What Are You Reading: May 2017

We start each month by sharing what we're reading - both for work and for fun. Join us by using the comments to share what you're reading. Click here for previous reading lists.

Meghan writes, "I've downloaded the audio book version of Mindfulness by Mark Williams to start tomorrow.  It is an 8 week program, so hopefully I'll be in a calmer state of mind by summer!"

Heather is reading Notice and Note Nonfiction by Kylene Beers and Robert Probst. She writes, "Yes, I am still reading this book. :)  It didn't quite make my spring break beach bag."

Sharon is reading Unshakeable: 20 Ways to Enjoy Teaching Everyday by Angela Watson. Sharon writes, "This is a link to a podcast conversation as the author interviews a Wisconsin teacher who went from burnout to Teacher of the Year utilizing components of the book, ie. to-do lists and changing  your story."

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Jaimie is reading The Writing Strategies Book by Jennifer Serravallo. Jaimie writes, "This book just came out in February after last year's publication of The Reading Strategies Book. These books are great resources for mini-lessons, conferring, and strategy groups.  Very teacher friendly and ready to use."

Jaimie is reading Alone: Could You Survive? by D.J. Brazier. She writes, "This is a young adult book that my third grade son just brought home from school.  We started reading it together and it is a very engaging and suspenseful book.  Very similar to Gary Paulson's, Hatchet."

Lisa is reading Identical by Ellen Hopkins. She explains, "Written as narrative poetry, this is the story of identical twins who are complete opposites personality-wise. The twins hold a secret about abuse that is occurring between a family member and one of them, as they attempt to cope with the trauma of a car accident, caused by their father, a judge. The shocking story unfolds as the twins alternate perspectives, chapter to chapter."  

Carrie is reading The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis. It is a selection she's offering to her middle school students for the end of the year book club.

Maggie read The Hollow Boy by Johnathan Stroud.

Andrea sent this picture of the stack of professional books she's reading and later added that she started with Hanging In: Strategies for Teaching the Students Who Challenge us Most by Jeffrey Benson.  She writes, "I just started it and I am in love with it.  (I started it yesterday per Barb's recommendation when I sent her a picture of my "To Be Read" pile.) The book is designed to provide real life student situations and the strategies used to analyze the challenges and to develop individual plans.  So far the most important takeaways (and I'm only on page 35) are 'Don't ask challenging students to do what they can't do. Don't set them up for failure that will have no redeeming possibilities.'

• Identify places where students who are escalating can calm down.
• Develop structures that allow staff who are working closely with challenging students to communicate their progress.  
• Review each year the list of absolute rules and consequences and keep them to a minimum."

Julie is reading Guided Inquiry Design: A Framework for Inquiry in Your School

by Carol C. Kuhlthau, Leslie K. Maniotes, and Ann K. Caspari. Julie writes, "Guided Inquiry is an innovative team approach to teaching and learning where teachers and school librarians, with other experts and specialists, join together to design and implement inquiry learning.  It engages children in constructing personal knowledge while using a wide range of sources of information and creatively sharing their learning their fellow students in an inquiry community. Guided Inquiry Design is grounded in the research of the Information Search Process (ISP) that describes students’ process of learning from a variety of information sources in extensive research projects.  The ISP research goes inside the inquiry process to reveal ways to guide students in deep engaging learning."

Meghan just finished Grit by Angela Duckworth. She writes, "What wonderful research for teachers, parents, and anyone looking to know how to join passion and perseverance for success!"

Maggie strongly recommends listening to the audio version of The Inquisitor's Tale by Adam Gidwitz! In the year 1242, travelers from across France cross paths at an inn to tell the tales of three children. The narrator collects the tales of their adventures as their stories come together.

Maggie also read Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes.

Meghan read Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk. She writes, "Excellent coming of age story to help the reader think about how to respond when we see injustice."

Meghan also read Mexican Whiteboy by Matt De La Pena. She explains, "I've been wanting to read this since I researched De La Pena last year for our Coaching Network meeting, but I just started it as the text in an intervention with an ELL student.  It is really offering 'windows and mirrors' for both me and the student-reader."

Andrea writes, "I am reading The Red Queen because my daughters love it and they are forcing me too.  So far, I have to agree, it's pretty good!"

Maggie is currently reading Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy. She writes, "When Alice is diagnosed with cancer, she enlists her friend Harvey to help her get revenge on those who've wronged her. Her plans go awry, however, when she goes into a remission and has to face the consequences of her actions."

