Centering inclusive literature and shared stories to inspire belonging, empathy, and joy in every place of learning.

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    hello!

    I’m Jillian

    Jillian Heise {Hi-Z} is a National Board Certified Teacher with one Masters degree in Reading/Language Arts + another Masters in Library & Information Science. As founder of #ClassroomBookADay (inspired by Donalyn Miller’s #bookaday) in 2014, Jillian is a passionate advocate for the value of read alouds and the power of shared stories to build classroom community and student engagement. She dedicates her practice to the right to read, ABAR teaching, and supporting all students by honoring their identities and lived experiences through access to inclusive literature. She also presents at conferences and provides professional development workshops to share her literacy expertise and picture book knowledge to inspire other educators.

    more about me

    Featured Resources

    powerful impact

    • I discovered the #classroombookaday challenge and decided to implement it in my fourth grade classroom. They were a very challenging group, and I was ready to quit after the 2nd week of school, but prioritizing read-alouds and starting every literacy block with a picture book is what saved my sanity and eventually built a community of readers and writers in my classroom. I savored every minute of our read-alouds because of it. I know I’m not the only teacher whose life changed because of your (and Donalyn’s) thoughtful ideas to encourage teachers and students to share more joyful reading experiences. THANK YOU for everything you do! 
      Kayln Hoppe, Ph.D.
    • That first week of school, I could not have imagined the power that #ClassroomBookADay would have. I knew we’d enjoy a book together, but I couldn’t have known how that 5-7 minutes each day would have so many added benefits.

      I cannot think of a change I’ve made in my classroom that has made such a powerful and joyful impact on our days.
      Franki Sibberson
    • I just had to send a quick message because I’m super excited! I completed your workshop on Going Deeper With CBAD, and I feel like I learned so much. This will be my second year doing this amazing challenge! I’m looking forward to continuing to push myself to have a more critical eye of literature.

      This whole experience has really been life changing for me as an educator. Thank you for sharing your expertise and such rich texts to pass along to not only our students but also our own children!
      Thank you for making me a better teacher!
      Amy Castela
    • We always start the day with our class meeting which ends with our classroombookaday read aloud. It has become my favorite part of each day… as well as my students. The sense of community, belonging & identity that develops from classroombookaday is what teachers’ strive for in a classroom environment. It happens so naturally with these readalouds – a safe place to talk about important and often “tough” topics. As a result, empathy and tolerance flourishes in our class family. It is a pure JOY to facilitate the student discussions that naturally occur after the stories are read.
      Carey Domena
    • #ClassroomBookADay has altered my classroom and teaching. It is the perfect start to [my 6th grade] class. Reading picture books daily has led to some of the deepest discussions in my classroom and I see those discussions transfer to writing and reflecting in all texts that we use. There have been countless unexpected and needed conversations, there have been more laughs (and a few tears) as we learn from these books, and there have been daily fantastic connections to build classroom community.
      It is one routine that I will definitely be using again. It was magical.
      Angie Hull
    • #classroombookaday has been one of the most powerful additions to my daily lessons. I truly believe this 5-10 minute activity has increased our standardized test scores, however the most important result has been the community built from shared stories. We laugh, cry, and have moments of awe together each day. We learn about our cultures, history, lifestyles, and values. Students from years past come into my room to see the display of book covers and reminisce about books they read and are jealous of new ones the didn’t get a chance to hear. I am forever grateful for walking into Jillian’s session 5 years ago at a Scholastic conference. I appreciate the diverse books she shares on her social media platforms and for the confidence she gives me to read ALL kinds of picture books to my students.
      andrea Medina
    • This year has had more challenges than I ever thought possible. The one time of the day when I know all students are engaged is cbad. It has opened the door to important SEL discussions. It has made more than one student excited to see themselves represented in a book. (For some, it was the first time!) It has allowed the class to make connections to all subject areas. It has created opportunities for students to openly share their thoughts and feelings. CBAD is the one time of the day when I don’t feel like I’m being pulled in a million directions because all of the students have one singular focus despite having many voices. Classroom Book A Day has helped me to lay the foundations for building a safe classroom learning community. 
      Tracy Chentayl