Winter 2015 Recommended Reads For Progressive Educators
Editor’s Note: When it comes to wintertime activities, there’s just something special about lounging on a big, overstuffed sofa in front of a warm fireplace, reading a good book. Such an image reminds us that it’s been some time since we last used this space to find out what our Eagle Rock staff members consider a fine read.
Below you’ll find several examples of what our educators believe are real page-turners. We’ve included an image of the highlighted books, as well as a convenient link so you can purchase the selection on Amazon or download it to your laptop, Kindle or tablet.
Advancing Formative Assessment in Every Classroom: A Guide for Instructional Leaders — By: Connie M. Moss and Susan M. Brookhart
Recommended by Jen Frickey, Eagle Rock’s director of curriculum
Jen Says: This book is currently serving as a core piece of our Instructional Specialist Professional Development trainings. The key theme of this book, and our Professional Development, is Formative Assessment. I enjoy this book because it sets a strong foundation to build authentic Formative Assessments for the classroom. Brookhart provides powerful insights for creating and scaffolding learning targets by asking three guiding questions: Where am I going? Where am I now? What strategy or strategies can help me get to where I need to go? By asking these questions, educators are able to recognize where the students are and work side-by-side with them.
The Leadership Dojo: Building Your Foundations as an Exemplary Leader — By: Richard Strozzi-Heckler
Recommended by Jesse Beightol, Eagle Rock’s outdoor education instructional specialist
Jesse Says: I thought it was an engaging read that spoke to a deeper and more personal aspect of leadership development. As the description states, “The book presents key principles such as shugyo, or self-cultivation, as crucial in developing the individual responsibility, social commitment, and moral and spiritual vision required to lead with authority and efficacy.” The lessons in this book help me to center some of my own personal growth, to be a better leader in my daily work, and to find more creative ways to develop the leadership curriculum at the Eagle Rock School.
Making Thinking Visible — By: Ron Ritchhart, Mark Church and Karin Morrison
Recommended by Sara Benge, Eagle Rock’s Public Allies science teaching fellow
Sara Says: This book explores how Continue reading…