2017 Summer Reading List
We made it! Safe to say, most of us reached the end of the school year and are diving into summer. For me, that means coffee on the porch with a good book in my hand. Family vacations are coming, the beach is calling your name and everyone seeks a well-deserved respite from the stresses of the school year. Of course, there are the typical ‘beach getaway’ fictional books we all love. But summer is also a great time to rejuvenate and be reminded of the meaningfulness of our career. We’re not talking heavy non-fiction books, but books that have purpose and heart. This summer, take a chance on some of our recommended summer reading!
1. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon
This fictional story gives an inside look of what autism may feel like as a child. The story takes us through the character’s journey, his feelings and his struggles from beginning to end. You will finish this book with a dose of perspective and just a small idea of what people with autism face on a daily basis.
2. The Gift of Failure, by Jessica Lahey
Featured here, the reading of this book in its entirety benefits educators and parents alike. Lahey does an excellent job of illustrating how letting our children and students fail will ultimately help them succeed. She does so by sharing relatable stories from her own life.
3. How Children Succeed, by Paul Tough
Students are assessed in academic skills daily. We focus on preparing them for these assessments rigorously for 190 days. Do the students have the grit to welcome this rigor? This book focuses on the importance of teaching our children and students grit in order to succeed.
4. Data Wise, by Katherine Parker Boudett, Elizabeth A. City, & Richard J. Murnane
This easy-to-read text outlines the importance of student-centered learning. We all know that data is important to drive instruction, educational programming and initiatives. Are we using the data efficiently? Data Wise provides insight into giving students more power in their learning, leading to greater student achievement.
5. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, by Angela Duckworth
This best-seller is not geared toward educators. However, it helps us all learn something about ourselves that in turn, can translate to our students and children. Duckworth’s message is that talent is not the be-all, end-all. It is actually the willingness to achieve success, the ability to persist against the odds, that creates success. This book is a good motivational story that educators can then use to frame mini lessons on grit throughout the next year (dare I say it!).
Is one of your recommended books missing from the list? Let us know what you will be reading this summer!
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