60 per cent.

"So 60 per cent of year 3 kids — kids who couldn't speak English — are writing better than the so called good schools," Ms Gazula said.

Deputy Principal Troy Verey, who has been at the school for 11 years, said it was rewarding to see brighter futures.

"One of the aims at our school is we want a life of choice, not chance," he said.

"So if they know how to read and write and are numerate, they'll have more choices going ahead. Whether they want to be a tradie, whether they want to be a doctor."

Parents grateful for outstanding results

During a recent visit to the school the ABC met many parents who sung the Marsden Way's praises.

Ghanaian immigrant Victor Boateng is a huge fan of the school and what it has done for his four children.

"If they've got the good foundation, the numeracy and literacy, which is so important for them, you can go far," Mr Boateng said.

"Thanks to Marsden Road public school for helping me to shape my child, for helping me to bring up good kids."

Mum Ashty Fathi, pictured with her sons Omar (10) and Osman (5), likes the school's structure and routine.

Victor Boateng is a fan of what Marsden Road has done for his four children Anderson (year 6), Ruth (year 4), Alexander (year 2) and King George (kindergarten).

Mum Jaclina Trpeska, pictured with her son Sashe Andonov, initially planned to send her kids to private school, but is glad she chose Marsden Road.

After doing a work experience placement at Marsden Road, mum Ashty Fathi was so impressed she moved her oldest son to the school.

"I was determined to bring him here," she said.

"I wanted him to have the best education and I knew at Marsden Road they would provide that."

Mum Jaclina Trpeska is another thrilled parent, who is glad she didn't go through with her initial plan to send her two kids to private school.

"I have friends that live in the area and I've seen what their children do at school and when I show them what my kids are doing here they're shocked," she said.

"They say, 'Wow you're learning so much.'"

From struggling to 'punching above their weight'

The school also has some high-profile admirers like NSW Education Department Secretary Murat Dizdar, one of the most senior education bureaucrats in Australia.

He wants to replicate the Marsden Way elsewhere.

"The vast majority [of students] … are struggling with socio-economic complexity, and this school is punching above their weight," he said.

Mr Dizdar, a former teacher who went to public school himself, is passionate about the transformative effect of a good education.

As a young educator aiming to move on from his housing commission upbringing, he worked two jobs, picking up early morning shifts as a garbage collector before travelling to the high school where he taught.

"Post code, socio-economic disadvantage, English as an additional language, new arrivals, refugees … need not be a barrier or an inhibitor to having a rich education passport," he said.

"In fact, education is the greatest leveller."

ABC News can reveal Mr Dizdar is mandating that all teachers in New South Wales undertake explicit instruction training immediately after the Easter holidays.

"On day one, term two, which is a school development day, right across 2,200 schools, we will be undertaking explicit teaching learning, in every single school in New South Wales," Mr Dizdar said.

The teachers at Marsden Road hope it will lead to similar success at other schools.

"I tell the kids, 'I cannot change your family background or where you come from but what I can do is help you get out of that and make a better life for yourself'," Ms Gazula said.

"And parents want that too."

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18 Essay-Length Short Memoirs to Read Online on Your Lunch Break

Emily Polson

Emily Polson is a freelance writer and publishing assistant at Simon & Schuster. Originally from central Iowa, she studied English and creative writing at Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi, before moving to a small Basque village to teach English to trilingual teenagers. Now living in Brooklyn, she can often be found meandering through Prospect Park listening to a good audiobook. Twitter: @emilycpolson | https://emilycpolson.wordpress.com/

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I love memoirs and essays, so the genre of essay-length short memoirs is one of my favorites. I love delving into the details of other people’s lives. The length allows me to read broadly on a whim with minimal commitment. In roughly 5–30 minutes, I can consume a complete morsel of literature, which always leaves me happier than the same amount of time spent doom-scrolling through my various social news feeds.

What are short memoirs? 

What exactly are short memoirs? I define them as essay-length works that weave together life experiences around a central theme. You see examples of short memoirs all the time on sites like Buzzfeed and The New York Times . Others are stand-alone pieces published in essay collections.

Memoir essays were my gateway into reading full-length memoirs. It was not until I took a college class on creative nonfiction that I realized memoirs were not just autobiographies of people with exciting lives. Anyone with any amount of life experience can write a memoir—no dramatic childhood or odd-defying life accomplishments required. A short memoir might be an account of a single, life-changing event, or it may be reflection on a period of growth or transition.

Of course, when a young adult tells people she likes writing creative nonfiction—not journalism or technical writing—she hears a lot of, “You’re too young to write a memoir!” and “What could someone your age possibly have to write about?!” As Flannery O’Connor put it, however, “The fact is that anybody who has survived his childhood has enough information about life to last him the rest of his days. If you can’t make something out of a little experience, you probably won’t be able to make it out of a lot. The writer’s business is to contemplate experience, not to be merged in it.”

