TeacherReads discussion
What We're Reading
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What are you reading for professional reasons and why?
I am currently reading Pathways to the Common Core and hoping some other educator is reading it will be in Goodreads, because I need to talk it through to digest it!
I am reading Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen. I've had the book for about 18 months and decided that the new year was a time for me to see if the GTD method (all or part of it) is something that I should implement.
Jessica wrote: "I am currently reading Pathways to the Common Core and hoping some other educator is reading it will be in Goodreads, because I need to talk it through to digest it!"I am reading it right now- on Chapter 4. I agree that it is too much to digest alone. My school is doing a book study to talk about it face to face. I also participated in a chat with Chris Lehman on twitter, and he occasionally will open up the #pathccss chat. One of my PLN has had chats with her school as well #padccss. Did you want to open up a new chat there, something here, or something else?
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I read it last year, and while I haven't implemented all of it, I'm a lot more organised and on top of things as a result. I especially like the weekly review.
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It's had some great reviews. We don't have the Common Core in Australia. Do you think the book would be relevant to educators everywhere or just in the US?
Celeste wrote: "I am reading Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen. I've had the book for about 18 months and decided that the new year was a time for me to see if the GTD method..."I read this last year Celeste. It was hard in the sense that it was all from a business standpoint, but so good to help me realize ways I can become more efficient. I am actually considering rereading it sometime.
Good question Corrine...I know common core standards aren't applicable to Australia, but I think the content of what the standards are is good for literacy anywhere. I'm only on page 50, so I'll let you know when I finish.
Kristin wrote: "Jessica wrote: "I am currently reading Pathways to the Common Core and hoping some other educator is reading it will be in Goodreads, because I need to talk it through to digest it!"I am reading..."
Kristin...I'd love to open up a chat on it somehow!
Jessica wrote: "Kristin wrote: "Jessica wrote: "I am currently reading Pathways to the Common Core and hoping some other educator is reading it will be in Goodreads, because I need to talk it through to digest it..."Let me know when you'd like to chat. I'm sure we can stir up interest if we set something up.
Am starting to read "A theory of everything" by Ken Wilber. It's a really interesting book about holistic approaches and is a great text for getting a better understanding of integrated curriculum approaches. It's quite challenging in places and needs some serious thought, but I am a big fan and highly recommend any of his books.Am now getting back into my professional reading and have a long list of titles to work through, so will be sharing the list as I go along.
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I think I've heard of that book - such a great title. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it.
Oh great! You all are mentioning MORE books that I will want to read! ugh! I have a ton to read at home and at school first! ha!I have read the following since the new year started:
1. Assignments Matter http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16...
2. Scamper On http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54...
3. Scamper http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54...
4. Differentiating with Menus: Science (elementary) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38...
5. Empower ADHD Kids http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15...
6. Overcoming Textbook Fatigue http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15... - I read in December and just reviewed it again.
7. Differentiating Instruction in the Regular Classroom http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29...
8. Problem-Based Learning with the Internet http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39... LOVED this book!
I have been reading my professional books all of the way through this time, not just sections. I have been using Post-it Notes to highlight the parts I want to remember/use/etc. So far, so good. There are so many good ideas out there. Just trying to implement a few is a challenge, however. But, I love the ideas!
10. The Internet and Problem-Based Learning http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52... I find that this book will be great to use with Common Core Standards when we are to make/create real-life situations for our students to solve.11. Learning to LOVE Math http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/86... LOVED THIS BOOK! FULL OF IDEAS! If you are a math teacher, you need to check out this book!
One of the reasons I wanted to read all of these books is to then get rid of them. Well, I LIKE THEM and don't want to get rid of them!I guess I need to find the books I think I could get rid of, and read those first!
12. Math Education for Gifted Students http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... Great book full of things that made me think about changes I could start tomorrow.
13. The Fourteenth of October http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12... It is about the Battle of Hastings, but from more of a "local's" perspective, not a documentary, but more of a story - historical fiction.
14. Differentiated Instruction http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/83... Great book! Read my review if you want to learn more! Great ideas for left handed students! Learn how to read student eye movement to determine understanding! VERY INTERESTING!
@ Tracey...I just added that to my wish list!
April wrote: "@ Tracey...I just added that to my wish list!"Differentiated Instruction? Yeah!
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15. On Being a Teacher (Kozol) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51... It was a good book, a bit dated for my situation. Thought about how to teach history a bit differently, but some of his suggestions in other situations were just a bit aggressive for me.
Trying to finish Useless Knowledge. 5 more chapters to go of random facts! hahahahahaha!
I would like to use some of these facts in class. But, I can't have this book in school. On the cover it asks the question, "What is louder, a jet plane at takeoff or a hippo having sex?"Not a school book, by any means!
16. Useless Knowledge http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12... Good book, would have preferred the facts be supported with documentation.
17. A Handbook for Classroom Instruction that Works http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18... Good book, experienced teachers really should know these things, new teachers should have learned this in college. Good reference tool to keep on hand for reviewing of teaching strategies.
18. Currently reading "Have a New Kid by Friday" http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31... for school and personal reasons! haahah!
