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Details: Written by Super User

Books That Made a Difference

Author	Book(s)	Summary/Reasons
Professional Books These are the books that I have on my shelf and use constantly.
Jim Burke	English Teacher's Companion Reading Reminders Writing Reminders Tools for Thought:Graphic Organizers for the Classroom Teacher's Daybook: Illuminating Texts	Jim Burke is an amazing teacher. I had the fortune to met him at an NCTE conference. He has a strong understanding of the adolescent mind and how to motivate them to become better readers, writers and thinkers. He is also realistic about the demands of teaching and writes in an easy to read manner with many authentic examples.
Doug Buehl	Classroom Strategies for Interactive Learning (2nd edition)	I have used the first edition of Doug Buehl's book so often that it is falling apart. The second edition includes more graphic organizers and examples. This is my “go to” book for grades 6-12.
Heidi Hayes-Jacobs	Mapping the Big Picture: Integrating Curriculum and Assessment K-12 Getting Results with Curriculum Mapping	Curriculum mapping helps students, teachers and parents understand the total K-12 experience.
Susan Udelhofen	Keys to Curriculum Mapping: Strategies and Tools to Make it Work	Susan Udelhofen brings practical experience and example to the process of curriculum mapping.
Tina Blythe	The Teaching for Understanding Guide	In this day of standardized tests, it is even more important to focus on the real goals of education – teaching students to understand the world around them. Teaching for Understanding encourages teacher to look for the over-arching themes in the content areas.
Gail E. Tompkins	50 Literacy Strategies: Step By Step, Second Edition	The strategies presented in this book can be used for all age groups, with some adaptations. This is another book that I've used so often that it is falling apart.
Carol Ann Tomlinson	The Differentiated Classroom Responding to the Needs of All How to Differentiate Instruction in Mixed-Ability Classrooms Differentiation in Practice A Resource Guide for Differentiating Curriculum	Students are becoming more diverse in experiences and abilities and a one-size-fits-all curriculum is no longer an option. These books give practical strategies in how to individualize instruction.
Howard Gardner	Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences Disciplined Mind: What All Students Should Understand The Disciplined Mind: Beyond Facts Standardized Tests K 12 education that Every Child Deserves	Multiple intelligences is one of the most influential educational theories of the 20th century. Yet, Howard Gardner has written so much more. After attending Harvard's Project Zero summer institute I was introduced to his other theories.
Sara B. Kajder	The Tech Savvy English Classroom. Bringing the Outside In: Visual Ways to Engage Reluctant Readers	Sara Kajder's classroom shows how technology can truly change the way English/Language Arts is taught. She writes for the technology layperson and her realistic suggests are easy to implement.
Linda Rief	Seeking Diversity: Language Arts with Adolescents Vision & Voice: Extending the Literacy Spectrum	Linda Rief's style of writing makes you feel like she is your personal mentor. Her practical and positive suggestions and techniques celebrate the strengths of the adolescent student.

Publisher	Book(s)	Reason
Student Resources: Besides the obvious resources such as dictionaries and thesauri, there are some students resources that I think every school should have for its students.
Great Source – part of Houghton Mifflin Company http://www.greatsource.com/	Write Source 2000 (grd 6-8) Writer's Inc. (grd 9-12) School to Work (grd 9-12 Write for College (grd 11/12) Reader's Handbook Gr 6-8 Reader's Handbook Gr 9-12 Reading & Writing Sourcebooks 6-12	I can't say enough good about the Great Source books. The Writer's Handbook are easy to use resources with writing examples and rubrics. The Reader's Handbook's show students how to read a variety of genres.
Premier http://www.premieragendas.com/	Premier Agendas	The agendas are hardy and good looking. Students love the trivia and extras scattered throughout the book. And, as a part of a school wide initiative, students learn to record assignments and due dates.
Franklin Electronic Publishers http://www.franklin.com/	Electronic dictionaries, thesauri, and translators	Students are more likely to look up words in this electronic format. I constantly use the spell check feature.

Author	Book(s)	Reason
Personal Favorites: As I was growing up, books were a constant presence in the house and often threatened to take over the house. These are some of my favorites.
Beatrix Potter	The Tale of Peter Rabbit and all of her other 20+ stories	Peter Rabbit was the first book I checked out of the library, and I continued to renew it for weeks. Her drawings are classic and the text is musical.
Lucy Maud Montgomery	Anne of Green Gables series Emily of New Moon series	Anne of Green Gables was the first book I reread because I was so caught up in the character. I admired the creativity and imagination of Anne.
Louisa May Alcott	Little Woman	Jo and Beth March were an inspiration to me as a teenager. I admired Jo's tenacity and sympathized with her desire to write and do more with her life. At the same time, I wanted to be like Beth – calm and peaceful in the face of trouble.
Anne McCaffrey	All of her books about Pern	With over 20 books or short stories written about Pern, this imaginary civilization seems almost real. As a teen, I was first drawn to Dragonsinger and haven't stopped reading the series yet. I look forward to anything new by McCaffrey.
Susan Vreeland	The Passion of Artemisia Girl in Hyacinth Blue The Forest Lover Life Studies : Stories	At NCTE, I attended a reading by Susan Vreeland and was immediately hooked. