Books I'm Reading

I'll admit, I am not really much of a reader.

It is hard for me to get into a book, especially during the school year. In the summer I might get through a book or two, when I am really feeling like I have time to relax while travelling.

This being said, a number of teaching pedagogy books have caught my eye recently, and I have been extremely motivated to read. I ordered 4 books at the beginning of February and I am already finished 3.5 of them!

Most of the books which caught my interest are published by Dave Burgess Consulting.

First I read Innovator's Mindset by George Couros. 
I have so many pencil marks in this book... whoever reads my copy next will definitely know what caught my eye! Though I felt like much of this book was worded for leadership empowering  their teachers, I couldn't help but constantly make the connection of how teachers could (should?) be running their classrooms to empower their students. Give people room and they will grow. Empower them to make decisions and run with their innovations and iterations. Couros consistently stresses that innovation is not necessarily technology, but is anything that is both new and better, which we should always be striving to provide for our students. I have leant this out to another colleague but already feel the need to re-read/refer to the book as there was so much content in it which I was interested in.

As soon as I finished, I was excited to dig in to Empower by A.J. Juliani and John Spencer.
I read this book in less than 24 hours. I was incredibly hooked with the message and simplicity of this book. The launch cycle it provides for innovation and empowerment is definitely something I would like to be more aware of in my strive to provide a student-led classroom. Launch is another book they have written, which is on my list!

Then I read Teach Like A Pirate by Dave Burgess himself (the owner of the publishing/consulting company). I will be honest, this one did not feed my interest as much. I ended up skimming the last 3/4 of the book because I felt that he was more focused on entertaining his high school students than providing them with independence, leadership, and agency. He fully admits this in the foreword of the next book I read, which I did find to be redeeming after the book wasn't what I wanted it to be.

I am now currently reading Learn Like A Pirate by Paul Solarz. THIS is much more up my alley. I am only a few chapters in, but can already tell that his passions and interests are more suited to what I want in my classroom. I am feeling the need to take this one a bit slower. Not for a lack of interest, but because I want to digest his suggestions and really let them sink in.

I have an ever-growing list now that I've been inspired to read about pedagogy! 
Launch
Kids Deserve It
Shift This
Social Leadia
The Power of Inquiry
Dive into Inquiry
Inquiry Mindset
Lifelong Kindergarten
​Learner Centered Innovation

Anything else do add? Particularly to do with inquiry and student-led classrooms promoting agency?