PROF - Transition Planning Inventory

by Gary M. Clark and James R. Patton, various years and formats

The Transition Planning Inventory helps educators address students' transition needs, including their preferences, interests, and strengths. Students, parents, and educators complete forms based on the student's abilities and experiences. Fifteen comprehensive case studies are also included.

PROF - The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child

by Donalyn Miller, 2009

Donalyn Miller is a dedicated teacher who says she has yet to meet a child she couldn't turn into a reader. In "The Book Whisperer," Miller takes us inside her 6th grade classroom to reveal the secrets of her powerful but unusual instructional approach. Rejecting book reports, comprehension worksheets, and other aspects of conventional instruction, Miller embraces giving students an individual choice in what they read combined with a program for independent reading. She also focuses on building a classroom library of high-interest books, and above all on modeling appropriate and authentic reading behaviors. Her zeal for reading is infectious and inspiring, and the results speak for themselves. No matter how far behind Miller's students may be when they start out, they end up reading an average of 40 books per year, achieve high scores on standardized tests, and internalize a love for reading that lasts long after they've left her class.

Travel alongside the author as she leads her students to discover the ample rewards of reading and literature. Brought to life with Miller's passionate voice, "The Book Whisperer" will help teachers support students of all levels on their path to reading success. It also includes an invaluable list of books that Miller's students most enjoy reading.

(from the back cover)

PROF - Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die

By Chip Heath & Dan Heath, 2007

Mark Twain once observed, “A lie can get halfway around the world before the truth can even get its boots on.” His observation rings true: Urban legends, conspiracy theories, and bogus public-health scares circulate effortlessly. Meanwhile, people with important ideas–business people, teachers, politicians, journalists, and others–struggle to make their ideas “stick.”

Why do some ideas thrive while others die? And how do we improve the chances of worthy ideas? In Made to Stick, accomplished educators and idea collectors Chip and Dan Heath tackle head-on these vexing questions. Inside, the brothers Heath reveal the anatomy of ideas that stick and explain ways to make ideas stickier, such as applying the “human scale principle,” using the “Velcro Theory of Memory,” and creating “curiosity gaps.”

In this indispensable guide, we discover that sticky messages of all kinds–from the infamous “kidney theft ring” hoax to a coach’s lessons on sportsmanship to a vision for a new product at Sony–draw their power from the same six traits.

Made to Stick is a book that will transform the way you communicate ideas. It’s a fast-paced tour of success stories (and failures)–the Nobel Prize-winning scientist who drank a glass of bacteria to prove a point about stomach ulcers; the charities who make use of “the Mother Teresa Effect”; the elementary-school teacher whose simulation actually prevented racial prejudice. Provocative, eye-opening, and often surprisingly funny, Made to Stick shows us the vital principles of winning ideas–and tells us how we can apply these rules to making our own messages stick.

(from the jacket)

Gearman's Invitation (but not as pretty as her email)

All District 112 Secondary Staff are invited to participate in LitWits (Not Your Mother’s Kind of Book Club) The Summer Book Club/Camp for Adults Who Read Young Adult Literature Read books/Nooks/Kindles, etc. dur

ing Summer 2012 Meet once at CHS on Wednesday, August 8th Why? To make connections with the students and young adults in our lives and be “in the know” when it comes to matching our students to great books! How to participate: Choose 1 YA book you’ve been dying to read (copyright 2010 or newer) AND Choose 1 non-chapter/picture book you’ve wanted to read or use in your classroom Choose 1 professional book or nonfiction book you’ve been wanting to read Share/Book talk what you’ve read on August 8th at CHS – Potluck lunch to follow Receive a great book bibliography you’ve helped create and can add to your toolbox! Receive 1 Literacy CEU for participating This Club/Camp experience is brought to you by your District 112 Secondary Media Specialists and several of your fellow Secondary Staff members  See the blog below for reading list ideas and more details! http://112litwits.blogspot.com/ Lisa Gearman Media Specialist Chaska High School 545 Pioneer Trail Chaska, MN 55318 (952)556-7150

What to do

Those of us who have participated in Camp Read-a-Lot have already heard the drill, but some of our LitWits may not be familiar with how this type of book club runs. (Thanks to Lisa Gearman for getting us going!)

 1. Let Jeanne LaMoore (lamoorej@district112.org) know that you want to participate.
2. Send Jeanne your title recommendations for a YA book, a picture book, a professional book, and/or a nonfiction book for teens.
3. Check out the blog to see the summer reading list (it is growing each week).
4. Read as many of the titles as you possibly can! (Not just your own recommendations.)
5. Make comments on the blog as you read each title.
6. Come to our celebration on August 8th at CHS to share ideas and recommendations for using literature in your classroom.

 That sounds like a lot, but it's mostly just about reading some books and talking . . . teacher strengths! Welcome aboard! Please ask if you have questions.