My Book Recommendations: Fall Edition

“I read a book one day and my whole life was changed.” By Orhan Pamuk

If you have been reading my blog you know I LOVE to read! If you haven’t been reading my blog, you now know. I like to share the books I read with others because I am a believer in knowledge is power and that we all need to work together. I usually share my book recommendations about three times a year. Here is my Fall edition in no particular order.

           

1. Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity by Kim Malone Scott
   • This book explains how you can become a Kick-Ass boss to build sound relationships, achieve results, and create a better workplace. This is not a typical education book which is why I like it even better because it has so many great ideas we can apply to education sector.
2. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
   • This book changed my life. I have not only improved my habits but I have been using the formula with educators all over the country to help change classroom habits that we either need to build or change.
3. The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact by Chip Health
   • Moments shape our lives; this book discusses how we can create impactful moments for others. As educators creating moments for students is a lot of what we do but how can we make these moments more impactful. This book share lots of ideas ands I guarantee will spark some new ideas for you.
4. Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well by Douglas Stone
   • Feedback builds personal and professional growth. Feedback is a difficult conversation for both the giver and the receiver. This book discusses the three feedback triggers and the three things you need to give effective feedback.
5. Personalized Professional Learning: A Job-Embedded Pathway for Elevating Teacher Voice by Allison Rodman
   • Learn how to transform existing professional development programs into innovative, empowering learning experiences that meet staff’s real needs and align with school and district priorities. A must read!
6. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
   • Another book about habits that I have enjoyed and learned a lot from! This book explains more about why habits exist and how we can change them.
7. Liminal Thinking Create the Change You Want by Changing the Way You Think
   by Dave Gray
   • I am a big advocate for how we in education need to think differently. This book explains nine practices of how to change our thinking so we can change the world.
8. Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered by Austin Kleon
   • This book is about how to influence others by letting them steal from your ideas. In education we need to do a better job of sharing what we know and our work to help others and spark ideas. This book does a great job of sharing how to do this without being a self-promoter. From the author same author of Steal Like an Artist that I have mentioned in previous book recommendations and don’t be surprised to see his third book in the next recommendation list!

The book I am most excited about (and already pre-ordered) is coming out this Fall: The NEW Team Habits: A Guide to The New School Rules by Anthony Kim, Keara Mascarenaz and Kawai Lai. 

I would love to hear any book recommendations you have, please share in the comments. Happy Reading!

Educational Book Recommendations

“If you don’t like to read, you haven’t found the right book.” – J.K. Rowling

This week I have been thinking about a lot of books that I have read the last few months so I thought it was a good time to update everyone on my recommendations from the past few months.

1. The NEW School Rules: 6 Vital Practices for Thriving and Responsive Schools by Anthony Kim and  Alexis Gonzales-Black. “If we don’t change how schools work and how they are organized, we won’t ever realize the full potential of the work they do.” This inspirational book provides practical advice for educators who are launching or improving schools that you could use tomorrow to make changes. The authors guide you through six rules that they have seen make the biggest impact on how organizations function and how work gets done. The book is chock full of case studies, activities, and resources for you to use. They also have a helpful website here.
2. Social LEADia: Moving Students from Digital Citizenship to Digital Leadership by Jennifer Casa-Todd. This book explores the concept of digital leadership and its place in today’s schools and classrooms. It provides advice on how we can help our students navigate the digital world
3. The Wild Card: 7 Steps to an Educator’s Creative Breakthrough by Wade King and Hope King. This book is motivational and encourages educators to find their spark! It also provides educators with a guide of how to build creativity in the classroom through realistic strategies. 

I always love a good book, what suggestions do you have?

5 ‘Non-Education’ Books – That Taught Me About Education

“Reading is a basic tool in the living of a good life. ” By Joseph Addison

One of my favorite things to do is read. I am always reading two books at a time, a “fun” read and an educational/professional read. I feel it is important to always to continue to learn but just the other day I heard an educator say “I don’t read professional books anymore because I don’t know what else I can learn about my profession.” After being shocked, I pulled up my good reads list and gave her several book titles.

I believe no matter how old you are or what level of education you have, you can always learn and improve your craft. In dedication to this moment and to hopefully help others, I am sharing 5 non-educational books that taught me things about education that I have used in my job and classroom.

1. Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World by Adam Grant

2. Soup: A Recipe to Create a Culture of Greatness by Jon Gordon

3. Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration by Ed Catmull and Amy Wallace

4. Imagine: How Creativity Works by Jonah Lehrer  

5. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable by Patrick Lencioni

    

I am always looking for a good read so please share your must read books below.

