What Are You Reading: April 2016

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.

Meghan organized three book study groups with 6th-12th grade teachers from a variety of disciplinary areas.  They are reading and discussing the following books:

• Building Academic Vocabulary by Robert J. Marzano and Debra J. Pickering - This was my most selected book study as so many of our teachers chose to focus their SLOs on academic vocabulary.  
• Text Dependent Questions, Grades 6-12: Pathways to Close and Critical Reading by Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey with Heather L. Anderson and Marisol C. Thayre - This book contains amazing work around utilizing the close reading process and tying it to text-dependent questions in each of the four phases of close reading.  There are also video resources at the end of each chapter to look up and see real teachers in action with these practices. 
• Academic Conversations: Classroom Talk that Fosters Critical Thinking and Content Understandings by Jeff Zwiers and Marie Crawford

Heather uses Chart Sense for Writing (3-8 writing) by Rozlyn Linder as a tool when she conferences with students.

Heather is also using Grammar Keepers by Gretchen Bernabei. She is taking ideas from this book for part of her next Comprehension Focus Group.

Lisa is reading Vocabularians: Integrated Word Study in the Middle Grades

Brenda J. Overturf.

Carrie is reading The Art of Coaching by Elena Aguilar. Carrie says, "I am attending her conference in Milwaukee with my district's math coach. I was excited to find a resource that we can read (and attend) together.  We then discuss how different ideas from her coaching approach fit into our practice and content area."

Diane is reading Reaching and Teaching Students in Poverty by Paul Gorski.

Julie is reading Sit Down and Teach Up by Katie Wood Ray and Matt Glover. Julie writes, "It’s a professional resource for teachers of young children. Using a combination of text and video, Katie and Matt explore the practice of conferring with our youngest writers and designing individual instruction around what they need."

Barb is aspiring to read Better Conversations by Jim Knight. A book about how to be more credible, caring, and connected? Yes, please.

Barb also aspires to read Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Deckle Edge. A sociologist writes about eight families facing eviction in Milwaukee, as examples of what is happening throughout America.

Diane writes, "In the last month I have spent a lot of time catching up on young adult novels.

The one that has affected me most is Beneath a Meth Moon by Jaqueline Woodson. It's a strong story about a young girl getting hooked on meth and falling under its spell.  It is written in flashback, memoir, and fast forward."

Diane also read  Miracle's Boys by Jaqueline Woodson, Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix, and Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix.

Heather read Monument 14- Sky on Fire. She says, "This is an end of the world young adult series.  One of my students found the first book on my shelf and now she is hooked. I just recently got her the second book (this book) and the third one for her.  This is a great book for grades 8 and above."

Barb's book club read Noggin by John Corey Whaley. She says, "Noggin is a science-fiction book set in modern American society. A teenage boy dies of cancer and has his head cryogenically frozen. Five years later, scientific advances allow his head to be re-attached to someone else's body."

Maggie read The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. She says, "This is one of the best YA literature books I've read in a while. Set during World War II, this novel will make you fall in love with historical fiction again."

Maggie also read Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. Maggie writes, "In this novel, science fiction meets fantasy, and the world is divided into those with red blood and those with silver. The silvers have god-like powers that separate them from the lower-class reds. Red Queen is the first in a trilogy. If you liked Divergent and The Hunger Games, this book and series is for you."