Thursday, November 8, 2012

Recent Ed Reading

With the renewed enthusiasm and clarity about math education that has come with my new position, I have returned to reading about education!  Here are the things I've been reading, some of which I'm still in the midst of...

The Power of Teacher Teams, Vivian Troen and Katherine C. Boles
I found out about this book because New Visions gave a copy to all our principals.  I am finding it a useful and compelling read about the shift schools and teachers are making, and often need to make, in order to improve education.  So far my favorite parts have been learning why teacher teams don't always work and what to do to change that.  I feel like these women are experts and are bringing their vast experience to the table.  Really powerful if you're working on teams, facilitating teams, think that you school should have teacher teams, or just generally are interested in improving how teachers in your school think about teaching and thus improve teaching.  (Ch 3 linked)

The Power of Protocols, Joseph McDonald, Nancy Mohr, Alan Dichter, Elizabeth McDonald
Great resource for understanding the importance of protocols and a good starting toolbox of protocols and how they should be facilitated.  This is a great companion to The Power of Teacher Teams because it offers support for some of the concrete tools required to work effectively with teacher teams.

Embedded Formative Assessment, Dylan Wiliam
As referenced in this blog already, this text is one of the driving forces behind the project that I'm working on for New Visions.  I'm currently reading the chapter that's full of startling statistics about all the various educational reforms that have had literally zero measurable impact over the last 50 years or so.  Yikes!  He's advocating for some very concrete change around the way we look at student work and it's riveting to read his articulate and passionate words.  Highly recommend this one.

Advancing Formative Assessment in Every Classroom, Connie Moss and Susan Brookhart
A nice book to alternate with the Dylan Wiliam book, this is (so far) much more concrete and written for the classroom.  On it's own, I wouldn't read this one, but together they make a nice recipe for making sense of Formative Assessment.

The Hidden Lives of Learners, Graham Nutall
I just started reading this yesterday, but I'm excited.  The author is a serious thinker and unapologetic about articulating his understanding about teaching and learning.  He's committed to lifting the veil and in the first 20 pages (starting with the preface) presents some very compelling perspectives on teaching, and the common misunderstandings around how to do it.

The Math Wars, Alan Schoenfeld
A summary of the history of the Math Wars by one of the guys who should know.  Great history! (article linked)

The Schoolmaster, Dana Goldstein
A portrait of David Coleman, the mind behind the common core.  Very illuminating.  (article linked)

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