The Courage to Teach by Parker Palmer

Published: 1998
Read: 2016 (ongoing)
Summary: Palmers book provides numerous
insights for educators into how they can teach more
fully out of who they are. He encourages teachers to
maintain their identity and integrity by caring for their
whole beings. The book also includes discussions
on how to develop as educators within a community
of teachers-as-learners.
Take-Away: This book reinforced the value of
teaching from the core of a persons being (i.e.,
passions, gifts, convictions, etc.). Teachers will not
be able to fully teach content until they are content
with teaching out of who they fully are.

Building Community in Schools by Thomas J. Sergiovanni

Published: 1994
Read: 2015 (ongoing)
Summary: In this book, Sergiovanni touches on
a deep human need: community. Specifically,
he addresses what it looks like to work and
teach within a school community that shares
values and ideas about education and the
nature of teachers and students. This book
promotes community and collaboration within
the school environment.
Take-Away: Building Community in Schools
reminded me of the importance of working
within a professional learning community with
the ultimate goal of bringing a diverse array of
teachers and learners together into one, united
learning environment.

Teaching Discipline and Self-Respect: Effective

Strategies, Anecdotes, and Lessons for Successful
Classroom Management by SiriNam S. Khalsa
Published: 2007
Read: 2012
Summary: Khalsas book specifically addresses
what it looks like to effectively manage a culturally,
linguistically, economically, and academically
diverse classroom. The primary goal of the book is
to demonstrate how positive approaches to
discipline can foster self-respect and healthy
behaviour in individual students.
Take-Away: This book helped me to understand
what positive discipline looks like. It also
reinforced the importance of maintaining a positive
approach to classroom management as a teacher.

Transformative Classroom Management: Positive Strategies to Engage All Students and

Promote a Psychology of Success by John Shindler
Published: 2010
Read: 2012
Summary: This book provides a framework
of classroom management in which the
teachers ultimate goal is to become a
student centred and effective/functional
educator. Schindler refers to this type of
teacher (presented on a continuum of other
teacher-types) as a facilitator. The book
also highlights, in very clear and specific
language, how a teacher can fit into the role
of classroom facilitator by listing numerous
classroom management strategies which
support this role.
Take-Away: Shindlers book highlights the
importance of establishing a learning
environment in which students experience
high levels of acceptance and success. To
me, this reinforced the importance of
viewing each student as being capable and
care-able in their development.

Notebook Know-How: Strategies for the Writers

Notebook by Aimee Buckner Published: 2005
Read: 2012
Summary: Aimee Buckners book is specifically
addressed to English Language Arts educators, and
provides them with numerous strategies on how to
effective implement a system of notebook writing in
their classrooms. With the aim of cultivating proficient
writing skills in students, this book demonstrates how
to foster in students an interest and desire to develop
their writing abilities.
Take-Away: This book taught me how to use a
writers notebook as a teaching tool, and not merely
as an activity tool for students to use at the end of
specific lessons. Buckners strategies also provide
readers with numerous ways to engage and motivate
learners to want to take part in the writing process.