My 2nd-year CFG is meeting tonight to watch and discuss Waiting for Superman. Before or after the show, I hope to pass out the books that we will be using in our Lit Circles for the next couple of months. Here are the titles and the reason I chose them.

The Motivated Student: Unlocking the Enthusiasm for Learning by Robert Sullo
I haven't read this book, yet, but several of the dilemmas that people brought to the table last year were related to how to motivate students.

How to Differentiate Instruction in Mixed Ability Classrooms by Carol Ann Tomlinson
Again, I chose this title because of the work that people brought for feedback last year. There were lots of questions about how to meet the needs of gifted students and special ed students in our classrooms.

Everyday Antiracism: Getting Real About Race in School ed. Mica Pollock
I have read much of this book, and I love the way it is set up with a short chapter (just 3 or 4 pages), followed by reflection questions and ideas for how to make changes in your classroom tomorrow.

Teach Like a Champion by Doug Lemov
This author was featured in the New York Times book magazine last spring. He wanted to know what "Champion Teachers"--those who get great results no matter how poor or behind their students are--do. This book is based on actual classroom observations, and it has very specific advice. Some might say that it's just "tips and tricks," but I think that the specific behaviors that teachers can implement could be lifesavers.

Teacher-Centered Professional Development by Gabriel Diaz-Maggioli
This book gives a "big picture" overview of different types of professional development that you might want to explore throughout your career. Are you getting what you need to be the best you can be?

"You Won't Remember Me": The Schoolboys of Barbiana Speak to Today by Marvin Hoffman
This short book is part social critique and part inspiration. Most of the text is a reprint of the book "You Won't Remember Me" which was written by Italian "dropout" schoolboys about 40 years ago. The rest of the book is commentary by Dr. Marvin Hoffman, a wonderful teacher and professor whom both Terri and I worked with when he lived in Houston. When I finished the book, I felt both proud and humbled to be a teacher.