BOOKS ALL TEACHERS SHOULD READ

Last week, Jon posted a list of five book all teachers should read. His list looks pretty good, although I haven’t read them all, but I wanted to add my own list.

1.The Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher’s Life, by Parker Palmer. I first learned of Palmer in college after my alma mater, Mercer University, received a Lily Grant to explore the topic of vocation. A major emphasis was Palmer’s book, Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation. That book certainly played a role in my journey into the classroom. More recently, I discovered his book on teaching and teachers. All teachers should read it because of Palmer’s perspective of teaching as a vocation, as well as his emphasis on the identity and character of teachers. Teaching absolutely requires solid techniques, but it also about so much more – and Palmer reminds us not to forget the more personal side of teaching.

1. A Framework for Understanding Poverty, by Ruby Payne. Memphis City Schools used stimulus funds during the summer of 2011 to train special educators on the work of Ruby Payne. And, although I often malign professional development for its poor quality, I must say that this was some of the most beneficial training I’ve attended. Payne helps teachers understand that poverty is about more than just finances – and, more importantly, what teachers can do in the classroom to help overcome the effects of poverty. This is a must-read for any teacher in Memphis, where the poverty rate is extremely high.
2. Why Don’t Students Like School? A Cognitive Scientist Answers Questions About How the Mind Works and What It Means for the Classroom, by Daniel Willingham. There’s so much in this book that it’s hard to know where to begin, but what always sticks out to me is what Willingham says about reading. Content is key, argues Willingham, because it’s hard to use context clues when you don’t know that context. For example, because I like baseball, I can read and comprehend a very dense book on the subject, even if I don’t know all the words; however, I’d have a difficult time making heads or tails of a simple book on thermodynamics because I lack expertise in the subject. This is important for the classroom because so much of what we expect our scholars to read relies of background information, which they may or may not have, and not just literacy skills. Social Studies and Science, de-emphasized in our schools because of accountability measures implemented by NCLB, are far more important than our schools currently make them. Teachers should read this book, then use it to argue for a greater role for content areas. Literacy takes skills, for sure, but knowledge is necessary for reading.
3. How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character, by Paul Tough. Intelligence is not always the best predictor of success. And yet there is so little focus in education debates on character and “soft skills” like perseverance, curiosity, conscientiousness, optimism, and self-control. Tough provides research, together with anecdotal narratives, to show that these are better indicators for future success. So why aren’t our schools more focused on developing these skills and traits? Read this book now and learn how “non-academic” skills can help your students be more successful in school and in life.
4. The Together Teacher: Plan Ahead, Get Organized, and Save Time!, by Maia Heyck-Merlin. Time management is an essential skill for teacher, and yet most never receive official training to develop it. Maia (I’ve been through her training twice, and we’re on a first-name basis) has created a tremendous system for teachers – don’t worry, though, her system is flexible enough to allow for variations in personal styles. Not fortunate enough to attend one of Maia’s workshops? It’s all in the book. You’ll be carrying your own personal “flexy” in no time and get control of your time.

This list has also been posted on the “educational reading” tab.

James Aycock is currently the Director of Scholar Support at Grizzlies Prep, an all-boys public charter middle school located in downtown Memphis. He previously served as the founding Special Education Coordinator with Tennessee’s Achievement School District, after several years as a special educator and baseball coach for Memphis City Schools.