Memoir essay examples

As the lit magazine Creative Nonfiction puts it, personal essays are just “True stories, well told.” And everyone has life stories worth telling.

Here are a few of my favorite memoir examples that are essay length.

SHORT MEMOIRS ABOUT GROWING UP

Scaachi koul, “there’s no recipe for growing up”.

In this delightful essay, Koul talks about trying to learn the secrets of her mother’s Kashmiri cooking after growing up a first-generation American. The story is full of vivid descriptions and anecdotal details that capture something so specific it transcends to the realm of universal. It’s smart, it’s funny, and it’ll break your heart a little as Koul describes “trying to find my mom at the bottom of a 20-quart pot.”

ASHLEY C. FORD, “THE YEAR I GREW WILDLY WHILE MEN LOOKED ON”

This memoir essay is for all the girls who went through puberty early in a world that sexualizes children’s bodies. Ford weaves together her experiences of feeling at odds with her body, of being seen as a “distraction” to adult men, of being Black and fatherless and hungry for love. She writes, “It was evident that who I was inside, who I wanted to be, didn’t match the intentions of my body. Outside, there was no little girl to be loved innocently. My body was a barrier.”

Kaveh Akbar, “How I Found Poetry in Childhood Prayer”

Akbar writes intense, searing poetry, but this personal essay contextualizes one of his sweetest poems, “Learning to Pray,” which is cradled in the middle of it. He describes how he fell in love with the movement, the language, and the ceremony of his Muslim family’s nightly prayers. Even though he didn’t (and doesn’t) speak Arabic, Akbar points to the musicality of these phonetically-learned hymns as “the bedrock upon which I’ve built my understanding of poetry as a craft and as a meditative practice.” Reading this essay made me want to reread his debut poetry collection, Calling a Wolf a Wolf , all over again.

JIA TOLENTINO, “LOSING RELIGION AND FINDING ECSTASY IN HOUSTON”

New Yorker staff writer Jia Tolentino grew up attending a Houston megachurch she referred to as “the Repentagon.” In this personal essay, she describes vivid childhood memories of her time there, discussing how some of the very things she learned from the church contributed to her growing ambivalence toward it and its often hypocritical congregants. “Christianity formed my deepest instincts,” she writes, “and I have been walking away from it for half my life.” As the essay title suggests, this walking away coincided with her early experiences taking MDMA, which offered an uncanny similarity to her experience of religious devotion.

funny short memoirs

Patricia lockwood, “insane after coronavirus”.

Author Patricia Lockwood caught COVID-19 in early March 2020. In addition to her physical symptoms, she chronicled the bizarre delusions she experienced while society also collectively operated under the delusion that this whole thing would blow over quickly. Lockwood has a preternatural ability to inject humor into any situation, even the dire ones, by highlighting choice absurdities. This is a rare piece of pandemic writing that will make you laugh instead of cry–unless it makes you cry from laughing.

Harrison Scott Key,  “My Dad Tried to Kill Me with an Alligator”

This personal essay is a tongue-in-cheek story about the author’s run-in with an alligator on the Pearl River in Mississippi. Looking back on the event as an adult, Key considers his father’s tendencies in light of his own, now that he himself is a dad. He explores this relationship further in his book-length memoir, The World’s Largest Man , but this humorous essay stands on its own. (I also had the pleasure of hearing him read this aloud during my school’s homecoming weekend, as Key is an alumnus of my alma mater.)

David Sedaris, “Me Talk Pretty One Day”

Sedaris’s humor is in a league of its own, and he’s at his best in the title essay from Me Talk Pretty One Day . In it, he manages to capture the linguistic hilarities that ensue when you combine a sarcastic, middle-aged French student with a snarky French teacher.

SAMANTHA IRBY, “THE WORST FRIEND DATE I EVER HAD”

Samantha Irby is one of my favorite humorists writing today, and this short memoir essay about the difficulty of making friends as an adult is a great introduction to her. Be prepared for secondhand cringe when you reach the infamous moment she asks a waiter, “Are you familiar with my work?” After reading this essay, you’ll want to be, so check out Wow, No Thank You . next.

Bill Bryson, “Coming Home”

Bryson has the sly, subtle humor that only comes from Americans who have spent considerable time living among dry-humored Brits. In “Coming Home,” he talks about the strange sensation of returning to America after spending his first twenty years of adulthood in England. This personal essay is the first in a book-length work called I’m a Stranger Here Myself , in which Bryson revisits American things that feel like novelties to outsiders and the odd former expat like himself.

Thought-provoking Short memoirs

Tommy orange, “how native american is native american enough”.

