'Have You Filled a Bucket Today', is by far my favorite book to read to children. I start every school year with this book, and make sure to read the story throughout the year. The theory of being a "bucket filler", drives all daily activities in my classroom. The reason I love this book is because it gives children an explanation as to why kids do mean things. For great lesson ideas and activities, visit the website by clicking on the picture.
'You Are a Social Detective', is also a book I read during the beginning of the year. I learned about this book from one of the most patient and talented teachers I have ever met, Judy Saunders. Judy uses this book in her special needs resource room, to help students understand the affects of their behavior. This book does a great job using picture stories to explain to kids how their actions affect the others around them. There are great examples about home and school life. After reading this book, my students become great social detectives and tell each other when they are doing the "expected" or "unexpected behavior". This is a great book for classroom management.
During my Masters in Teaching program at Seattle University, my gifted and talented literacy professor
Kathryn Schlick Noe, read aloud this book to us at the end of every class. I fell in love with this book during my program, and read aloud this beautiful story every year when I taught second grade. It's a great book for parents and educators who want to introduce their child or students to an important topic of children with special needs.
This book was given to me as a gift from my father during my first year teaching. I've read 'Aesop's Fables' as a read aloud after recess ever since. The stories are short and kid friendly. At the end of each story students try to identify the moral, which leads to a lovely short discussion. Sometimes when I forget about the read aloud, every student is there to remind with the book in hand. Great book for teachers, and great nighttime read aloud for parents.
'Nurture Shock' is the teaching and parenting bible. I have read this book twice already and have filled it with post-its and notes. I am a kindle junkie, but do not buy the ebook version. You want the real deal. This book discusses ways to teach children self-control, delayed gratification, co-operative play; and explains the science between teen rebellion, lying, and the power of praise. A MUST read.
During my first year teaching at Lake Washington School District in WA state, my principal asked all teaching staff to read this book. Since then, I have recommended this book to a dozen friends. This book has changed my perspective when dealing with co-workers, students, family, friends, and just people in general. Do you have a growth mindset?
I like this book because it gives you real life stories from parents and teachers who need help getting their children to listen. It also gives great ideas and examples of how to get children to listen and talk to you. Each chapter has a comic showing the right way and wrong way to talk to children and a summary at the end of things to practice.
The brain is an amazing thing. When you understand how it works, you can use it to it's maximum potential. This book has taught me how to do that with 12 specific brain rules. A great read for parents and educators.
My students are engaged and learn because of my classroom management. During my first year teaching, I was introduced to this book and the Positive Discipline theory by Sound Discipline facilitator
Melanie Miller. Many of my classroom management practices come from this book. If you want to know how to lead a great class meeting, read this book!
Book 10 coming soon.
