These are the books that we shared at our February Facilitator CFG when I asked everyone to bring a book that had changed their practice.

The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell
“This book describes the 5 love languages that people “speak”: physical touch, acts of service, words of affirmation, quality time, and gifts. It helped me realize that I don’t have to teach every child the same in order to treat them equally.”

Acts of Teaching by Carroll and Wilson
“Used as a bible for writing process (once I learned how to use the book)."

Building Shared Responsibility for Student Learning by Anne Conzemius and Jan O’Neill
“I like this book because it has actual strategies. I use the SMART goal worksheet all the time.”
“The 3-sided model of focus, reflection, and collaboration has become my own design process for working with groups. And the questions represented by the three sides have helped me help groups clarify their real issues. Do they really share a common focus? Are they habitually reflecting on data? Are they collaborating or merely cooperating?”

Sent to the Principal by Kathleen Cushman
“I sent a copy to my principal because it got me to listen to what the students think about school and how to make it a better experience. Perspective.”

Other People’s Children by Lisa Delpit
“A cultural approach to learning/living and adopting to new cultures—with the added reflection on one’s own practice.”

Reshaping School Culture by Rick Dufour
“Though it was speaking of reform, the behaviors, attitudes and conditions are what my foundational practice was built [on]. I’ve been to the mountain top.”

Leadership by Rudolph Giuliani
“Facilitative, reflective leadership. Master at creating opportunity and dialogue that was transforming.”

The Freedom Writers Diary by the Freedom Writers and Erin Gruwell
“The book make me realize that I prefer my circle of interaction and influence to be in the classroom—building relationships.”

Tools for Teaching by Fred Jones
“It made classroom management transparent instead of the advice, “You’ve got to mean business.” What does that mean? It made my work helping teachers much easier. If I’d had this book when I first started teaching, many painful days would have been averted. It’s a fun, easy read and life-changing.”

The Content Core—A Guide for Curriculum Designers An NSTA project
“Learning within a spiraling curriculum.”

You Cant Say You Can’t Play by Vivian Paley
“Through children’s stories, this educator grapples with the moral/ethical issues of inclusion/exclusion. I realized that when working with humans (young or old), how we ‘feel’ about the group is an incredible motivator to learning.”

A Framework for Understanding Poverty by Ruby Payne
“The brain research fascinates me! It made me more aware of the circumstances of my students—gave me a bigger sense of their worldviews.”

Language and Thought by Lev Vygotsky
“Russian peer of Dewey that taught me learning theory.”