Heather is reading Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult. She writes, "This has been a powerful read so far. I highly recommend this book, and I cannot review it better than her website- click here."

Jaimie uses Teachers' College Reading and Writing Project Facebook groups. Jaimie writes, "I  have found so many great suggestions, resources, and comments on these pages. Lucy herself is on the pages all the time and answers many of the questions that are posted.  If you use the Units of Study, becoming a member of these groups is a must."

What Are You Reading: April 2017

We start each month by sharing what we're reading - both for work and for fun. Join us by using the comments to share what you're reading. Click here for previous reading lists.

We seem to love Jason Reynolds around here. . . 

Lisa just finished All American Boys by Jason Reynolds & Brendan Kiel.

Maggie just finished As Brave As You by Jason Reynolds. She says, "I've recently read this Jason Reynolds' book with our staff YA book club, and the title was a hit. Two brothers from Brooklyn, Genie and Ernie, are sent to spend their summer with their grandparents in the country in Virginia. Upon arrival, Genie learns that their grandfather, who he has only met once as a toddler, is blind. Genie's curiosity leads him to want to know everything about his grandfather's blindness. Over the course of their summer together, Genie, Ernie, and grandpa must discover what it means to be brave. If you liked All American Boys and Ghost, you'll love this too!"

Pax by Sara Pennypacker also seems to be a Lit Booth favorite. Heather read it recently, and Jaimie just picked it up.

Andrea just started Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz.

Lisa recently finished Bluefish by Pat Schmatz.

Maggie is currently listening to King's Cage by Victoria Aveyard. She says, "This is the third in the Red Queen trilogy, and it has been exciting to work my way through this book as the red rebellion against the silvers escalates."

Carrie finished Noggin by John Corey Whaley. She says, "I've been recommending it to everyone I know!! Loved it."

Heather read All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. She says, "Theodore Finch and Violet Markey, but one I did, I was hooked to know their story."  

Meghan just started Dumplin' (audio book version) by Julie Murphy.  She says, "I've heard so many good things and already one chapter in, I'm loving the tone and spirit of the main character!"

Meghan also said, "My children (ages 7, 5, and 4 months) and I are reading Listen! by Stephanie S. Tolan, a great book for any dog lovers. The main character is a 12 year old girl working through the loss of her mother, recovering from a car accident, and her best friend away for the summer.  She takes on the task of taming a stray dog.  Recommended reading age is grades 4-8, but my elementary age daughters and even my baby son are loving it as a read aloud!"

Andrea just finished Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight. She describes it as an interesting combination of young adult issues entwined within a mystery.

Lisa just started I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak.

Barb's book club read Burn Baby Burn by Meg Medina. Set in NYC in 1977, the book is advertised as a story about Summer of Sam. It's really a story of a teenage girl who is the victim of domestic violence and is struggling to be an independent, Hispanic woman.

Maggie read The Port Chicago 50 by Steve Sheinkin. She says, "This is the well-written account of 244 men from the segregated Navy base Port Chicago who refused to work until unsafe and unfair conditions at the docks were addressed. This came after July 1944, when an explosion at the Port Chicago base killed more than 300 soldiers. When all was said and done, 50 men were charged with mutiny. In the book, Sheinkin addresses the issues of prejudice that faced black men and women serving in the Armed Forces during World War II. Be sure to also check out Lincoln's Grave Robbers and Bomb."

The next book for Barb's book club is In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse by  Joseph Marshall (Author) and James Mark Yellowhawk (Illustrator). The book club is focused on representation and diversity in young adult literature, and this text is focused on American Indians.

Maggie read The Whispering Skull by Jonathan Stroud. She says, "In the second title in the Lockwood & Co. series, the frightening and macabre ghost-hunting adventures continue for Lucy, Anthony, and George as they continue to work to fight "The Problem" (the dead having risen to walk among the living) in London. If you haven't read The Screaming Staircase, be sure to start there!"

Barb is listening to Born a Crime by Trevor Noah. It's a memoir about Noah's time growing up in South African with a black mother and a white father. She says, "I've learned so much about apartheid!" 

Heather is reading Season of the Witch by David Talbot. She says, "My husband and I are going to San Francisco for the Summer of Love 50th anniversary.  This book is giving me insight to the 60s in San Fran."

Heather and Lisa both read Chop Wood Carry Water by Joshua Medcalf. Heather says, "This is about a man who wants to become a samurai. There are short stories throughout the book that are great life lessons.  The book is about 100 pages and a quick read. Oshkosh North High School's baseball team all read this book, because of the great lessons.  I highly recommend this book!"