12 Books Every Principal Should Read

“Great books help you understand, and they help you feel understood.” By John Green

Below are ten books I highly recommend that all Principals should read in no particular order. I would love to hear what books you think should be on this list as I love growing my library! Please add in the comments.

1. Innovator Mindset: Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity  by George Couros
2. Move Your Bus: An Extraordinary New Approach to Accelerating Success in Work and Life by Ron Clark 

3. Hacking Leadership: 10 Ways Great Leaders Inspire Learning That Teachers, Students, and Parents Love by Joe Sanfelippo and Tony Sinanis  

4. Brain Science for Principals: What School Leaders Need to Know by Linda L. Lyman 

5. Lead Like a PIRATE: Make School Amazing for Your Students by Shelley Burgess and Beth Houf 

6. The Principal: Three Keys to Maximizing Impact by Michael Fullan (He has a lot of great books but this is my favorite)

7. What Great Principals Do Differently: Eighteen Things That Matter Most by Todd Whitaker  

8. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable by Patrick Lencioni 

9. Most Likely to Succeed: Preparing Our Kids for the New Innovation Era by  Tony Wagner and Ted Dintersmith  

10. Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative by Austin Kleon

11. Embracing a Culture of Joy: How Educators Can Bring Joy to Their Classrooms Each Day by Dean Shareski

12. Anything by Jon Gordan, I love all his books! Soup: A Recipe to Create a Culture of Greatness is probably my favorite. I am currently reading, The Power of Positive Leadership: How and Why Positive Leaders Transform Teams and Organizations and Change the World

 

My Summer Reading List 2017

“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” By Joseph Addison

It is that time of year again where I like to write about what educational summer books I am going to read….even though I am a year-round educator. Below are the books I will be reading this summer in no particular order:

• Lead Like a Pirate: Make School Amazing for Your Students and Staff by Shelley Burgess, Beth Houf

• Learning Transformed: 8 Keys to Designing Tomorrow’s Schools, Today by Eric C. Sheninger and Thomas C. Murray

• Shift This!: How to Implement Gradual Changes for MASSIVE Impact in Your Classroom by Joy Kirr

• Lead and Disrupt by Charles O’Reilly, Michael Tushman

• School Culture By Design by Phil Boyte

*Bonus Read: Embracing a Culture of Joy: How Educators Can Bring Joy to Their Classrooms Each Day by Dean Shareski – This one I have already read this year but it is so good I have to add it to this list because I haven’t mentioned it in any other of my blog posts on educational reads! 🙂 

Previous Educator reads I have blogged about which also make great summer reads! 

Five Must Have Math Books to Add to Your Shelf

“The essence of mathematics lies in its freedom.” by Georg Cantor

A few weeks ago I wrote, Five Must Have Literacy Books to Add to Your Shelf and was asked by many educators what do I like for Math. Below are five of my favorite books (in no particular order) to help improve math instruction.

1. Mathematical Mindsets: Unleashing Students’ Potential through Creative Math, Inspiring Messages and Innovative Teaching by Jo Boaler

2. Visible Learning for Mathematics, Grades K-12: What Works Best to Optimize Student Learning  by John A. Hattie, Douglas B. Fisher, Nancy Frey 

3. Principles to Actions: Ensuring Mathematical Success for All by NCTM

4. What’s Math Got to Do with It?: How Teachers and Parents Can Transform Mathematics Learning and Inspire Success by Jo Boaler

5. Making Number Talks Matter: Developing Mathematical Practices and Deepening Understanding by Cathy Humphreys, Ruth Parker

If there is a math book you think that should be added to this list, please add it in the comments section, as I am always wanting to build my toolkit and book list.

Five Must Have Literacy Books to Add to Your Shelf

“A child who can read will be an adult who thinks.” By Sasha Salmina

The goal of literacy instruction is to build students confidence, ability and skills in reading and writing. There are numerous engaging, effective strategies to get students to think about, write about, read about, and talk about content. Below are five of my favorite books (in no particular order) to help improve literacy instruction.

1. Mindsets and Moves: Strategies That Help Readers Take Charge, Grades 1-8 by Gravity Goldberg
2. Who’s Doing the Work?: How to Say Less So Readers Can Do More by Jan Burkins and Kim Yaris 
3. Reimagining Literacy Through Global Collaboration by Pernille Ripp
4. The Reading Strategies Book: Your Everything Guide to Developing Skilled Readers by Jennifer Serravallo – She also recently came out with

   The Writing Strategies Book: Your Everything Guide to Developing Skilled Writers and I have heard great reviews but have not personally read it yet.

5. From Pencils to Podcasts: Digital Tools for Tansforming K-6 Literacy Practices- A Teachers Guide for Embedding Technology Into Curriculum by Katie Stover Kelly and Lindsey Yearta

If there is a literacy book you think that should be added to this list, please add it in the comments section, as I am always wanting to build my toolkit and book list.