Many people claim some percentage of Indigenous ancestry, but how much is enough to “count”? Novelist Tommy Orange–author of There There –deconstructs this concept, discussing his relationship to his Native father, his Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood, and his son, who will not be considered “Native enough” to join him as an enrolled member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. “ How come math isn’t taught with stakes?” he asks in this short memoir full of lingering questions that will challenge the way you think about heritage. 

Christine Hyung-Oak Lee, “I Had a Stroke at 33”

Lee’s story is interesting not just because she had a stroke at such a young age, but because of how she recounts an experience that was characterized by forgetting. She says that after her stroke, “For a month, every moment of the day was like the moment upon wakening before you figure out where you are, what time it is.” With this personal essay, she draws readers into that fragmented headspace, then weaves something coherent and beautiful from it.

Kyoko Mori, “A Difficult Balance: Am I a Writer or a Teacher?”

In this refreshing essay, Mori discusses balancing “the double calling” of being a writer and a teacher. She admits that teaching felt antithetical to her sense of self when she started out in a classroom of apathetic college freshmen. When she found her way into teaching an MFA program, however, she discovered that fostering a sanctuary for others’ words and ideas felt closer to a “calling.” While in some ways this makes the balance of shifting personas easier, she says it creates a different kind of dread: “Teaching, if it becomes more than a job, might swallow me whole and leave nothing for my life as a writer.” This memoir essay is honest, well-structured, and layered with plenty of anecdotal details to draw in the reader.

Alex Tizon, “My Family’s Slave”

In this heartbreaking essay, Tizon pays tribute to the memory of Lola, the domestic slave who raised him and his siblings. His family brought her with them when they emigrated to America from the Philippines. He talks about the circumstances that led to Lola’s enslavement, the injustice she endured throughout her life, and his own horror at realizing the truth about her role in his family as he grew up. While the story is sad enough to make you cry, there are small moments of hope and redemption. Alex discusses what he tried to do for Lola as an adult and how, upon her death, he traveled to her family’s village to return her ashes.

Classic short memoirs

James baldwin, “notes of a native son”.

This memoir essay comes from Baldwin’s collection of the same name. In it, he focuses on his relationship with his father, who died when Baldwin was 19. He also wrestles with growing up black in a time of segregation, touching on the historical treatment of black soldiers and the Harlem Riot of 1943. His vivid descriptions and honest narration draw you into his transition between frustration, hatred, confusion, despair, and resilience.

JOAN DIDION,  “GOODBYE TO ALL THAT”

Didion is one of the foremost literary memoirists of the twentieth century, combining journalistic precision with self-aware introspection. In “Goodbye to All That,” Didion recounts moving to New York as a naïve 20-year-old and leaving as a disillusioned 28-year-old. She captures the mystical awe with which outsiders view the Big Apple, reflecting on her youthful perspective that life was still limitless, “that something extraordinary would happen any minute, any day, any month.”  This essay concludes her masterful collection,   Slouching Towards Bethlehem .

Tim O’Brien, “The Things They Carried”

This is the title essay from O’Brien’s collection, The Things They Carried . It’s technically labeled a work of fiction, but because the themes and anecdotes are pulled from O’Brien’s own experience in the Vietnam War, it blurs the lines between fact and fiction enough to be included here. (I’m admittedly predisposed to this classification because a college writing professor of mine included it on our creative nonfiction syllabus.) The essay paints an intimate portrait of a group of soldiers by listing the things they each carry with them, both physical and metaphorical. It contains one of my favorite lines in all of literature: “They all carried ghosts.”

Multi-Media Short Memoirs

Allie brosh, “richard”.

In this blog post/webcomic, Allie Brosh tells the hilarious story about the time as a child that she, 1) realized neighbors exist, and 2) repeatedly snuck into her neighbor’s house, took his things, and ultimately kidnapped his cat. Her signature comic style drives home the humor in a way that will split your sides. The essay is an excerpt from Brosh’s second book, Solutions and Other Problems , but the web version includes bonus photos and backstory. For even more Allie classics, check out “Adventures in Depression” and “Depression Part Two.”

George Watsky, “Ask Me What I’m Doing Tonight”

Watsky is a rapper and spoken word poet who built his following on YouTube. Before he made it big, however, he spent five years performing for groups of college students across the Midwest. “Ask Me What I’m Doing Tonight!” traces that soul-crushing monotony while telling a compelling story about trying to connect with people despite such transience. It’s the most interesting essay about boredom you’ll ever read, or in this case watch—he filmed a short film version of the essay for his YouTube channel. Like his music, Watsky’s personal essays are vulnerable, honest, and crude, and the whole collection, How to Ruin Everything , is worth reading.

