Since I posted my Summer Reading List last week, I’ve had a couple requests for the list of titles I plan to read for Professional Development too. So, first of all, here’s what’s in my “school bag” this summer:
This summer is my seventh semester teaching English 11 online for our school district. I admit that, when I first started, I knew nothing about how to teach a virtual course. Since then, I’ve significantly grown my numbers and “mastered” some of the more technical elements of teaching online; but, I still have a long way to go in terms of creativity, design, and just overall quality of teaching. One of my top priorities for this summer is to “up my game” in this area, and this book seems to be a good (useful and up-to-date) place to start!
This is the book I assign as part of my Summer Reading for rising eleventh grade AP students; so, I’ve read it before, but I’d like to re-read it again. At our school, eleventh grade AP English is “Language and Composition” and – for most students – prior to the class – they have very little knowledge of rhetoric and persuasive techniques. Last year, my students appreciated Heinrichs’ light-hearted tone and found the book a helpful introduction to the course. I’m hoping to use it even more next year in the first few weeks of school.
And for those of you that aren’t nerdy enough would prefer not to spend your summer reading PD books, there is a wealth of great information and inspiration via the blogosphere that you can read on your phone while you sit at swim lessons, wait for one the 135 doctor/dentist appointments teachers make for the summers, or brush your teeth… Here are a few of my favorites published recently:
“Summer Goal: Social Learning Networks for the Classroom” by Emily Guthrie of Secondary Solutions
“Low Tech, High Visual English Lessons” by Emily Guthrie of Secondary Solutions
So, do you do professional development reading in the summer? If so, have you read any of the books I mentioned? What’s on your list?
On my list is Notice and Note by Beers and Probst! Also, Teaching Reading in Middle School by Robb and Awakening the Heart by Heard.
Great reads! I am definitely going to get ahold of “Falling in Love with Close Reading.”
Awakening almost made my list too, and I love Beers! Thanks for sharing!!
Falling in Love with Close Reading in on my list, too–eventually. My friend (who also teaches English at my school) and I went to a workshop put on by the authors earlier this year, and it was definitely worthwhile. You should let us know what you think after you read it! 🙂
Notice and Note is first on my list. My friend and I always do a professional lit book club over the summer, and after the workshop and reading some sample chapters from both books, we decided on that one. I love Kylene Beers, too–she’s just so good at providing strategies for day-to-day teaching.
Create Your Dream Classroom looks interesting, especially the Christian aspect. I’ll have to add that to my list for the summer. I’m curious to see how I could apply it to my life as a public
school teacher.
I have “Thank You..”, “Falling”, and “TLAP” on my list to read this summer. Might I suggest “Book Love” by Penny Kittle or anything by Kelly Gallagher…