It’s Teacher Appreciation Week!
A good time to pause and recognize what’s happening in classrooms every day.
Because in a lot of those classrooms, reading isn’t just part of the schedule. It’s something students are actually choosing to do.
This year, we’re highlighting a group of educators who are leading the way.
Our Literacy Legends! Teachers who are helping students build real reading habits, one small moment at a time.
What Makes a “Literacy Legend”?
It’s not one big strategy. It’s a series of small ones.
Making time for reading, even on busy days. Letting students choose what they want to read. Using tools like Epic in ways that fit naturally into the classroom.
These aren’t complicated approaches. They’re simple things done consistently. And over time, they add up!
Meet Our Literacy Legends
Across different grades, these teachers are finding ways to make reading stick. See what’s working in their classrooms:
Mrs. Deloris Montgomery, 2nd Grade, Decatur, Georgia
“From August, I must say that Epic allows my Superhero scholars to show confidence with their independent levels of reading. They enjoy incorporating what we are learning about in science and social studies.”
Melissa Cortez, 4th and 5th Grade, Jurupa Valley, CA
“In my combo class, Epic is my go-to for meaningful differentiation. Instead of giving early finishers extra worksheets, I incorporate Epic as a rewarding ‘choice time’ activity. This allows students to dive into topics they are personally interested in, transforming transition periods into high-engagement literacy opportunities without requiring extra prep.”
Tevera Holcomb Hesslink, 4th Grade, Lamar, CO
“My fourth grade students even utilize Epic to support their writing. We narrated wordless stories this past week. This helped pave the way for 23% of my students entering a short story competition at our public library. I plan to capitalize on this momentum and revisit poetry writing, another contest category, for my lesson planning.”
Davon Clarke, 2nd Grade, New York, NY
“What I love most about the platform is how user-friendly it is and how it gives students access to a huge variety of books and series that we simply do not have in our physical classroom or school library. It opens the door to more choice, more voices, and more opportunities for students to discover what they love to read.”
Carla Beaty, 3rd Grade, Flintstone, Georgia
“As a special education teacher, what I love most about Epic is how it acts as an equalizer in my classroom by making high-interest, age-appropriate content accessible to all learners regardless of their current decoding ability. The “Read-to-Me” feature is truly a game-changer, as it allows my students to engage with complex texts and build confidence by following along with highlighted audio, effectively dismantling the “I can’t read this” barrier.”
Verscie Montford, Kindergarten, Atlanta, Georgia
“A huge, instant library lets kids explore freely, and the built-in tools (audiobooks, leveling, tracking) make it easy to support different learners while keeping them motivated.”
Pieter Cilliers van Ellewee, 4th Grade, Beijing
“What I love most about Epic is how it makes reading engaging, accessible, and enjoyable for all learners. It gives students access to a wide range of high-quality books at different levels, which helps them develop independence, confidence, and a genuine love for reading.”
Stevie Scharwarth, Kindergarten, Glenwood, IL
“The quizzes also help me see whether or not they’re grasping what they read. My students get really excited after they pass a quiz. At times, there will be a line of students with their iPads to show me their scores.”
Danica Yates, 1st Grade, Little Rock, Arkansas
“My classroom also has a high population of English Language Learners, so having books in Spanish available for those students helps them to learn in a language that they may feel more comfortable in.”
Easy Ideas to Try in Your Classroom
If there’s one thing these classrooms show, it’s that reading doesn’t need to be complicated.
A few minutes during transitions. A chance for early finishers to explore something they’re interested in. Time set aside for independent reading that students actually look forward to.
Letting students choose what they read makes a difference too. When they’re interested, they stick with it longer.
Tracking progress can help as well. Even something simple can give students a sense of momentum.
A Small Way We’re Saying Thank You
As part of Teacher Appreciation Week, each of our Literacy Legends will receive a gift package from Epic, along with recognition across our blog and social channels.
It’s a small way to recognize the work happening every day.
What Stands Out
Looking across these classrooms, one thing comes through clearly. Investing in teachers makes a difference.
It’s not about doing more. It’s about creating the kind of environment where reading feels possible and even enjoyable.
And once that happens, students tend to keep going.
Frequently Asked Questions
▶ What is Teacher Appreciation Week?
It’s a time to recognize the work teachers do every day and the impact they have on students, both in and out of the classroom.
▶What is Epic’s Literacy Legends campaign?
It’s a Teacher Appreciation Week initiative that celebrates and elevates Epic’s most engaged educators and our top users. The campaign shines a spotlight on teachers who are driving meaningful reading engagement and helping students build a love of literacy.
▶How can teachers encourage more reading in the classroom?
Keep it simple. Give students choice, make time for reading throughout the day and use tools that support different learning needs.