Hello everyone! I'm currently a middle school Spanish teacher and I'm reading The Language Instinct—How the Mind Creates Language by Steven Pinker to get some insight into the way our brain works with language so that I can capitalize on that with my teaching. So far the book isn't exactly what I thought it would be (there is a lot about grammar and how language is structured), but it's really fascinating and he provides tons of examples and interesting anecdotes. It's a huge book, though, so I'd recommend just skipping around to the parts you find interesting.
I'm also reading The Dominance Factor: How Knowing Your Dominant Eye, Ear, Brain, Hand & Foot Can Improve Your Learning by Carla Hannaford. It's an interesting concept and I believe that dominant parts of the body do play a role in each persons tendencies, but I don't know that it carries as much weight as she argues. I'm a little skeptical. However, I would be interested to assess my students and see if seating them on a certain side of the room, etc. helps them learn better. Does anyone have any experience with this? I'm curious about some in-class observations.
Sounds like an interesting book, The Dominance Factor.
19. Have a New Kid By Friday http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... Great book! Used the basic "Say it once and walk away" approach at home and with my students and it worked wonders. and "B must be done before A" works PERFECTLY in the classroom.
20. Reach Everyone You Teach (Christian Based Book) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/86... Great for those new to Sunday School Teaching
21. The Kid's Guide to Service Projects http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10... Good book! Great reference tool to help get kids started and involved.
22. Hernando De Soto http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31... I have several old library books from the 1960s, history books. Love these! Reading them now and will donate them.
23. Teaching Boys Who Struggle in School http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11... Good book. Great ideas to use in class. The author made some connections between the type of learners (Myers/Briggs) to the at-risk population. Evidently, the at-risk tend to be a certain type of learner, and of course, those are not the learners that succeed in school! imagine that!
24. Champlain: Father of New France http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17... Good book. Learned more about the French Development in the Americas before the colonists arrived. I am reading old library books from the 50s and 60s! These books will probably never be read again! so sad.
25. Jim Bowie: Boy with a Hunting Knife http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15... I learned a lot about Jim Bowie, hero of the Alamo.
26. I just finished reading "The Professor and the Madman" (the story of the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary). This was an incredible story!
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Jessica wrote: "Celeste wrote: "I am reading Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen. I've had the book for about 18 months and decided that the new year was a time for me to see i..."I I have been practicing GTD for more than 5 years and it changed my life! Don't give up on it, you will fall off the wagon several times but the cool thing about GTD is that it is easy to get back and jump back in to the wagon.
Even the author David Allen admits that it takes at least 2 years to get this. It's not an instant fix but its discipline that you will practice for the rest of your life.
I am currently reading "Your best just got Better" by Jason Womack. A good read so far but it's a book that you would have to work with. Lots of examples and best practices and keeps one engaged and hooked.
That books sounds interesting! Need to look up that book to read!!!
I'm reading "Quiet: the power of introverts in a world that can't stop talking" by Susan Cain. It's a fascinating read and has really challenged my thinking about the kids I teach.
Sounds interesting! the problem with goodreads is I am finding out about MORE books I want to read and I already have a ton TO read!Right now I am reading Magnificent Mind At Any Age - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41... about the health of our brains, what they may look like due to smoking, ADD, ADHD, if you played sports using your head (physically such as soccer - using your head to hit the ball), etc. What to do to make your brain healthier. It is very helpful to know this information. And, it suggests the need for parents to talk to kids about how to keep their brains in good shape by making the right choices.
Yes. I can't wait to get into the book even more.
I bought Phil Beadle's new book "Why Are You Shouting at Us?". I started work in a behaviour school and I wanted tips! It was great for reminding me about the basics - body language, being near an exit, defusion strategies. I recommend it.
Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson. I'm reading for my class in school leadership but it's actually a great book for all aspects of your life. I got the nook version and it comes with videos embedded into the book and the videos are great. The book is an easy read and the humor makes it more memorable. The skills you can learn from this book are valuable throughout your entire life regardless of what career or life path you take.
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Sounds good, Rebecca. I'll add it to my list.
Corinne wrote: "Deb asked this in the general discussion - but it's such a good question I think it needs a place of its own!I'm reading 'Punished by Rewards' by Alfie Kohn .The title resonated with me strongly...."
'Punished by Rewards' is a GREAT book! In fact, I quote parts of it during class sometimes, when students ask me "what do we get?"!
I'm currently reading 'Fair Isn't Always Equal' by Rick Wormeli, but I'm taking my time with it. 'Book Love' and 'Classroom Habitudes' are next on my list.
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Books mentioned in this topic
Navigating Implementation of the Common Core State Standards: Getting Ready for the Common Core Handbook Series (other topics)Navigating the English Language Arts Common Core State Standards: Navigating Implementation of the Common Core State Standards (other topics)
Common Core Curriculum Maps in English Language Arts, Grades K-5 (other topics)
The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary (other topics)
The Dominance Factor: How Knowing Your Dominant Eye, Ear, Brain, Hand & Foot Can Improve Your Learning (other topics)
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I'm reading 'Punished by Rewards' by Alfie Kohn .The title resonated with me strongly. I've been using token reinforcement for years now, and my school has a levelled system where students earn tokens that lead to merit cards and then bigger and better awards.
Punished by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A'S, Praise and Other Bribes