Readicide: How Schools Are Killing Reading and What You Can Do About It  by Kelly Gallagher  

ISBN #: 1571107800

Online Book Study: Read this book at your own pace and engage in reflections and discussion questions. 

Reading is dying in our schools. Educators are familiar with many of the factors that have contributed to the decline—poverty, second-language issues, and the ever-expanding choices of electronic entertainment. In this provocative book Readicide: How Schools are Killing Reading and What You Can Do About It, author and teacher Kelly Gallagher suggests it is time to recognize a new and significant contributor to the death of reading: our schools.

In Readicide, Gallagher argues that American schools are actively (though unwittingly) furthering the decline of reading. Specifically, he contends that the standard instructional practices used in most schools are killing reading by:

-Valuing standardized testing over the development of lifelong readers

-Mandating breadth over depth in instruction 

-Requiring students to read difficult texts without proper instructional support and insisting students focus on academic texts

-Ignoring the importance of developing recreational reading

-Losing sight of authentic instruction in the looming shadow of political pressures

Readicide provides teachers, literacy coaches, and administrators with specific steps to reverse the downward spiral in reading—steps that will help prevent the loss of another generation of readers. 

ISBN #978-1-7353337-0-0 

After just finishing the school year, what better time, than summer, to focus on YOU? Whether you are a brand new teacher just finishing your first year or a veteran teacher realizing you need to take better care of yourself, The Teachers' Guide to Self-Care will help you understand what it means to practice self-care and why it is so important. Assess your current self-care, create an improved plan, set boundaries, reflect and set goals, and help rejuvinate yourself to begin a new school year in August with better understanding of how to best take care of YOU! 

ISBN: 978-0593243916 

Are you ready to unlock the secrets of effective communication and transform your interactions both personally and professionally? Join us for an engaging and insightful book study on “Supercommunicators” by Charles Duhigg. This illuminating journey will delve deep into the strategies and science behind building powerful connections that leave a lasting impact.

Course Objectives:

        1.        Mastering Communication Techniques: Explore the proven strategies outlined in “Supercommunicators” to enhance your communication skills, whether it’s in presentations, negotiations, or everyday conversations.

        2.        Understanding the Science of Connection: Delve into the psychology and neuroscience behind effective communication to gain a deeper understanding of how to connect with others on a meaningful level.

        3.        Practical Application: Translate theoretical knowledge into practical skills through interactive discussions, exercises, and real-life case studies.

        4.        Building Confidence: Develop the confidence to articulate ideas persuasively, influence others positively, and navigate challenging communication scenarios with ease.

Opportunities for Engagement:

        1.        Interactive Discussions: Engage in thought-provoking discussions to deepen your understanding of key concepts and share practical insights.

        2.        Case Studies: Analyze real-world examples of effective communication strategies         3.        Role-Playing Exercises: Step into different scenarios to practice applying newfound communication techniques in a supportive and constructive environment.

        4.        Online Resources: Access supplementary materials, including articles, videos, and interactive quizzes, to reinforce learning and continue your growth beyond the book study sessions.

Don’t miss this opportunity to embark on a transformative journey toward becoming a supercommunicator. Join us as we unlock the secrets to fostering authentic connections and making a lasting impression in every interaction.

ISBN 978-1736797808 

"We have all looked into the eyes of a child who struggled with communication and/or academic development. You probably vividly remember feeling disappointed and helpless as you tried various interventions and made recommendations, only to be disappointed with minimal improvement."

Tera Sumpter, M.A., CCC-SLP, offers a groundbreaking and holistic approach to the assessment and treatment of childhood learning disabilities. This revolutionary method assembles the puzzle pieces of learning, connecting the dots from the fields of psychology, neuroscience, and speech language therapy to provide a comprehensive process for understanding and assisting children who struggle with learning. 

ISBN - 13: 978-1-338-31059-7 

In this book literacy advocates Donalyn Miller and Colby Sharp explain how access to a wide variety of texts, choice in what to read, and time to read are “game changers” for students. Practical information, personal testimonies, and resourceful tools are provided to give educators tips on how to engage all readers in literacy development and engagement. Participants will read the book at their own pace and answer reflection questions. 

ISBN - 13: 978-1-338-31059-7 

Teachers will read and discuss "The Book Whisperer; Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child" written by Donalyn Miller.  In this book, Miller, a 6th grade teacher, reveals the secrets of her unconventional instructional approach to reading.  She promotes individual reading choice with a program for independent reading, which empowers her students to become lifelong readers. Throughout our book study,

participants will complete reflective prompts, discussion/opinion posts, and give ideas for implementation and engagement. 

Text to speech (TTS) is a powerful universal tool that can be used to meet a variety of learners needs. In this course you will learn what text to speech is, why you should use it & who you can use it with. You will also learn about different TTS tools, how to consider & select a specific tool and get ideas for implementing TTS tools in the classroom. This self paced course will include watching and reading a collection of videos and articles. You will also have the opportunity to reflect and apply what you have learned to your teaching. 

In this course you will learn about the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) guidelines and how you can use them in your classroom to support a variety of learners needs by providing multiple means of engagement, representation and action & expression . This self paced course will include watching a collection of videos created by Allison Posey, a Learning & Design Specialist for CAST. It will also include activities that allow you to reflect and apply what you have learned to your teaching. 

ISBN: 1416600191 

Does your lead measure involve summarization, active reading strategies, background knowledge or vocabulary? Do you want to focus on vocabulary? This PLS could be for you! This book starts with some great background information for teachers! We will then read about a few strategies together and then the latter portion of this book study will be choose your own adventure. The discussion board posts will help us brainstorm ways to incorporate the strategies into our classrooms. With the final activity being building 3 activities for your class in the fall. 

ISBN#:978-1-4166-2062-4 

Restorative Practices for Positive Classroom Management:

Establish procedures and expectations for student behavior that encourage the development of positive interpersonal skills.

Develop a non-confrontational rapport with even the most challenging students.

Implement conflict-resolution strategies that prioritize relationship building and mutual understanding over finger-pointing and retribution.