Helen Darling Author & Speaker

Our Programs

Literature layup
Shaping who they are

Every Word is a Bucket

In the game of literacy, skipping a word you don't know is a turnover. The Literature Layup activation is a high-energy, live experience that teaches students how to "attack" new vocabulary with the same precision and swagger it takes to perfect a layup. We are equipping a new generation of Learners with the specialized skills to outwork difficult text and dominate every page they read. By turning vocabulary into a high-stakes scoring system, we transform the "struggle" of reading into a competitive game that students are hungry to win.

This two-phase experience begins with a dynamic in-person event to ignite the fire and concludes with every student receiving the "leave-behind" game set to master 125 new words in any book they read. And much more!

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Lets Stay Lit
Words that open worlds

Where the Court Meets the Classroom

The Let’s STAY L.I.T. Reading Circuit is the ultimate high-performance system for the next generation of Learners. We don’t just read, we train. We believe a student’s mind should be conditioned with the same discipline, rigor, and passion as their jump shot. By bridging the gap between physical agility and academic mastery, we’ve created a 5-5-5 Circuit that turns reluctant readers into elite scholars.

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Courtside
Nurturing the whole person

Your Front-Row Seat to the Literacy Game

Courtside is a high-octane digital literacy experience that puts students directly in the middle of the action. To be Courtside is to be as close to the magic as possible, where you can hear the sneakers squeak and feel the energy of the play. Through the app, students receive an all-access pass to a world where sport culture and storytelling collide. By connecting the thrill of the game with the power of the page, we show every student that they have a permanent, VIP seat in the world of literacy.

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Courtside
Words that move mountains

Bringing Books to Life Through Sports!

RePlay Reading is a middle-grade literacy series designed to flip the script on how students experience a book. We’re getting students up, moving, and actively engaged through high-energy stories where sports culture and reading collide. Building on the beloved Days of the Week series, the triplets, Jajuan, Jalen, and Nevaeh, are back and older than ever. They are ready to lead a new generation of readers through sports not typically played in diverse communities, teaching them that with teamwork, confidence, and resilience, any field is their home turf.

Stories don’t just sit still, they run, kick, swing, and score right along with you! Crack open a book, grab your gear, and let the adventure begin.

Book Helen
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