Growth Mindset Books for Students

“Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed no hope at all.” By Dale Carnegie

The beginning of the year is a great time to introduce the idea of having a growth mindset to your classroom. I complied a list of 20 great growth mindset themed books that you can put in your classroom libraries and have for read alouds.

Ada Twist, Scientist, Rosie Revere, Engineer and Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty

Not a Box and Not a Stick by Antoinette Portis

Salt in His Shoes by Deloris Jordan and Roslyn M. Jordan 

Stuck by Oliver Jeffers

Violet the Pilot by Steve Breen

Your Fantastic Elastic Brain Stretch It, Shape It by  JoAnn Deak Ph.D. 

Making A Splash: A Growth Mindset Children’s Book by Carol E Reiley

What Do You Do With a Problem?  and What Do You Do With an Idea? by Kobi Yamada

The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg

The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Mark Pett

Thank You Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco

The Dot, Ish, Going Places by Peter Reynolds

Other growth mindset blog posts I have written:

Musing on Mindset

Tools to Help Students Build a Growth Mindset

I am always looking for more great growth mindset themed books to add to my library so please share in the comments.

 

 

Transforming Literacy Practices with Digital Tools

“Technology can and should be used as a tool to open the classroom to the world, to ensure that teachers present standards in a way that fosters active engagement and participation in meaningful ways.” – from Pencils to Podcasts 

Guest blog post by Katie Stover Kelly

Who knew what started as a partnership between my education students at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina and Lindsay Yearta’s fifth graders in Rock Hill, South Carolina would become a catalyst for a larger endeavor. In 2013, both groups of students read Linda Sue Park’s novel, A Long Walk to Water  and used Kid Blog as a platform for ongoing conversation about the book. This digital book club enhanced the fifth graders’ motivation and engagement in reading while providing the preservice teachers with a hands-on experience working with elementary-aged learners. The online reader response provided the preservice teachers with authentic assessment and instructional opportunities without having to physically be present in the classroom. They used students’ written responses as a springboard for online conversation about the shared text. The preservice teachers modeled proficient reader strategies like connecting, predicting, and inferring. They then probed and engaged the fifth graders through questioning to elicit deeper comprehension and discussion of the text.

When sharing about this mutually beneficial blogging partnership at the International Literacy Conference in 2014, we were asked by Solution Tree Publishers to consider writing a book about ways to integrate technology into teaching and learning. Fast forward two years later and we are thrilled to announce our new book titled, From Pencils to Podcasts: Digital Tools to Transform K-6 Literacy Practices will be released at the end of August. In this book, we share more about the online book club as well as over a dozen other suggestions for embedding technology into the curriculum to prepare students to meet the demands of the 21^st century. We offer practical suggestions for integrating digital tools into familiar literacy practices to facilitate comprehension, evaluation, publication, and assessment. Each chapter provides a vignette, easy-to-use digital tools, step by step instructions for getting started as well as authentic classroom examples and suggestions for adapting across content areas.

We would love to hear from you as you try out and adapt any ideas from the book in your own schools!  Our Twitter handles are: Katie Stover @kstover24 and Lindsay Yearta @lyearta 

Join #21stedchat on October 2nd, 2017 @ 8:00 EST PM with @edu_thompson and @dprindle with guest host @kstover24 as we discuss the book From Pencils to Podcasts: Digital Tools to Transform K-6 Literacy Practices 

To read more about the blogging partnership and other publications by Katie Stover, visit https://furman.academia.edu/KatieStover.

Also check out another great book coauthored by Katie Stover, Smuggling Writing: Strategies That Get Students to Write Every Day, in Every Content Area, Grades 3-12

 

 

My Summer Reading List 2016

“Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world.” by Malala Yousafzai

With another school year coming to a close; I have created my book list for my summer reading. Below are the books I will be reading this summer in no particular order:

Currently reading (with one chapter left) and I highly reccommend: Passionate Learners: How to Engage and Empower Your Students by Pernille Ripp

 

1. Understanding How Young Children Learn: Bringing the Science of Child Development to the Classroom by Wendy L. Ostroff
2. Leadership: Key Competencies for Whole-System Change by Lyle Kirtman and Michael Fullan
3. Learning to Choose, Choosing to Learn: The Key to Student Motivation and Achievement by Mike Anderson

Below are books I have read recently that I recommend for your summer reading list if you have not read them yet!

The Innovator’s Mindset: Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity by George Couros

The Reading Strategies Book: Your Everything Guide to Developing Skilled Readers  by Jennifer Serravallo

Please add titles you are reading in the comment section as I love adding books to my reading list!