Summer time means a little more time to read and reflect on our teaching practice and a chance to catch up on some new professional books. With the full implementation of the redesigned here in B.C., I’m turning to many of these books for ideas and inspiration. While I do not anticipate getting through ALL of these books, I have some of them beside my bed, some on order and am hoping to get my hands and head through all of them before summer is over. Certainly these books are getting the ‘BUZZ’ in teacher circles… and I’m proud to say that many of them are written by true north strong and free Canadian writers! 
Here are my top ten professional books in my summer TBR pile…
1. One Without the Other: Stories of Unity Through Diversity and Inclusion – Shelley Moore
Seems fitting that number one on my list is called ONE! Shelley Moore is a teacher and inclusive consultant in Richmond, B.C. who is rockin’ it as a presenter, TED Talks speaker and now published author. She is dynamic, funny and passionate about inclusion. Her ‘7-10 split‘ bowling metaphor for inclusion is extraordinary. If you have never seen it, you can watch it here. This book is on the top of my must read books this summer!
2. Innovate with Ipad; Lessons to Transform Learning in the Classroom – Karen Lirenman and Kristen Wideen
I’m SO excited (and proud ) to read this brand new book by these two amazing Canadian teachers and Ipad experts. I know Karen personally and know how hard she has worked and what extraordinary, innovative things she does with iPADS in her classroom. This is a must have book for every school! The book is clearly laid out and shows teachers some basic aps that you can download which can help engage your students in learning and creating independently and creatively. I love the way they include sections for beginners and more advanced learners, along with quick tips and suggestions on how best to integrate Ipad lessons into all aspects of your teaching. I also appreciate the fact that these are real teachers who have tried all of these lessons as well as the adaptation of the lessons for teachers who may only have access to one or two Ipads rather than a whole class. Great job, Karen and Kristen!
2. DIY Literacy: Teaching Tools for Differentiation, Rigor and Independence – Kate Roberts & Maggie Beattie Roberts
There has been a lot of recent buzz about this new resource and I’m excited to share it. (Just in case there are any teachers who are old like me, DIY stands for ‘DO IT YOURSELF’! ) Maggie & Kate Roberts share four visual teaching tools–demonstration notebooks, bookmarks, charts, and microprogressions–that, if used well, can assist students in becoming truly independent. This is another wonderful, practical guide for improving your classroom practice! Wise. Smart. Practical. Doable. Funny. Inspiring. So easy to read. The authors provide additional materials on their website, blog and through WEBISODES (another new concept for me!) so there is a lot of additional material to supplement the book. You can read more about the book and the authors here – http://www.heinemann.com/blog/what-does-diy-literacy-mean/
3. Writers ARE Readers: Flipping Reading Instruction into Writing Opportunities – Lester Laminack and Reba Wadsworth,
Long before Reading Power was ever developed, I did my masters on the READING-WRITING connection. This book re-affirms everything I know about how reading and writing are so closely linked and that teaching them in isolation is not how we should be teaching. There are many things to love about this book, but for me, it is the readability of the text and the easy conversational tone that puts it high on my new favorite list. It feels as if the authors are sitting in your living room talking to you for part of the time and then you are suddenly in a classroom watching them teach. It’s like having a literacy coach, a master teacher and a literacy expert every time you open the book. LOVE this one!
4. Developing Self-Regulated Learners – Deborah L. Butler, Leyton Schnellert, Nancy E. Perry
So proud to be teaching in a province so filled with amazing, dedicated and passionate educators like the authors of this book. This book focuses on research, theory and practice into SLR – Self Regulated Learners. It is designed to support special education, classroom practice and educational psychology courses in Teacher Education programs.
5. Craft Moves – Lesson Sets for Teaching Writing with Mentor Texts – Stacey Shubitz
While it is not a new concept to me to use picture books to inspire writing, in Craft Moves, Stacey Shubitz, co-founder of the Two Writing Teachers website, uses twenty recently published picture books and creates more than 180 lessons to teach various ‘crafts’ – otherwise known as traits or techniques. I appreciate that the books she uses are recent, that she promotes the use of picture books in both lower and upper elementary and that she includes sample lessons and suggestions for managing writer’s workshop and effective small groups. This book has just been released so only available through STENHOUSE.
6. Marvelous Mini-Lessons for Teaching – Nonfiction Writing K-3 – Lori Jamison Rogg
If you are primary teacher, Lori Jamison Rogg’s ‘Marvelous Mini Lessons’ books are a ‘must have’ for your professional collection. They are clear, practical, and filled with catchy phrases and easy-to-teach strategies. Her latest book focuses on writing in the content areas and helping young students learn to write about subjects they care about. Lori is moving to Vancouver from Toronto this summer so I look forward to seeing more of her and attending a few more of her dynamic presentations.
7. A Mindset for Learning – Teaching the Traits of Joyful, Independent Growth – Kristine Mraz and Christine Hertz
I had the privilege of hearing one of the authors of this book present at the Reading for the Love of It conference in Toronto this past February and, of course, I bought a copy and got it signed like a groupie! Based on Carole Dweck’s ground-breaking research around fixed and positive mindsets, these two teachers have developed practical strategies to help foster independent, compassionate caring students and to help them be more responsible for their own choices! I love this book!
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8. Multiple Paths to Literacy – Proven High-Yield Strategies to Scaffold Engaging Literacy Learning Across the Curriculum K-2 – Miriam P. Trehearne
Canadian consultant and author Miriam Trehearne new book for early primary teachers is definatetly going to get some ‘BUZZ’ starting. This book is packed full of ideas that link to the new curriculum including: Inquiry, Play, Art, Technology, and Self-Regulation. I appreciate that Miriam’s books are very practical with lessons you can use, student samples, and assessment tools. K-2 teachers – take note!
9. Launch – Using Design Thinking To Boost Creativity and Bring Out the Maker in Every Student John Spencer and A. J. Juliani
Love the title ‘LAUNCH’ and the fact that this book is all about creative thinking – another component to our new curriculum. I really like clearly laid out books with a structure and process to share with students, along with a common language that can be integrated at every grade level. ( Now if they only had a song… LOL!)
Here is the basic structure of the creative thinking outlined in the book:
Look, Listen, and Learn
Ask Lots of Questions
Understand the Problem or Process
Navigate Ideas
Create
Highlight What’s Working and Failing
1o. IQ – A Practical Guide to Inquiry-Based Learning – Jennifer Watt and Jill Colyer
Attention all BC teachers who are looking for a book to help them launch the redesigned curriculum! I love practical books and this one is I know I will use as we begin to shift into a more inquiry based approach to teaching and learning this fall.
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COMING SOON!!!!!
Powerful Readers Thinking Strategies to Guide Literacy Instruction in Secondary Classrooms
Kyla Hadden (and me!)
I just couldn’t make a list of professional resources without a shameless plug for this book! Kyla and I have been busy working on the edits – lots of work but the book is coming together so well. I’m excited for it’s release and for Secondary teachers to get a first hand look at Reading Power strategies in action! Three cheers for Kyla!
Thanks for stopping by! What’s in your summer professional TBR pile?