I (really) enjoy reading and I like sharing good resources with others. To help you know if any of these recommendations might be for you, I will try to provide answers to three questions: what is the resource about, why is it important, and what should I do about this? — Dr. Christian Klaue
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The Teacher’s Principal - Jen Schwanke
What is this resource about? Schwanke has written a variety of books to help principals become more effective. In this book, she discusses a teacher’s purpose, priorities, and practices. The purpose is the why; the priorities are the how; and the patterns are the what of a teacher. Schwanke addresses the positives and negatives of each of these.
Why is it important? Why a teacher has joined the profession will make a difference in how a teacher behaves in the classroom. Those behaviours will determine what a teacher does with or to the students. Once a principal can determine these for any (every teacher), the principal will be able to support the strengths of a teacher and address the weaknesses.
What should I do? A chart listing the positives and negatives of purpose, priorities, and patterns is provided in chapter 1. Review the chart and determine which chapters need to be read in order to support the teacher to do better in the classroom.
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Powerful Teaching - Pooja K. Agarwal, Patrice M. Bain
What is this resource about? Agarwal and Bain describe some of the top learning strategies teachers should use. These strategies are suitable for both K-12 as well as post-secondary. These strategies include retrieval practice, spacing and interleaving, feedback-driven metacognition, and fostering a supportive environment.
Why is it important? It has been many years since the focus was on teaching. Recently (and rightfully), the focus has been on student learning. The four strategies mentioned above are research and practice-based strategies that help students learn more effectively.
What should I do? Read each section and try to implement the learning skill until it becomes second nature, and then move on to the next section. Once all four strategies are readily implemented, share the specifics with another teacher and encourage them to try these out.
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Why Boys Don’t Talk—and Why It Matters - Susan Morris Shaffer, Linda Perlman Gordon
What is this resource about? As boys grow into teenagers, they often stop talking as much to their parents as they used to. At least, that is what society is telling parents and their sons. Rather than working on their family relationships, parents and boys often listen to what society is telling them ought to be. This usually leads to a breakdown in the relationship and it need not happen. Shaffer and Gordon provide a variety of strategies to help parents (re)connect with their teenage sons to build storing relationships.
Why is it important? A strong family is an important testimony in our society today. As parents, we want to do right by our children. Rather than listening to what society is telling us, we ought to listen to what God’s Word is telling us. And, if we can’t interpret God’s Word into practical actions, we ought to listen to those who are providing strategies that line up with principles from God’s Word. A book like this will help with that challenge.
What should I do? Each chapter has a number of strategies that can be implemented. Read through these as a parental unit and devise a game plan for maintaining open communication with your sons.
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Which None Can Shut - Reema Goode
Who is this resource about? This is a series of stories about Reema Goode, who is a missionary to a Muslim country. It describes how she travelled to this country and started her missionary service. There are many examples of how she was able to share the Gospel and the opportunities God gave her. There is humour as well as tragedy in these stories.
How can I pray? Pray for all those involved in missionary work to Muslim countries. There is a rich harvest to be had, so pray that God would continue to raise workers.