Please suggest others for me to pick up!
FINISHED:
"How all teachers can ( and must) be reading teachers." From Teach Like a Champion by Doug Lemov.Comments: Very interesting and easy to take somethings right away from the article. It made me think about how much time my kids actually spend reading...and how much time the pretend to be reading. The concept of "hurdle rate" ( the rate of return you need see on an investment that exceeds your current best return to make the investment worth it.) was applied to lesson delivery. So let's say if I can execute a high-quality lesson reliably in a certain way and my kids respond well, every other method is compared to that. Of course the hurdle rate referenced is "meaningful reading" which is further explained. Whether or not meaningful reading is my hurdle rate in the classroom, I really did take away some great vocab and reading strategies from this excerpt. Regardless, meaningful reading is the hurdle rate used most often in college. Professors expect you to do a reading, learn the material, and then apply in class. Since all of my students are going to college meaningful reading is something we need to be reinforcing NOW.
" The American Indian Public Charter School." from Sweating the Small Stuff by David WhitmanComments: The rise of a public charter in California with a paternal school culture and a school leader with "alternative" discipline methods ( such challenging students with ethnic stereotypes). I went toe-to-toe with this reading. I had some serious reactions and every had a debate with it while I was going on. Now, the methods discussed in this article were pretty outrageous, and yes, the school had AMAZING results and yes, the kids see the school as a "family". However, I believe strongly that I am a ROLE MODEL for my students. I'm not there to "toughen" them up to being called ethnic stereotypes. I'm there to be an example on HOW you treat others in every context. I would never do or say something to my kids that is offensive like that. The world is tough enough on my kids, they don't need a role model validating that kind of language or behavior. I know the book wasn't validating that, just describing how it is there, but I got really passionate.
"How David Beats Goliath." by Malcolm Gladwell
Comments: I discussed this one to death for TFA last year. I'm done.
CURRENTLY READING:
"Good kids without goodies." from Punished By Rewards by Alfie KohnComments: I want to read the rest of this book already. The behaviorist parts of psychology always interested me in college.
Already Dead by Charlie HustonComments: Don't judge me. I picked this up in a New York bookshop in 2007. It's a Vampire pulp-noir novel. It's been good so far. I'm no good at commenting on fiction like I know what I'm talking about. It's enjoyable
Bud Not Buddy by Christopher Paul CurtisComments: We were asked to read one book a kid recommended over the summer. If you didn't read this in school...READ IT NOW! This book provides a kid's eye view of the Great Depression as Bud ( not Buddy) on the search for his father. The voice is so strong and the details from the Great Depression are fantastic. I'm glued to to for quiet awhile when I pick it up.
ON THE LIST:
Derby Girl by Shau
na CrossComments: Because Derby is hoss.
Powers vol. 3: Little Deaths by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon
OemingComments: A noir superhero comic...what more could I ask for?
Chew vol. 2: International Flavor by John Layman and Rob GulloryComments: A cibopathic cop ( gets psychic visions from whatever he eats) in a world where chicken is contraband and the FDA is a super-powerful authority. I've been waiting MONTHS for the trade.
DMZ: Hearts and Minds by Brian Wood and John Paul LeonComments: The second American civil war turn NYC into the DMZ and reporter Matty Roth is on the ground and always in some sort of trouble. The characters are very real for me and I'm super attached to this series.
If you're reading something now that rocks your world, let me know!
-HK
