Since 2003, Behind the Book has

Worked in
1.,000 Classrooms

Served 23,000 students in Title I public schools

Given away more than 117,000 new books to
young people in NYC  

In the 2021-2023 school year we

Partnered with 16 schools in 80 classrooms

Conducted 507 workshops with 1,677 students

Published work from 18 classrooms, making 415 students published authors and illustrators

Donated 14,000
new books

Results

  • Our goal is to increase participants’ intrinsic motivation to read and write while also improving self-confidence in the classroom. All participants complete pre-program and post-program exit surveys, designed using the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory, a nationally recognized measurement device intended to assess participants’ subjective experience related to a target activity. The survey gauges participants' autonomy, competence, and relatedness in reading and writing. We expect that at least 75% of participants will demonstrate an increased interest in and motivation to read and write and that 75% of participants will have an improved belief in their own skills/abilities.

    In the 2022-23 school year:

    • 78% of students reported an increased sense of autonomy

    • 84% reported an increased sense of relatedness 84%

    • 78% reported feeling more competent by the completion of the program.

  • Teacher survey questions measure the impact and benefit of Behind the Book workshops and anchor texts on student engagement and teacher pedagogy.

    In the 2022-23 school year:

    • 92.6% of teachers surveyed reported that the anchor text had a positive impact on students

    • 90% reported that the curriculum was accessible

    • 91.4% reported they would recommend BtB to a peer

    Behind the Book continues to increase literacy engagement in classrooms with 91% of teachers reporting that author visits greatly increased student engagement. Long-form responses from educators show that in-person author workshops continue to have an impact on students’ reading engagement and writing skills.

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Results

+ Evaluation



Behind the Book is committed to providing enriching literary experiences for students and supporting teachers to implement engaging literacy curriculum. We strive to increase students’ motivation and self-identification as readers and writers, as well as improve their engagement with the writing process. To ensure our programs and impact are aligned, we collect survey data from our partnering educators. Participating classroom teachers complete surveys at the end of their Behind the Book program.

Last year we expanded our reading support to include vocabulary videos and online reading portals. Virtual learning expanded our access to culturally responsive texts and increased our use of supplemental workshops such as visits from subject matter experts and science workshops. These modifications allowed us to maintain engagement during a year of remote learning. To assess these expanded sections we evaluated the accessibility and engagement with the anchor texts and workshop offerings. This evaluation process represents a cost - effective and sustainable methodology to assess our work and improve programs. This document highlights important areas of strength and areas on which to build.

+ Educator Results



Teacher survey questions measure the impact and benefit of Behind the Book workshops and anchor texts on student engagement and teacher pedagogy. At the end of the 2020-2021 school year, the teachers with whom we partnered reported the following:

• 86% of teachers saw extremely high student engagement in literacy during our program

• 95% of teachers rated the anchor text extremely culturally appropriate to students

• 90% of teachers rated the anchor text high in reading level appropriateness

• 74% of teachers felt the writing workshop positively increased students engagement with the writing process

Behind the Book continues to increase literacy engagement in classrooms with 91% of teachers reporting that author visits greatly increased student engagement. Long-form responses from educators show that in-person author workshops continue to have an impact on students’ reading engagement and writing skills.

The students were excited to meet the author of the book. They were interested in knowing the process of what it took to become an author. Many of them have decided that they were also going to become authors one day.
         - Ms. Nelson, 1st grade teacher at P.S. 197

In addition to the student impact, teachers also noted positive changes for themselves, with 75% of educators remarking they learned new strategies for teaching, as a result of their Behind the Book programs.

I will try to include the workshop model that BtB uses for my science lessons. I feel it will engaged my students more in the lessons.
         - Ms. Abreu, 6th Grade Teacher at M.S. 328

I will incorporate more art into our lessons, [art] keeps students interested and develops a sensitivity towards beauty.
        - Ms. Acevedo, 4th Grade Teacher at P.S. 154

Yes! We really enjoyed this program with [Behind the Book]. The discussions were complex and built students vocabulary. I hope to incorporate drawing activities, virtual field trips and author visits into my future activities with my students.
        - Ms. Callanan, 4th grade teacher at P.S. 43

+ Student Results



Before COVID-19 Behind the Book's student evaluations were completed anonymously in person for grades 3 and above. We believe anonymity is important in order to respect any student sensitivity to providing honest feedback.

Last year’s evaluation was distributed digitally and we found it difficult for elementary aged students to capture their answers on a digital platform. It was also difficult for us to identify students that were unable to complete the evaluation and ensure a high percentage of responses. Student workshop absences increased due to the lack of laptop access and navigating the pandemic and as such Behind the Book decided to eliminate student evaluations for this school year.

Centering Students for Literacy Engagement:
Voice, Choice, and Identity

Behind the Book, in collaboration with Teachers College at Columbia University, commissioned a white paper on best practices in literacy engagement.