Promoting a culture of reading is an important part of our community of practice. It's also an important part of our schools. Sharing and talking about books is one way start a buzz about reading. A book talk is a short presentation with the goal of convincing other people to read it. Here are the books we are buzzing about this year.
As readers, we know how empowering and encouraging a good book can be. As professionals, we know how important continuous learning is. Teaching can be an isolated experience, but it doesn't have to be. When we read and learn from professional teaching books, we invite these teachers into our practice. We become co-teachers with a network of professionals who enter the classroom with us every day. As Pamela Coke says, "“When you go into the classroom, who are the co-teachers you take with you? In other words, who informs your teaching? Ten years ago, I responded with the names of the teachers and researchers whose work I was studying...I would feel much less supported—and much more isolated—without the co-teachers I have met through multiple professional venues." Here are some of the tried and true books that have supported our professional growth.