Heather is also reading Resisting Happiness by Matthew Kelly. She says, "This book was handed out at my church. I try to read a chapter a day. There are thoughts at the end of each chapter to think about."    

Barb really wants to start Mem Fox's Radical Reflections. She says, "I was unexpectedly inspired and enamored with Mem Fox's presentations at WSRA's convention. I'm hoping to bring back some of my motivation by reading this book."

Jaimie is reading Visible Learning for Literacy: Implementing the Practices that Work Best to Accelerate Student Learning by John Hattie, Douglas Fisher, and Nancy Frey. The book, based on John Hattie's research, is introduced in a webinar.

Julie is reading Every Young Child a Reader: Using Marie Clay's Key Concepts for Classroom (Language and Literacy) Sharan A. Gibson. This book is geared towards K-2 classroom teachers and is based on Marie Clay's literacy processing theory.

Heather is reading Reading Nonfiction by Kylene Beers and Robert Probst. She says, "How have I not read this book yet? Looking forward to seeing the nonfiction signposts."

Carrie is reading Guided Inquiry Design by Carol Kuhlthau.

Meghan says, "I'm still reading Better Conversations by Jim Knight in a book club with other instructional coaches and this book is really impacting me, both personally and professionally.  I would like to do a building-wide book club with leaders from various areas (administration, literacy, PBIS, technology) at our middle school next year."

Meghan just finished The Book Whisperer (audio book version) by Donalyn Miller. She says, "Very inspiring and totally helped me get back to sharing the joy of reading with the teachers I work with."

Andrea is reading A Principal's Guide to Leadership in the Teaching of Writing by Lucy Calkins and Laurie Pessah. She says, "I just started it and although it is designed as a type of leadership calendar, it really digs deep into the process of reform over time.  I like the layout of the chapters aligning to months of the year.  Luckily chapter one begins with the steps and thinking an instructional leader needs to do in March which is "Prioritizing Writing Instruction in your School."  April is "Research and Planning" which aligns to everything we are currently trying to put in place as we roll out our initial implementation of the Lucy Calkins Writing Units of Study next year."

What Are You Reading: March 2017

We start each month by sharing what we're reading - both for work and for fun. Join us by using the comments to share what you're reading. Click here for previous reading lists.

Due to an email mistake, this month is a special edition, "What Would Barb Like to Read?"

My Educator List:
Mindfulness by Ellen J. Langer - Amazon is kind enough to tell me I bought this on November 16, 2015. I still haven't read it. I'm hoping to better understand ideas that compliment some of my favorite ideas (like those from Dweck and Peter Johnston).

Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools by Monique W. Morris - Colleagues were talking about this on social media, and I realized I've studied very little about young African American women.

Reading Students' Lives: Literacy Learning across Time by Catherine Compton-Lilly - Cathy does longitudinal research about the literacies of students and their families (particularly students and families who are marginalized. This book, the fourth in the series, follows young people into high school.

We Must Say No to the Status Quo: Educators as Allies in the Battle for Social Justice by Veronica McDermott - Jennifer Abrams just mentioned this in her monthly newsletter.

My YA List:
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas - I ordered this one after seeing it talked about on Facebook.

March: Book One by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell (Illustrator) - I didn't realize this graphic novel about the civil rights movement was a thing until its third installment won some recent awards.

Burn Baby Burn by Meg Medina - My book club's choice for March, lauded by my trustworthy friends at the CCBC. Only $2.99 for Kindle and iBooks right now.

October Mourning by Leslea Newman - Published in 2012, this one has been on my bookshelf for awhile. Written in verse, it is a biography of a gay man murdered in Wyoming in 1998.

My Adult List:
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders - This one is very new. Reviewers are talking about it positively in multiple places, which caught my eye.

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant - I added this to my "To Read" shelf on Goodreads on July 1, 2008; it's the first thing I added to that list. It's my best friend's favorite book. I need to get to it at some point.

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion - I bought this one on some vacation in 2014. I still haven't gotten to it. I hope I will find it light and entertaining.

Cities I've Never Lived In by Sara Majka - This short story collection about distance includes some pieces narrated by a young woman getting divorced. I'm intrigued (and only now willing to read about divorce - four years after).

What Are You Reading: February 2017

We start each month by sharing what we're reading - both for work and for fun. Join us by using the comments to share what you're reading. Click here for previous reading lists.

