Comments

1. Strange New Teacher says:

   July 12, 2008 at 6:51 pm

   A Framework for Understanding Poverty by Ruby Payne is excellent. I actually posted about it on my blog. It will help you better understand and work with students who come from poverty.

   Letters to a Young Teacher by Jonothan Kozol is also a good read. I’ve heard his other book, Amazing Grace, is worth reading.

   I am currently reading Teach Like Your Hair’s on Fire by Rafe Esquith. I recommend it.

   The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis is one of the best spiritual books (along with Mere Christianity) I’ve ever read. Also, anything by Elisabeth Elliot is awesome.

   Hmmm… I guess I don’t read many personal growth books, but if you want a literay classic or Young Adult Literature recommendation, I’m your girl :)

   P.S. How much did Mister Teacher pay you for the props?!
   
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2. Joel says:

   July 12, 2008 at 7:09 pm

   @Strange New Teacher – He sent me an autographed copy of it last year for my birthday. I read it during detention throughout the first semester and was cracking up while the kids sat quietly. He didn’t pay me anything but I think he benefits from the fact that I don’t read teaching books. Haha.

   We did a study on Understand Poverty this spring actually and I wasn’t totally blown away by it. Some of the stuff was good, but some of it almost felt condescending, either to me or to my students (we have nearly 75% low SES).
   
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3. Doug Cochran says:

   July 12, 2008 at 9:38 pm

   Setting Limits in the Classroom by Robert McKenzie
   Classroom Management for academic success by Lee Canter

   Both really great, full of classroom management systems and ideas. They outline what works in certain situations, and lay out examples of traps new teachers fall into.
   
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4. Linda Sturr says:

   July 12, 2008 at 11:07 pm

   Okay. I have read 4 of those. I have been taking classes for so many years that I don’t really enjoy reading technical books anymore. I have read the Bible (I just got home from church). Harry Wong is my hero. And “Teaching with Love and Logic” is our school theme. We all read it. I also agree with you on Proverbs. I really believe we should go back to the old habit of using the Bible to teach with.
   
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5. Alli Coggin says:

   July 13, 2008 at 10:22 am

   Wow, as a soon to be teacher I can take all the advice on great resources as can be given! I’ve seen one of Harry Wong’s lecture videos but have never purchased one of his books before. I will most definitely keep these books in mind on my next trip to the bookstore. I must include one more resource for soon to be teachers, like myself, approaching their first classroom: The First-Year Teacher’s Survival Guide by Julia G. Thompson… I cannot say enough about it…A MUST HAVE!
   
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6. Miss K says:

   July 13, 2008 at 11:07 am

   I will have to revisit Teach Like your Hair’s on Fire and the Wong book. Our TSS’s gave both to us mid-year, and as a first year Lit teacher I couldn’t get into them on top of all my other necessary reading. Not to mention the Wong book is so busy! I like things a little more minimalistic. You can never go wrong with the Good Book, and in the spring we (hubby & I) facilitated Ramsey’s TMM in our church small group.

   I’ll have to check out some of those other picks. By the way, I’ve been enjoying your blog and am unusually late getting into it, but you inspired me (wasn’t feelin’ it in ‘05). Thanks Joel!
   
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7. Joel says:

   July 15, 2008 at 6:52 pm

   Ooh, tons of great suggestions coming in!

   @Becoming a Millionaire – I understand that there are people out there who aren’t open-minded. I also understand that my beliefs tell me that the moral and spiritual teachings of the Bible will benefit every single person. Since it’s my blog, I get to recommend it! :)

   Thanks for being a reader and for commenting!
   
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8. Nancy Flanagan says:

   July 20, 2008 at 11:26 am

   My favorite book on music education is a small, slim volume published about 20 years ago: “Teaching Music: The Human Experience” by Shirley Mullins. A wonderful little book about why we teach music, not how to tune the french horns, or get straight Is at contest. It’s lovely. Lots of educators love Covey because he suggests that you can organize yourself into happiness and purpose. Education, however, is pretty random. Lots of times the most important things that happen in schools are almost accidental, or begin with a small conversation over lunch. I like Margaret Wheatley and Peter Senge on organizational dynamics–they give me hope that schools will someday re-think their purposes. And music will no longer been seen as peripheral and something the kids do to have fun (or, worse, win trophies).

   I also like all of Postman and Weingartner’s books on education and technology.

   Best spiritual book? “Care of the Soul” by Thomas Moore.

   Good topic.
   
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9. Mister Teacher says:

   July 20, 2008 at 4:36 pm

   No greasing the palm here! Thanks for the free and unsolicited plug, Joel! (wink, wink) :)
   
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10. Jeremy says:

    July 21, 2008 at 9:27 am

    Great list of books to read! Thanks for sharing.
    
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11. Rita says:

    July 21, 2008 at 7:40 pm

    Here’s one of my favorite “teaching” books, and it also deals with faith: THE WATER IS WIDE by Pat Conroy.

    Rita
    
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12. Cindy says:

    July 22, 2008 at 8:08 am

    I’ve read a few of those books, they were all good books. I’ll try to read the others, thanks for the suggestions!
    
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