Monday 12 June 2017

8 Books to Read this Summer


I love to read...but I never make enough time to read as much as I would like.  Most of my reading is actually listening, since the birth of my oldest son, I have been addicted to audio books.  This summer I hope to get back to the paper books now that my boys are little bigger!  So here is what I am hoping to get into:

Intention: Critical Creativity in the Classroom by: Amy Burvall & Dan Ryder
This book arrived in my mailbox today and I cold not be more excited!  It explores ways to meet typical curriculum expectations in creative ways.  Each idea explores how to do the activity, what students will take away, and links to different disciplines.  I also have the honour of joining author Amy Burvall in Washington DC this summer at the Google Certified Innovator Academy where she will be a trainer.  #WDC17!



IQ: A Practical Guide to Inquiry-based Learning by: Jennifer Watt & Jill Colyer
This one has been on my list of almost a year.  I think inquiry is imperative  in education (see my suggestion later for Trevor MacKenzie's book).  People in my office rave about IQ as an inquiry resource and some even say it is part of the canon of Inquiry Based Learning.  It is full of tools and suggestions on how to get started and running with IBL.





Making Your School Something Special by: Rushton Hurley 
I met Rushton at the Ontario Edtech Team Summit in Kitchener in April.  He was such an inspirational guy.  He captivated his crowd and was full of fascinating stories when I spoke to him one-on-one.  I look forward to reading about his ideas around making school a place wherein EVERYONE feels valued and celebrated.







Start With Why by: Simon Sinek
The one book I have on my list that is not written about education - we can all grow in other areas.  Sinek's TED talk is one of the most views of all time and it is no wonder why.  This book is all about WHY people do things...it gets to the root of motivation and shares how to inspire others.








Want more?  Here are some of my fav books I read this year.

The HyperDoc Handbook by: Lisa Highfill, Sarah Landis, & Kelly Hilton
Last summer I kept seeing #HyperDocs all over Twitter.  I read a few things and knew immediately that I needed to read this book.  I bought it an devoured it.  It revolutionized the way I think about lessons design and delivery and student choice.  I cannot stop talking about this and love the HyperDocs Tribe.






Launch by: AJ Juliani & John Spencer
This was my other OMGoodness book from last summer.  Spencer and Juliani outline project based learning (PBL) to show how accessible and important it is to boost student creativity and instil the maker mindset in students.  It is a call to take back what it important in education to re-engage learners.








Dive into Inquiry by: Trevor MacKenzie
As I mention above, inquiry fascinates me and I hold it as a cornerstone in engaging education.  Until I read this book I never knew how to start.  I thought I had to dive into Free Inquiry.  Trevor outlines the process in a clear, and accessible fashion and made me realise how Inquiry can be done in any class, in any grade!







Teach Like a Pirate by: Dave Burgess
Earlier this year I ran a virtual teacher book club and our first book was Dave Burgess' - we loved it!  It is full of strategies to engage students and find your passions as a teacher.  Dave discusses the PIRATE acronym: passion, immersion, rapport, asking & analyzing, transformation, and enthusiasm.  He also offers 30 hooks which are surefire ways to engage.  If you have ever seen him talk, you can definitely feel his energy through this book.





Guilty pleasure....OK, it's not all about reading for work...a friend sent me Big Little Lies...it will be my beach read!



Do you have others on your want to or must read list?  Share them with me in the comments and consider adding to Hollie Sisk's Flipgrid!

1 comment:

  1. Loved Teach Like a Pirate, too! Thanks for this list, my pile of reads is getting bigger, not smaller

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