Book Study

K-2 Shifting the Balance – Jan Burkins and Kari Yates

This concise and practical guide integrates effective reading strategies from each perspective. Every chapter of Shifting the Balance focuses on one of the six simple and scientifically sound shifts reading teachers can make to strengthen their approach to early reading instruction in these areas:

• Reading Comprehension
• Phonemic Awareness
• Phonics
• High-Frequency Words
• Cueing Systems
• Text Selection

Practical Instruction for Primary Grades: Whether your students are just learning to read or building more advanced reading comprehensive skills, Shifting the Balance is designed to help teachers meet the instructional needs of K-2 students.

Facilitator: Dr. Yvonne Cannon
Cost: $75
Required Text: K-2 Shifting the Balance – Jan Burkins and Kari Yates

3-5 Shifting the Balance - Jan Burkins, Kari Yates, and Katie Cunningham, extend the conversation in Shifting the Balance, Grades 3-5: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Upper Elementary Classroom. This new text is built in mind specifically for grades 3-5 teachers around best practices for the intermediate classroom.

Shifting the Balance, Grades 3-5 introduces six more shifts across individual chapters that:

• Explore a common (but not-as helpful-as-we-had-hoped) practice to reconsider
• Untangle a number of “misunderstandings” that have likely contributed to the use of the common practice
• Propose a more science-aligned shift to the current practice
• Provide solid scientific research to support the revised practice
• Offer a collection of high-leverage, easy-to-implement instructional routines to support the shift to more brain-friendly instruction

The authors offer a refreshing approach that is respectful, accessible, and practical – grounded in an earnest commitment to building a bridge between research and classroom practice. As with the first Shifting the Balance, they aim to keep students at the forefront of reading instruction.

Facilitator: Dr. Yvonne Cannon
Cost: $75
Required Text: 3-5 Shifting the Balance – Jan Burkins, Kari Yates and Katie Cunningham

The Trauma-Sensitive Classroom: Building Resilience with Compassionate Teaching -Patricia Jennings

Fully half the students in U.S. schools have experienced trauma, violence, or chronic stress. In the face of this epidemic, it falls increasingly to teachers to provide the adult support these students need to function in school. But most educators have received little training to prepare them for this role. 

In her new book, Tish Jennings―an internationally recognized leader in the field of social and emotional learning―shares research and experiential knowledge about the practices that support students' healing, build their resilience, and foster compassion in the classroom. In Part I, Jennings describes the effects of trauma on body and mind, and how to recognize them in students' behavior. In Part II, she introduces the trauma-sensitive practices she has implemented in her work with schools. And in Part III, she connects the dots between mindfulness, compassion, and resilience. Each chapter contains easy-to-use, practical activities to hone the skills needed to create a compassionate learning environment.

Facilitator: Dr. Yvonne Cannon
Cost: $75
Required Test: The Trauma-Sensitive Classroom: Building Resilience with Compassionate Teaching by Patricia Jennings

Trauma-Sensitive Instruction: Creating a Safe and Predictable Classroom Environment – John Eller and Tom Hierck

The impact of trauma on learning can be significant and long lasting. Learn how you can confidently and meaningfully support your trauma-impacted students and foster trauma-informed schools with this accessible resource. The authors draw from their personal and professional experiences with trauma, mental health, and school culture to provide real insight into what you can do now to help learners build resilience, cope with adverse situations, and achieve at high levels.

Implement trauma-informed teaching practices and cultivate a classroom environment that encourages positive learning experiences:

• Understand childhood trauma and the impact traumatic experiences have on learners.
• Develop a trauma-informed attitude and mindset.
• Examine classroom structures that support trauma-sensitive practices while recognizing those that may contribute to trauma.
• Gain effective classroom management strategies and techniques to support all students, including those experiencing trauma.
• Learn how to develop trusting and positive relationships with trauma-impacted students and their families

Facilitator: Dr. Yvonne Cannon
Cost: $75
Required Text: Trauma-Sensitive Instruction: Creating a Sage and Predictable Classroom Environment by John Eller and Tom Hierck

Mindfulness for Teachers - Patricia A. Jennings

Mindfulness for Teachers is based upon the author's extensive experience as a mindfulness practitioner, teacher, teacher educator and scientist. Drawing upon basic and applied research in the fields of neuroscience, psychology and education, the book offers valuable information about how mindfulness can help teachers manage the stressful demands of the classroom, cultivate an exceptional learning environment, and revitalize teaching and learning.

Facilitator: Jeni Peterson
Cost: $75

Dare to Lead – Brene Brown

Leadership is not about titles, status, and wielding power. A leader is anyone who takes responsibility for recognizing the potential in people and ideas, and has the courage to develop that potential.

When we dare to lead, we don’t pretend to have the right answers; we stay curious and ask the right questions. We don’t see power as finite and hoard it; we know that power becomes infinite when we share it with others. We don’t avoid difficult conversations and situations; we lean into vulnerability when it’s necessary to do good work.

But daring leadership in a culture defined by scarcity, fear, and uncertainty requires skill-building around traits that are deeply and uniquely human. The irony is that we’re choosing not to invest in developing the hearts and minds of leaders at the exact same time as we’re scrambling to figure out what we have to offer that machines and AI can’t do better and faster. What can we do better? Empathy, connection, and courage, to start.

Facilitator: Jeni Peterson
Cost: $75

Atomic Habits – James Clear

No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving--every day. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.

If you're having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn't you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don't want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change. You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Here, you'll get a proven system that can take you to new heights.

Facilitator: Jeni Peterson
Cost: $75

Genius Hour – Andi McNair

Genius Hour allows students to experience personalized learning through self-driven projects, application of standards and real-world skills, and opportunities to learn through productive struggle and reflection. Presented through an easy-to-follow six-step strategy, teachers will utilize the 6 P's―passion, plan, pitch, project, product, and presentation―as a map for students to follow as they create, design, and carry out projects. This second edition also features a new chapter on lessons learned from the author’s early days implementing Genius Hour, helping readers get ahead of common pitfalls.

This guide will make the Genius Hour process not only meaningful for learners but manageable for educators.

Facilitator: Jeni Peterson
Cost: $75