Summer beckons. While there are many tasks yet to finish, including final exams and grading, the time to rest and reflect will soon be upon us. Some Envisionary educators take summer as an opportunity to read up on the latest industry trends.
Envision Chief Academic Officer Andrew Potter curated five recent must-read books for educators. All five books were published in 2015 and have a short summary with links to Amazon and Barnes & Noble below.
1) Most Likely to Succeed by Tony Wagner: This book challenges the definitions of academic success and proposes a new vision for students and educators, focusing on innovation. The goal of Wagner’s book is preparing children for successful careers by inspiring a continual sense of wonder, creativity, and initiative, all to spark innovation. Educators get a guide on how to incorporate Wagner’s vision in the classroom. Buy on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
2) Teach, Reflect, Learn by Pete Hall & Alisa Simeral: Every teacher wants to make a positive difference in a student’s life. This book posits that such an outcome must be planned, a result of intentional effort and thought. The authors offer a redesigned “Continuum of Self-Reflection” to assess current teaching, build a path towards growth, and implement stronger education practices. Buy on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
3) Rethinking Grading: Meaningful Assessment for Standards-Based Learning by Cathy Vatterott: Another book that picks up on the trend of evaluating students not only based on content, but also on their ability to think and innovate. The book builds a new paradigm for standards-based grading and offers ways to implement a method that supports students’ success. Buy on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
4) The Cage Busting Teacher by Frederick Hess: In addition to a great title, this book takes leadership concepts and applies them to the classroom. Educators can expect an invigorating read on how to better influence school and classroom practices, education policy, and school reforms. More than just theory, Hess interviewed hundreds of teachers, teacher advocates, union leaders, and others to achieve his conclusions. Buy on Amazon and Barnes & Noble
5) Failing Our Brightest Kids by Chester Finn Jr. and Brandon Wright: This provocative book operates off of two premises: 1) the United States does not produce enough high achievers, and 2) students from disadvantaged backgrounds are severely underrepresented in the United States. Finn and Wright advocate for dedicating more resources to better serve the country and its brightest students alike. Buy on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
What education books would you suggest for summer reading?
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