Meghan says, "While on maternity leave the past few months, I was able to stay connected to educational topics by following posts from Edutopia, EdWeekly, and Mindshift on Facebook.  These contain very quick, inspiring reads that I was able to save for further use when returning to work."

Jaimie shared a few more digital texts. First, books on the EPIC app. Jaimie says, "If you haven't heard or seen this app, I suggest you get it NOW.  Tons of digital books for FREE."

Jaimie is listening to Jen Serravallo's Podcast. She finds that, "This is a great resource to stay up to date on what is happening around us and to get great insight from Jen herself.

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Andrea says, "I am re-reading The Art of Coaching by Elena Aguilar as well as The Art of Coaching Teams, also by Elena Aguilar. I am also reading How to Build an Instructional Coaching Program for Maximum Capacity by Nina Jones Morel and Carla Staton Cushman (which was recommended to me by Julie Schwartzbauer!)We have been referencing these as well as several other titles as we work on establishing our district coaching model.  All of these have been very helpful as many guiding questions are provided for us to think about as we work through the process."

Meghan is participating in a book study about Better Conversations by Jim Knight with fellow K-12 coaches and the Director of Instruction of our district: "This book group and PLC is something new we've started this year as our district grows in it's coaching capacity.  It has been awesome to support each other and grow in our learning together."

Julie is reading Every Young Child a Reader by Sharan A. Gibson and Barbara Moss. This professional text highlights how to use Marie Clay's concepts for classroom instruction.

Carrie is reading For a Better World: Reading and Writing for Social Action by Randy Bomer and Katherine Bomer.

Meghan is reading Vocabulary Their Way as her middle school works to implement this system in 7th and 8th grade.  Our district has adopted Words Their Way in grades K-6, so this will help grow our word study into the upper levels and content areas after students have moved through the five stages of Words Their Way.

Meghan and Sharon are both exploring Universal Design for Learning by reading UDL Now! By Katie Novak. Sharon reminds us of the purpose of UDL, "Clearing the path for one, clears the path for all!" This cartoon reminds Sharon of this important idea:

Meghan says, "One of our elementary schools participated in a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) grant.  This book club is being offered district-wide to grow our capacity to implement UDL at all schools."

Maggie is reading The Boys in the Boat (Young Readers Adaptation) by Daniel James Brown. Maggie writes, "The powerful nonfiction tale of Joe Rantz and the other working-class rowers from the University of Washington Crew who broke down barriers and records across America in order to attend the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. This is a true story of overcoming adversity and the power of the underdog."

Maggie and Barb are both reading The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon. Maggie says, "This incredible story is told through three different perspectives: Natasha, Daniel, and The Universe. Natasha is a teenage girl who should be worried about where she'll get into college but instead is on the verge of being deported to Jamaica for being an undocumented citizen. Daniel has always been the good Korean son, living up to his parents' high expectations, but when he first sees Natasha, he forgets about everything except what fate has in store for them. The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment." Maggie strongly recommends listening to the audiobook version!

Heather is reading The Raft by SA Bodeen. Heather says, "A student of mine recommended this book. He told me he was actually reading it at home it was so good.   I picked up a copy and he was right.  Saturday I read the book in practically one sitting.  It is about a girl whose plane crashes and she is trying to survive.  This book is full of a lot of action!"

Maggie is also reading Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk. Maggie says, "This is the sweet coming-of-age story of a young girl named Annabelle. Set during World War II in rural Pennsylvania, Annabelle enjoys a quiet and simple life until a bully named Betty Glengarry arrives in town and at her school. Betty is cruel and threatens and inflicts pain on Annabelle and her young brothers. Her malice continues to grow until one day she mysteriously goes missing. Annabelle's quiet and quirky neighbor Toby, a veteran of World War I, becomes a prime suspect in Betty's disappearance. Annabelle is sure of Toby's innocence and is determined to prove it. This book bears a strong thematic resemblance to To Kill a Mockingbird and provokes much thought and discussion."

 Jaimie is reading The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman. She describes it as an "interesting and unique story about a light house keeper and his wife who find a life boat containing a live baby (and dead man) on the shore of their isolated island. They decide to raise the child as their own and not inform the authorities of the child's existence." This book has also been made into a movie.

Barb just downloaded and is looking forward to reading The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead. She says, "My reading routine has grown to always include at least one eBook. I always have my phone with me, so the eBook is something that I can pick up while I'm waiting somewhere without an actual book."

Lisa is reading The Dinner by Herman Koch.

Jaimie is reading The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. She says, "After being on the wait list at the library for over 6 months, I finally have the book!!  I have only heard great things about it!"