As this school year winds down, I feel myself slowly exhaling as I downshift into a less frenetic pace. I am very much looking forward to lazy days at the beach when I can poke around in some of the books that have accumulated on my night stand. I find that I have two categories of reading that I am looking forward to: “Fun Stuff” which, by and large, are fiction stories that have piqued my curiosity and “Stuff that Interests Me” which, as you will see, are an array of non-fiction books about things that I want to learn more about. As I look ahead to July and August, this is what’s on my reading radar:
Fun Stuff
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
During the school year, I read aloud Divergent to my own two sons and I’ve been dying to know what happens next!
Matched by Ally Condie
Way back in November, I sat next to Ruth Culham at a dinner sponsored by Scholastic and she told me that this is a must read YA series and I haven’t yet had time to start it!
The Education of Little Tree by Forrest Carter
Jan had this book with her last week when I saw her in Tennessee. I read the back and she shared that it was a classic that her husband had introduced her to. I felt a bit ashamed that I had never even heard of it and decided it was something I need to read.
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
This is another title that Jan introduced me to. She read me an excerpt about a woman hiring someone to make a plaque for her front door and a young boy revising her words and getting paid for it that darn near made me cry. That piece was so powerful, I HAVE to read this book.
Open House by Elizabeth Berg
I recently happened upon a garage sale late one Saturday afternoon. The sellers were tired and wanting not to haul their books back into the house and told me take whatever I wanted for free. As I browsed, this one spoke to me. I’ve already started reading it and so far, so good.
Stuff that Interests Me
Learned Optimism by Martin Seligman
Paul Tough talks about this book in How Children Succeed. I’ve been interested in positive psychology ever since Jan introduced me this TED video by Shawn Anchor and it seems like a book that will help to mold a positive mindset for the upcoming school year.
Visible Learning by John Hattie
More people than I can count have recommended I read this book so this summer, I intend to finally make its acquaintance!
The Talent Code: Greatness Isn’t Born, It’s Grown. Here’s How by Daniel Coyle
I think this is another book that Paul Tough mentions in How Children Succeed. If the recommendation doesn’t come from there, I have no idea where the inspiration for reading this book originated. Either way, it sort of reminds me of Outliers by Malcom Gladwell which I loved.
Write Like This by Kelly Gallagher
I really love Kelly Gallagher’s work. My teaching has been deeply inspired by both Readicide and Deeper Reading and I’m looking forward to hearing his thoughts on teaching writing.
The Way to Cook by Julia Child
Julia’s Kitchen Wisdom by Julia Child
Cooking is an on-again, off-again passion of mine. I’ve been in a bit of an “off-again” dry spell and am looking to reacquaint with something that I truly love to do. My colleague and friend Jennifer Cox from Tennessee recommended both of these books for re-igniting my cooking passion.
The Joy Diet by Martha Beck
As part of our New Year’s Resolutions, Jan and I read Finding Your Own North Star by Martha Beck. This is a companion to that book and as I am always looking for more balance and naturally, joy, in my life, I resolve to read this one too.
As I look at this list, I am thinking that the “Fun Stuff” list looks a little paltry compared to my “Stuff that Interests Me” list. I know that my non-fiction reading is going to demand a lot more of me intellectually which makes me think I won’t be relaxing in the way I intend to. If you’ve read something that fits a “Fun Stuff” list, please help me in my efforts to maintain balance and share those titles with me!
Fun Stuff: Anything by Barbara Kingsolver!
Here’s my question for the collective wisdom (you’ll love this, Jan…):
I’ve decided that my guiding question for next school year (and for professional articles for CL) will be something about helping my students learn to learn. Understanding what learning and creativity look and feel like. Developing positive and productive habits of mind. What should I read that will help me with this? Is there a really good brain research book? I’m thinking about Learned Optimism and How Children Succeed from your list, Kim. What else would you (Jan, anyone) recommend?
Hi Mary Lee! Thanks for recommending Barbara Kingsolver–I don’t know her at all so I’m excited to check her out. (I finished Open House the same night I posted this blog and then went on to a book I found in my mother-in-law’s Nook archives called The Kitchen House. That wasn’t on my radar at all but so far, LOVING it!)
As for a brain research book, have you read Brain Rules by John Medina? I loved the way it took something heady like neurobiology and conveyed it in a way that a lay person such as myself could understand. I feel like my teaching shifted after I read that book. Jan and I are both always quoting David Sousa–“The brain that does the work is the brain that does the learning,” If you haven’t read his work, particularly How the Brain Learns, you should check that out, too! We’re thinking that we’re going to have updates about our summer reading so make sure to check in with us about what other books you discover on this topic!
Ha ha — “heady” neurobiology!! 🙂
Thanks! I’ll definitely check out Brain Rules and How the Brain Learns.
Yes, Steve, I am stockpiling the free audiobooks on Sync. I started listening to Jane Eyre. Talk about being the last person on the planet to read something…
Looks like fun, Kim!!
I’m reading The Underneath by Kathi Appelt and The Strange Case of the Origami Yoda. (I”m probably the last person in the world to read that.) Also, Mary Lee has a link on one of her posts about audiobooks. I’m now downloading these and can’t wait to listen! (Thanks, Mary Lee.)
I also love non-fiction and will be reading Slavery by Another Name, Blackmon. I’m interested in the social history of the post-Civil War era.
I’m curious. Why Visible Learning? I had decided that I was going to look into Visible Learners: Promoting Reggio-Inspired Approaches in All Schools. I think that came out of the Project Zero stuff from a few years ago? Like Mary Lee, I’m interested in helping my students to be more aware of their thinking and learning. I experimented with some of that this last year with third graders, but need more support/thinking in order to do a better job of it.
Hi Steve! As the mom of two boys, ages 10 and 12, I met Origami Yoda awhile ago–fun stuff–complex, too in the way that it tells the story from the point of view of different characters.
It’s funny you mention the book Slavery by Another Name–it sounds interesting–I just started reading The Kitchen House last night (I know not on my list but I happened upon it and felt compelled!) and as I started reading, I found myself realizing how little I actually know (and understand) about this period of history. As I talked to a group of teachers today about companion texts, I told them that I thought my own personal reading needs an informational text companion!
As far as Visible Learning goes, I am frequently asked whether I’ve read this book. Enough people have asked me that it makes me think that maybe it’s got stuff in there I should know about. I have to say, the subtitle is a little daunting, however–something about the word meta-analysis that makes me think I won’t be taking it to the beach!
As always, thanks for stopping by!
Yes! The subtitle to Visible Learning is daunting! 🙂 I’ll have to check it out, though. Thanks for some good ideas for books. I’m looking forward to next week to find out what Jan is reading, too.
Best to you and happy reading this weekend!