Lauren Morgan, a 5th grade ELA teacher at Pennsauken Intermediate School (NJ), has been named the Open Up Resources Teacher of the Month for January 2026. Morgan is being recognized for her outstanding work in her classroom and ongoing support of teachers across the country as a member of the Open Up Resources National Professional Learning Community.
Morgan’s work with Bookworms K–5 Reading and Writing makes her one of the most innovative teachers in the country. The Bookworms K–5 Reading and Writing curriculum inspires a new way of teaching language arts by engaging students through compelling, real-world content to build equitable and inclusive learning opportunities.
Courtney Rowan, a Special Education teacher at Pennsauken Intermediate School, nominated Morgan for nominated Morgan for Teacher of the Month, recognizing her as an exceptional educator, instructional leader, and advocate for high expectations and student growth. Rowan shared, “[Mrs. Morgan] is an exceptional educator who helps students learn to think critically to become analytical researchers and writers. I was lucky enough to have two of my own children in her classes, and they are excelling in high school in large part to the high expectations and support Mrs. Morgan has offered them. Mrs. Morgan has been a staff leader integrating Bookworms into our school and is always finding new ways to make connections to other content areas.”
In her application, Morgan shared about Shared Reading and the opportunities it provides learners to read and discuss texts. She explained, “My favorite thing about Bookworms is the Shared Reading component. I really enjoy reading full novels with my students as opposed to excerpts of books. I have noticed that reading our Shared Reading books has increased students’ enthusiasm about reading, and reading the books together leads to great class discussions.”
Reflecting on her experience with Bookworms, Morgan encourages new educators to give themselves grace as they grow into the curriculum. She emphasizes that while it can feel overwhelming at first, confidence and ease come with time, practice, and patience. As Morgan shares, “Be patient with yourself… each year it will be a little easier. Put time and effort into building your reading community and enthusiasm for the books, and it will pay off when you see how excited your students are to read each day!”
Open Up Resources is a non-profit publisher in pursuit of delivering the highest quality learning experiences for all students by providing educators best in class, research-based PreK–12 curricula and professional learning so they may support every student’s academic success and create in-class experiences that celebrate, honor, and empower all students. Learn more at www.openupresources.org