I hope you are taking the time to recharge and take time for yourself. Rest and recovery come in many forms. I like to travel, spend time with my family and I like to read and explore new ideas when I have downtime. If you are thinking about this year and reflecting upon what you have learned and looking for some new ideas to evolve in your practice, I wanted to share some new books that I would highly recommend (while you are waiting for Evolving Education to come out, of course! 🙂). If you aren’t digging into education books just yet, hopefully, you can save this for when you are ready.

1. UDL & Blended Learning by Katie Novak and Catlin Tucker 

We know every learner has different strengths, talents, and challenges and instead of teaching to the average (or no one at all), it’s time to design learning experiences to meet learners where they are. In this must-read book, Katie Novak and Catlin Tucker team up to synthesize the UDL and Blended Learning frameworks to provide educators with a roadmap to navigate the future of education. Throughout this book, you will learn strategies that will help you remove barriers to powerful learning, create more personalized learning experiences, and teach students how to become expert learners. This is a book every teacher needs to read, discuss, and think about how to put into action. The time is now! 

Read more here.

2. Project Based Learning by Ross Cooper and Erin Murphy

This book is a must-read for educators who aspire to create more personalized and inquiry-based experiences for all students. Too often the message is that you have to start from scratch. Instead, Cooper and Murphy share insights and practical strategies to address the most pressing questions about Project Based Learning and will empower you to build from what you are already doing to create amazing learning opportunities for your students.  

Read more here. 

3. Raising Digital Leaders By Jennifer Casa-Todd

This book is a must read for every parent!  As a mom, educator, and researcher, Jennifer Casa Todd addresses common fears about young adolescents and technology and helped me put my hopes and fears in perspective. This book is full of strategies to engage in productive conversations about technology and social media and will help you understand how you can raise confident and empowered digital leaders. 

Read more here.

4. Unpack Your Impact By Naomi O’Brien and Lanesha Tabb

I loved this book and tore through it… Naomi O’Brien and Lanesha Tabb not only thoughtfully lay out why lessons are problematic and fail to create inclusive learning environments but they provide ideas, strategies, and resources for what you can do instead. This book is geared toward elementary school teachers who are looking to expand their view of social studies and create more inclusive learning communities. 

Read more here.

5. Disruptive Thinking in Our Classrooms by Eric Sheninger

Eric Sheninger has spent a great deal of time coaching educators to create more personalized learning environments and meet learners where they are. In his latest book, he highlights innovative instructional practices and shares concrete examples from teachers about how we can better leverage technology to create more personalized and relevant learning experiences. 

Read more here.

 

6. Evolving Learner by Kristie Andre, Lainie Rowell, & Lauren Steinmann

The premise of Learner-Centered Innovation is that if we want to change how students learn, we must change how educators learn. Throughout the Evolving Learner, you will be inspired to create meaningful professional learning that meets the needs of your community. This book is packed with compelling examples and strategies to create professional learning experiences for educators to learn from students, colleagues, and the world. This is exactly the book we need to ensure that educators are learning, unlearning, and creating experiences for our evolving world and education system.

Read more here.

There are so many books on my to-read list in education and so many other genres. What other books are you reading this summer that I should add to my list?