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The Productive Teacher
I help teachers and parents build knowledgeable, skilled readers based on research findings within the Science of Reading.
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About Me
Hi, I’m Cate, a teacher, literacy researcher, writer, and mom of four. I have taught elementary and middle school since 2012 and am currently a Ph.D. student in Literacy, Language, and Culture at Texas Woman’s University.
As the mother of two children with dyslexia, I am passionate about making learning to read accessible to as many children as possible by empowering teachers and parents with knowledge and practical resources grounded in literacy research.
You can reach me anytime at Cate@TheProductiveTeacher.org!
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Free Reading Presentation on the Vijayanagara Empire for Unit 1 of AP World History
Elephant Stables of the Vijayanagara Empire 2274339873/Shutterstock The Vijayanagara Empire is an illustrative example for the Developments in South and Southeast Asia section of Unit 1 of AP World History. You could reference this example on your AP World History test. The Vijayanagara Empire was founded in 1336 by Harihara and Bukka, two brothers. The brothers had been working in another Hindu kingdom in India when the Delhi Sultanate took it over. The brothers were capture
2 min read
Free Reading Passage on Sufism for Unit 1 of AP World History
Sufism is an illustrative example for the Developments in South and Southeast Asia section of Unit 1 of AP World History. You could reference this example on your AP World History test. Six Sufi masters, c. 1760/public domain Sufism, the mystical dimension of Islam, emphasizes a personal, spiritual connection with the Divine, achieved through devotion, meditation, and ethical living. This form of Islamic mysticism has played a significant role in shaping the religious, cultur
3 min read
Free Reading Passage on the Bhakti Movement for Unit 1 of AP World History
The Bhakti movement is an illustrative example for the Developments in South and Southeast Asia section of Unit 1 of AP World History. You could reference this example on your AP World History test. 625877249/Shutterstock The Bhakti movement, originating in South Asia around the 7th century CE, was a revolutionary spiritual movement that emphasized personal devotion to a deity as a path to salvation. This movement later spread and deeply influenced religious practices in Sout
2 min read
Free Reading Passage on the Scholarly and Cultural Transfers in Muslim and Christian Spain for Unit 1 of AP World History
The scholarly and cultural transfers in Muslim and Christian Spain is an illustrative example for the Developments in Dar al-Islam section of Unit 1 of AP World History. You could reference this example on your AP World History test. 2431666577/Shutterstock The story of Muslims in Spain begins in the heart of the Islamic world in the Middle East. The Umayyad Caliphate, which ruled from 661 to 750 CE, had expanded its empire extensively, spreading Islam and consolidating power
3 min read
Free Reading Passage on the House of Wisdom in Abbasid Baghdad for Unit 1 of AP World History
The House of Wisdom in Abbasid Baghdad is an illustrative example for the Developments in Dar al-Islam section of Unit 1 of AP World History. You could reference this example on your AP World History test. House of Wisdom/public domain The House of Wisdom, or Bayt al-Hikma in Arabic, was an institution that symbolized the intellectual heart of Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age. Established in the early 9th century, this renowned library and translation center played a piv
2 min read
Free Reading Passage on Preservation and Commentaries on Greek Moral and Natural Philosophy for Unit 1 of AP World History
The preservation and commentaries on Greek moral and natural philosophy is an illustrative example for the Developments in Dar al-Islam section of Unit 1 of AP World History. You could reference this example on your AP World History test. an example of Abbasid script/public domain During the medieval period, the Islamic world played a crucial role in preserving and enhancing the philosophical works of ancient Greece. Scholars in Dar al-Islam not only safeguarded these texts b
2 min read
Free Reading Passage on Advances in Medicine for Unit 1 of AP World History
Advances in Medicine in Dar al-Islam is an illustrative example for the Developments in Dar al-Islam section of Unit 1 of AP World History. You could reference this example on your AP World History test. De materia medica, 1229/public domain The medieval period in the Islamic world, often referred to as the Islamic Golden Age, was marked by remarkable achievements in various fields of science, particularly in medicine. This era, spanning from the 8th to the 14th century, witn
2 min read
Free Reading Passage on Advances in Literature by ‘A’ishah al-Ba’uniyyah for Unit 1 of AP World History
Advances in Literature by ‘A’ishah al-Ba’uniyyah of Dar al-Islam is an illustrative example for the Developments in Dar al-Islam section of Unit 1 of AP World History. You could reference this example on your AP World History test. Arab Women 4th - 6th centuries/public domain The period of Dar al-Islam, encompassing vast regions under Islamic rule, was marked by significant intellectual and cultural achievements, particularly in literature. This era witnessed the flourishing
2 min read
Free Reading Passage on Advances in Mathematics by Nasir al-Din al-Tusi for Unit 1 of AP World History
Advances in mathematics by Nasir al-Din al-Tusi of Dar al-Islam is an illustrative example for the Developments in Dar al-Islam section of Unit 1 of AP World History. You could reference this example on your AP World History test. Astronomical Observatory of Nasir al-Dīn Tusi/public domain During the medieval period, the Islamic world was a vibrant center of scientific knowledge and innovation, particularly in the field of mathematics. Among the luminaries of this era, Nasir
2 min read
State Building in Africa for AP World History
Africa’s history is marked by the rise and fall of powerful kingdoms and empires, each contributing to the rich tapestry of Africa’s historical and cultural landscape. From the grandeur of the Mali Empire, renowned for its wealth and the legendary pilgrimage of Mansa Musa, to the architectural marvels of Great Zimbabwe and the strategic trading centers of the Swahili Coast, this period highlights the complexity and diversity of African societies. We will explore how these sta
15 min read
The Biafra Secessionist Movement for AP World History
The Biafra secessionist movement is an illustrative example of the Decolonization after 1900 topic in Unit 8 of AP World History. You could reference this example on your AP World History test. 1849 French map of the Gulf of Guinea/public domain The Biafra secessionist movement, rooted in ethnic tensions and political discontent, marked a tumultuous chapter in Nigeria’s history during the late 1960s. Centered on the desire of the Igbo ethnic group for self-determination and i
2 min read
Angola’s Independence from the Portuguese Empire for AP World History
Angola’s independence from the Portuguese Empire is an illustrative example of the Decolonization after 1900 topic in Unit 8 of AP World History. You could reference this example on your AP World History test. Angola’s journey to independence from the Portuguese Empire stands as a testament to the resilience and determination of its people in the face of centuries of colonial oppression. From the earliest encounters with Portuguese explorers to the struggle for self-determina
3 min read
Algeria’s Independence from the French Empire for AP World History
Algeria’s Independence from the French Empire is an illustrative example of the Decolonization after 1900 topic in Unit 8 of AP World History. You could reference this example on your AP World History test. The struggle for Algerian independence stands as a seminal moment in the broader narrative of Africa’s decolonization, marked by fierce resistance, political upheaval, and international significance. Algeria, long regarded as an integral part of France’s colonial empire, b
2 min read
The Decolonization of French West Africa for AP World History
The decolonization of French West Africa is an illustrative example of the Decolonization after 1900 topic in Unit 8 of AP World History. You could reference this example on your AP World History test. The decolonization of French West Africa was a multifaceted process characterized by nationalist movements, geopolitical shifts, and colonial policies that unfolded in the wake of World War II. Spanning territories such as Senegal, Mali, Ivory Coast, and Guinea, this region wit
2 min read
The Gold Coast’s Independence from the British Empire for AP World History
The Gold Coast’s independence from the British Empire is an illustrative example of the Decolonization after 1900 topic in Unit 8 of AP World History. You could reference this example on your AP World History test. Ghana’s journey to independence from Great Britain exemplifies the transformative power of nationalist movements and the visionary leadership of figures like Kwame Nkrumah. Formerly known as the Gold Coast, Ghana’s struggle for self-rule gained momentum in the afte
2 min read
Palm Oil from Sub-Sarahan Africa for AP World History
The export of palm oil from Sub-Saharan Africa is an illustrative example for the Economic Imperialism topic in Unit 6 of AP World History. You could reference this example on your AP World History test. The production and exportation of palm oil from sub-Saharan Africa during the colonial era exemplifies the unequal trade advantages that colonial powers held over their colonies. Palm oil, a versatile commodity used in a wide range of products, including soaps, cosmetics, and
2 min read
Diamonds in Africa for AP World History
The mining of diamonds in Africa is an illustrative example for the Global Economic Development topic in Unit 6 of AP World History. You could reference this example on your AP World History test. During the late 19th century, the discovery of diamonds in South Africa, particularly in Kimberley in 1866, marked a significant turning point in the global diamond trade. This discovery unleashed a frenzied diamond rush, attracting prospectors from around the world to Kimberley’s d
2 min read
The Palm Oil Trade in West Africa for AP World History
The palm oil trade in West Africa is an illustrative example for the Global Economic Development topic in Unit 6 of AP World History. You could reference this example on your AP World History test. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the palm oil trade in West Africa epitomized an export economy heavily reliant on trade with industrial imperial powers, yet marked by significant trade imbalances. West Africa, particularly regions such as Nigeria, Ghana, and the Ivor
2 min read
Rubber Production in the Amazon and Congo Basin
Rubber production in the Amazon and Congo basin is an illustrative example for the Global Economic Development topic in Unit 6 of AP World History. You could reference this example on your AP World History test. Rubber production in the Amazon and Congo Basin during the late 19th and early 20th centuries exemplified export economies heavily dependent on trade with industrialized imperial powers, yet plagued by significant trade imbalances. The vast rainforests of these region
2 min read
The Mahdist Wars in Sudan for AP World History
The Madhist Wars in Sudan are an illustrative example for the Indigenous Responses to State Expansion topic in Unit 6 of AP World History. You could reference this example on your AP World History test. The Mahdist Wars in Sudan were a series of armed conflicts that occurred in the late 19th century. They revolved around the charismatic figure of Muhammad Ahmad bin Abd Allah, known as the Mahdi. Rooted in Islamic revivalism and anti-colonial sentiment, the Mahdist movement so
2 min read
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