Interesting Reads

Here is a list of some of the books that I’ve found particularly helpful, informative, or inspirational.  If you do a www.amazon.com search on some of them, you can learn more.  Some are teaching-related.  Some are related to human development and psychology.  Some are geared towards Christians.

Introduction

Select Books

 

Books potentially interesting or useful particularly for teachers:

Dinah Zike’s books on foldables, available at www.dinah.com

 

Teaching Outside the Box: How to Grab Your Students by Their Brains by LouAnne Johnson

Not in My Classroom by Frederick C. Wootan and Catherine H. Mulligan, M.A.

Activating and Engaging Habits of Mind edited by Arthur L. Costa and Bena Kallick

Understanding by Design by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe

 

What Great Teachers Do Differently: Fourteen Things That Matter Most by Todd Whitaker

Letters to a Young Teacher by Jonathan Kozol

If You Don’t Feed the Teachers They Eat the Students! By Neila A. Connors

Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson, Ph.D.

Do It Anyway: The Handbook for Finding Personal Meaning and Deep Happiness in a Crazy World by Kent M. Keith

Failing Forward by John C. Maxwell (great inspirational stories to share with your students, such as interesting, inspirational information about President Lincoln and how much failure he experienced before persevering to greater success)

 

Books on relating well and relating safely:

Boundaries: When To Say Yes, When To Say No To Take Control of Your Life by Henry Cloud and John Townsend

Creating Emotionally Safe Schools: A Guide for Educators and Parents by Jane Bluestein, Ph.D.

Safe People: How to Find Relationships that Are Good for You and Avoid Those that Aren’t by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend

Wish list titles: Todd Whitaker’s books on school, educators, and parents

 

Books related to classroom discipline:

Setting Limits in the Classroom by Robert J. MacKenzie, Ed.D.

Discipline with Love and Logic Resource Guide by Jim Fay and Foster W. Cline, M.D.

Reluctant Disciplinarian by Gary Rubinstein

Discipline in the Secondary Classroom by Randall S. Sprick, Ph.D.

Working with Parents: Building Relationships for Student Success by Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D.

Secrets for Secondary School Teachers: How to Succeed in Your First Year by Ellen Kottler, Jeffrey A. Kottler, and Cary J. Kottler

Discipline without Stress, Punishment, or Rewards by Dr. Marvin Marshall

 

Math resources:

8-Step Model Drawing: Singapore’s Best Problem-Solving Math Strategies by Bob Hogan and Char Forsten

Elementary Mathematics for Teachers by Thomas H. Parker and Scott J. Baldridge

Math Essentials: Middle School Level by Frances McBroom Thompson, Ph.D.

Dinah Zike’s Big Book of Math Elementary K-6 by Dinah Zike, M.Ed.

Dinah Zike’s Big Book of Math for Middle School and High School by Dinah Zike, M.Ed.

The Roads to Reasoning series by Suzanne Levin Weinberg, Stephen Krulik, and Jesse A. Rudnick published by Creative Publications

Mental Models for Math Grades 6-12

Hands-On Math Projects with Real Life Applications by Judith A. Muschla and Gary Robert Muschla

Venn Perplexors by Evelyn B. Christensen

 

Christian reading:

The Papa Prayer by Larry Crabb

Father, I Long for a Heart that Dances by Catherine Martin (good, personal, interactive study geared towards strengthening one’s relationship with God)

God’s Love Bank by Dr. Tony E. Roach, Sr. (for its practical material on the difference between the body, soul, and spirit.  I’m not into new-age type of material, and this content is definitely not of that genre.  I did find the book as a whole somewhat tough to get through.  But the practical material on the difference between the body, soul, and spirit is the source that changed my thinking such that now when I look at people [like students and parents], I first wait to see what their spirit will tell me about who they are instead of jumping to conclusions based on what the physical characteristics of their body [like skin color] can tell me.  I’m sure there are other titles that address this same material.)

The Five Love Languages and The Love Languages of God by Gary Chapman (the first discusses the concept that people show, experience, feel, and receive love in different ways and that ineffective attempts to show love can be avoided if you show love to someone in the way(s) that he or she feels love)

The Secret Things of God by Dr. Henry Cloud (addresses the same subject matter in the bestseller The Secret in a very practical, biblical light)

I Promise by Dr. Gary Smalley (good book about marriage and viewing your mate in the proper light)

Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas