I love to read. It is one of the things I enjoy doing most in my free time, but find that I have little time to do. Because of time, each year my goal is to just read 12 books of my choosing, one per month. I may read them all in a two month span, or spread them out-either way it averages out. I wanted to share with you the books I have chosen as my books for this year. Some of these are brand new, others have been in my shopping cart for a while and others I know very little about. I may change things up throughout the year and find other books that I want to add...I try to be flexible when it comes to my reading list. Be looking throughout the year on mentions of these books or reviews here on the blog as I definitely want to share my thoughts on these books and how they have helped me professionally, and personally. So here are my 2018 Book List picks:
1. Wonder by R.J. Palacio 2. Talk Like Ted: The 9 Public Speaking Secrets by Carmine Gallo 3. The Wild Card: 7 Steps to an Educator's Creative Breakthrough by Wade King, Hope King 4. Hacking Education: 10 Quick Fixes for Every School by Mark Barnes, Jennifer Gonzalez 5. Lead Like a Pirate: Making School Amazing for Your Students and Staff by Shelley Burgess, Beth Houf 6. Integrating the Arts Across the Elementary School Curriculum by Phyllis Gelineau 7. Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All by Tom Kelley, David Kelley 8. Creativity Rules: Getting Ideas Out of Your Head and Into the World by Tina Seelig 9. inGenius: A Crash Course on Creativity by Tina Seelig 10. TBD 11. TBD 12. TBD These last three I am leaving open as new books are released throughout the year or I come across other books I am interested in adding to my list. I also wanted to share with you my list from 2017 as I feel it was an ALL STAR line up of books. I highly recommend these to anyone! 2017 Book List: -Shattering the Perfect Teacher Myth: 6 Truths that Will Help You THRIVE as an Educator by Aaron Hogan -Shift This: How to Implement Gradual Change for Massive Impact in Your Classroom by Joy Kirr -Teach Like a Pirate: Increase Student Engagement, Boost Your Creativity and Transform Your Life as an Educator by Dave Burgess -The Innovators Mindset: Empower Learning, Unleash Talent and Lead a Culture of Creativity by George Couros -Kids Deserve It: Pushing Boundaries and Challenging Conventional Thinking by Todd Nesloney and Adam Welcome -Empower: What Happens When Students Own Their Learning by John Spencer and A.J. Juliani -Ditch that Homework: Practical Strategies to Help Make Homework Obsolete by Matt Miller and Alice Keeler -Ditch that Textbook: Free Your Teaching and Revolutionize Your Classroom by Matt Miller -Launch: Using Design Thinking to Boost Creativity and Bring Out the Maker in Student by Spencer John and A.J. Juliani -The Power of Branding: Telling Your School's Story by Tony Sinanis -Charlotte's Web by E.B. White -The Leader in Me by Stephen Covey As I wrap up today I wanted to ask for any book recommendations from YOU! Have you read any of the books on my list? Happy Reading in 2018!
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"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year." -Ralph Waldo Emerson Resolutions.
Resolutions fill me with excitement. I love to set them, dream them up and accomplish those things that a year ago I wasn't sure I could do. Each year I spend the last couple of weeks in December reflecting on the year that has passed and looking forward to the year coming. This year, I gave myself some extra time to do those things, but have finally focused in on my goals for 2018. I wanted to share with you my resolutions I have set for this year. They are both simple and complex, attainable and unattainable. Each year (typically) I set SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, results-focused and time-bound) goals, but this year I wanted to try something new. I wanted to set goals for myself that wouldn't be time-bound to this year, but would set me in a direction that would enrich my life, and the life of those around me (I will keep you posted on my goal preference at the end of the year). I have kept it to three ideas, but these ideas will (hopefully) keep me driven, focused and refreshed throughout the entirety of the year. Without further ado... 1. Presence Every year I think there is no way that we could be busier than the year before, and every year it happens. With this constant barrage of things happening and going on around us, I often find myself not present in what I am doing. I find that my mind is on something entirely different than where I am and what's going on, and I lose out on that moment that I am in. This year, I am focusing on being present wherever I am. Often this is going to mean setting down (or turning off) my phone to resist the temptation to be somewhere else. This one idea alone will help me be focused more intently on what I am doing and will help me learn how to set healthy boundaries for myself with work, family, friendship and any other thing that competes for my time and attention. It will help me be fully devoted to whatever I am doing at the time, wherever that may be. This year I am resolved to be more PRESENT. 2. Discipline As I mentioned under presence, each year turns out to be immensely busier than the year before. Between work, travel, family, various other commitments and this year, beginning grad school, discipline is needed now more than ever. There are many areas in my life I want to focus on discipline, some being my time management, living a healthy, balanced lifestyle and reaching financial goals my husband and I have set. I have found throughout my life that those times I am disciplined in what I am doing, I am able to be more present where I am and the best version of myself possible. This goal is made up of many smaller, actionable steps that will ultimately help me reach the goals I have set, in all areas. This year I am resolved to be more DISCIPLINED. 3. Gratitude The last area I want to focus on this year is taking time to give thanks. I want to remember gratitude more in my life. I think this will help me keep the positive, hopeful outlook that I begin each year with as well help me notice all of the wonderful people and things happening around me. One way I am doing this is a thankfulness jar. My husband I have started a 2018 thankfulness jar. Each week we will insert things we are thankful for and on December 31st, 2018, we will pull them out and remember all that has happened in 2018. It is a small but simple way to be immersed in gratitude throughout the year. This year I am resolved to show more GRATITUDE. Presence, discipline and gratitude are three areas of my life I want to spend my year focusing on. These things are as personal as they are professional goals for myself. I am looking forward to 2018 and all the things that lie ahead. Whether you set resolutions or not, I hope you take time now and throughout the year to reflect on those things that you are working towards. Happy 2018, and welcome to a new year :) |
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