If you’re looking for even more short memoirs, keep an eye on these pages from Literary Hub , Buzzfeed , and Creative Nonfiction . You can also delve into these 25 nonfiction essays you can read online and these 100 must-read essay collections . Also be sure to check out the “Our Reading Lives” tag right here on Book Riot, where you’ll find short memoirs like “Searching for Little Free Libraries as a Way to Say Goodbye” and “How I Overcame My Fear of Reading Contemporary Poets.”

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What It’s Like To Be an International Student in Moscow?

• December 4, 2021

If you have plans to study in Moscow, knowing a bit about the city can help manage your expectations. Plus, it gives you useful knowledge as an international student in the city.

You may be wondering if being a student in Moscow is any different from other Russian cities or any study destinations for that matter. To satisfy your curiosity, we listed out a couple of key things you should know.

Top-Tier STEM Programs

If you’re pursuing a STEM degree in Russia, you’re in for premium education. Big investments go into Russian Universities to support these programs with world-class facilities and research.

Apart from these facilities, faculty members are also a delight to learn from with their extensive knowledge. It’s no wonder why the country produced 31 Nobel Prize winners.

Fast and Efficient Public Transportation System

Mass transit will play a big role in your travels around Moscow. Fortunately, the city’s mass transportation system experienced transformative changes, making it more comfortable for passengers. 

You can take the metro, buses, trams, or taxis depending on where you’re going or how fast you want to get there. Study our guide to Moscow’s transportation system to learn more.

Hub of Innovation

Moscow universities alone are proof of how well-invested the Russians are in their science education. For example, the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN) has training simulation centers. Some medical students use these facilities for technical practice and communicating with patients.

RUDN also has a Mission Control Center for students of space technology. This center even gets the same live feed as Russia’s space agency!

Mouth-Watering Russian Cuisine

As the capital city of Russia, Moscow is brimming with places that offer delicious Russian food . There are mid-range restaurants, cafes and food parks you can visit for your mini food trips.

Some of the best dishes you can try are Pelmeni, Borscht, and Blini. You can also try street food like Pirozhki or take a bite of Shashlik, which is the Russians’ take on Kebabs.

Language Barrier Won’t Be a Problem

Most Russians don’t speak English, but in the university setting, your English skills will serve you well. Most faculty members can converse well in English.

Apart from this,  there’s also a wide selection of English-taught courses you can look into. Plus, you’ll most likely take a one-year Russian preparatory course first before your school starts.

There are Many Places to See

As an international student in Moscow, you’ll love the limitless opportunity to travel. The best part is most of these places are also budget-friendly. 

You can take a trip to the Red Square or visit Bunker 42. If you need more options, see our list of budget-friendly places in Moscow for international students.

Now that you have an idea of what it’s like to be an international student in Moscow, learn more about your study destination by checking out more articles  here at MSM Unify. You May Also like Things You Can Do in Moscow on a Budget

Budget-Friendly Places in Moscow

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95 best private schools in Moscow 2024

Education information, moscow private schools: prestigious education for international students, features of studying in moscow private schools for foreign students.

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Today, Moscow is one of the most popular destination for educational tourism. SMAPSE offers you more than 70 best private schools where international students can get advanced and balanced education. Moscow schools provide a wide range of courses, you can choose from intensive language courses to special studying programs for teachers. Private schools in Moscow is the best choice for those who wish to combine effective studies with exciting experience of studying in Russia. Qualified native-speakers as teachers, various entertainment facilities and interesting culture - everything will make your studying abroad unforgettable.

Please, don't hesitate to contact SMAPSE experts at any time as they are always ready to help you and answer all questions.

The best private schools in Moscow offer high-quality programs for children from all over the world at all levels of secondary education. The school system in Russia has a number of advantages, as universality and inclusiveness. Students study a whole range of disciplines, that contributes to comprehensive development and wide erudition. Moscow is a huge metropolis, the largest city in Europe and one of the largest in the world.

Today, the need for private institutions is very high, and in recent years the situation has undergone significant changes - new institutions and departments of international schools are constantly opening. More and more children and adults from all over the world come to Moscow to receive a prestigious education. Along with the increase in the number of private schools and general development of education in the country, the number of foreign students is growing annually.

Prices and tuition fees are quite different - you can choose the right option for any request. The school year follows the generally accepted calendar in Russia: it begins in September and lasts until May-June with a long break for the New Year holidays and shorter autumn and spring holidays. Levels of education include elementary, middle and high school, and gradually International Baccalaureate is spreading more and more. The teaching staff of private schools is formed from among Russian and foreign specialists who have a high level of qualification and rich experience, regularly win various competitions. Academic classes, as a rule, are supplemented by active sports and creativity - the studying system involves the comprehensive development of students. Confident, responsible and purposeful young people who can change the world for the better come out of the walls of private schools. Moscow gives children great impressions and great opportunities for pastime and leisure: a huge number of monuments and attractions are concentrated here.

Advantages and disadvantages of English schools

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