What Are You Reading: December 2015

We believe it is important for educators to be readers and writers, so every month we take a day to report out on what we're reading. Join in by sharing your current reading list in the comments.

Regie Routman's Read, Write, Lead is one of Andrea's current professional reads. She says, "I have had this book in my 'to be read' pile for a long time - too long. Any educator involved in literacy instruction and decision making (which is just about everyone) should read it!"

Jaimie recently saw Steven Layne speak at NCTE. She says, "He is amazing to listen to and so inspiring. His presentation focused on In Defense of Read-Aloud. I picked it up and started reading it right away."

Meghan and Andrea are both reading Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. Meghan says, "I am on book two in the series, Dragonfly in Amber. Between the love story, the dynamic characters, and the history, I find myself having to set times for reading each chapter so that I can get other work done. And yet, the storyline is still on my thoughts long after putting the book down!" Andrea is reading Voyager, the third book. 

Barb (long-time fan of Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Scandal, and How to Get Away with Murder) is listening to Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes. It includes Shonda's thoughts (as only Shonda can write them) on television writing, motherhood, dieting, public speaking, and accepting challenges.

Meghan is reading Curriculum Leadership: Readings for Developing Quality Educational Programs for a graduate course.  Parkay, Anctil, and Hass write, “Curriculum leaders must see themselves as change facilitators if they are to be successful at developing quality educational programs.  Successful curriculum leaders build collaborative teams of educators who are committed to working together to increase student learning.  For such leaders, leadership is a collective, not an individual, pursuit” (p. 2).

Lisa just opened an Amazon box with Thanks for the Feedback. She writes, "Truthfully, I have not yet started reading, but it is packed in my travel bag as I head to Minneapolis this week. The purchase was prompted because of the focus I have on providing some professional development for middle and high school teachers when they are providing feedback to students about their writing, and for coaches who need to practice the art of providing feedback to teachers."

Maggie recently finished Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier, which is the first in The Ruby Red trilogy. She explains, "This is a fun fantasy story about a teenage girl named Gwen who finds she has the gene to time travel. Word to the wise: don't forget to read the epilogue! It'll leave you eager to read book two!"

Sharon is reading No More Independent Reading Without Support by Debbie Miller and Barbara Moss. She says, "This book is a quick read.  It is packed with rationale, research, and a framework for getting started and sustaining its success."

Maggie and her staff's YA (young adult) book club read Zero Tolerance by Claudia Mills. It is a realistic fiction story that questions right and wrong and the decisions we make. Maggie recommends this read to any teacher, but specifically those who teach in grades 4-8.

Carrie, trusting the recommendation of her library/media specialist, read Gabi, A Girl in Pieces. She says, "I started reading it and found I could NOT stop. Hands down, one of my favorite YA fiction books of the year!"

Julie is reading Common Formative Assessment: A Toolkit for Professional Learning Communities at Work by Kim Bailey and Chris Jakicic. The book is set up like a toolkit for PLCs.  It focuses on the process of establishing well-run PLCs as well as guides the PLC in designing and using common assessments.

Maggie says, "I'm currently reading Winter, the final book in the Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer in which science fiction meets fairy tale. After a quick recap of where the characters stand after the last book, the action picks up and it has been nonstop since! It's been awhile since I've been so invested in a series!"

Meghan is still working on Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team from a previous month's list. She blames the Outlander series for this!

Barb is reading and discussing Paul Gorksi's Reaching and Teaching Students in Poverty. Gorski is doing a webinar for WI State Reading Association members on Wednesday, December 9.

Barb recently finished All American Boys. This timely young adult novel shares two narrators' perspectives on the same event - the brutal beating of an African American teenage boy by a white police officer. One chapter is written by the victim of police brutality, and the next is written by his white classmate (a friend of the officer involved).