Education experts share the best books they’ve read about teaching:
7 Must-Read Books on Education
Education is something we’re deeply passionate about, but the fact remains that today’s dominant formal education model is a broken system based on antiquated paradigms. While much has been said and written about education reform over the past couple of years, the issue and the public discourse around it are hardly new phenomena. Today, we round up the most compelling and visionary reading on reinventing education from the past century.
ISAAC ASIMOV: THE ROVING MIND
SIR KEN ROBINSON: THE ELEMENT
A NEW CULTURE OF LEARNING
CLARK KERR: THE USES OF THE UNIVERSITY
ANYA KAMENETZ: DIYU
KARL WEBER: WAITING FOR SUPERMAN
HOWARD GARDNER: FIVE MINDS FOR THE FUTURE
Once we have computer outlets in every home, each of them hooked up to enormous libraries where anyone can ask any question and be given answers, be given reference materials, be something you’re interested in knowing, from an early age, however silly it might seem to someone else… that’s what YOU are interested in, and you can ask, and you can find out, and you can do it in your own home, at your own speed, in your own direction, in your own time… Then, everyone would enjoy learning. Nowadays, what people call learning is forced on you, and everyone is forced to learn the same thing on the same day at the same speed in class, and everyone is different.” ~ Isaac Asimov
The synthesizing mind takes information from disparate sources, understands and evaluates that information objectively, and puts it together in ways that make sense to the synthesizer and also to other persons. Valuable in the past, the capacity to synthesize becomes ever more crucial as information continues to mount at dizzying rates.” ~ Howard Gardner
- If you could have only one book on your professional bookshelf, which would you choose?
- Does one book inspire you more than any other.
- Do you reread a book on a regular basis?
- Have you learned more from a certain book than from any other?
PRINCPAL PICKS
- Beginning the Principalship: A Practical Guide for New School Leaders
Author: John C. Daresh
Publisher: Corwin Press (January 2001, second edition)
Principal Comment: "I bought this book upon my first appointment as principal, and I reread parts of it now and then. It's amazing how many of the suggestions have been borne out by subsequent events. I would recommend it to any new or aspiring administrator."
Chris Rose
Plymouth School
Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia (Canada) - The First Days of School: How to Be an Effective Teacher
Authors: Rosemary and Harry Wong
Publisher: Harry K. Wong Publishing (1998)
Principal Comment: "We have purchased The First Days of School for our professional library and have made it recommended reading for all new teachers. We are considering purchasing it for all first- year teachers in future years. It has countless valuable messages, particularly in the area of classroom management."
John J. Grady, principal
Fairgrounds Junior High School
Nashua, New Hampshire - First Things First Every Day: Because Where You're Headed Is More Important Than How Fast You're Going
Authors: Stephen R. Covey, A. Roger Merrill, Rebecca R. Merrill
Publisher: Fireside (June 1997)
Principal Comment: "A few years ago, my assistant principal and I chose to read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (another book by Covey) as a resource for our professional growth An understanding of the seven habits motivated us to want to learn more about how we could use them to improve our effectiveness. That led us to read and reflect on Covey's Principle-Centered Leadership. After that experience, we decided we wanted to find a system to help manage our time more effectively so we could develop into good principle-centered leaders We read First Things First one chapter at a time, reflected on it, discussed it, and implemented it ... Our school is focused on guiding principles that foster trust, cooperation, and teamwork among the entire school population. First Things First helped us focus on the important things and forget the things that are not urgent or important Taking time to do important reflection and planning has made us better leaders and made our school a better place to be.
Dr. Jim Jordan, principal
Buford High School
Lancaster, South Carolina - If You Don't Feed the Teachers They Eat the Students: A Guide to Success for Administrators and Teachers
Author: Neila A. Connors
Publisher: Incentive Publications (March 2000)
Principal Comment: "This is a great book for administrators -- it's fun to read and full of great ideas. The book's chapters follow a dining theme, with chapter titles such as "Creating the Ambiance -- Preparing to Dine," which addresses school atmosphere, and "The M.E.A.L.S. (Meaningful Experiences Affecting Long-Term Success) of a Great School," which touches on faculty meetings. The book closes with two chapters that offer hundreds of suggestions to help a caring principal 'feed' the faculty spirit. You will enjoy every chapter!"
Betty Peltier, principal
Southdown Elementary School
Houma, Louisiana
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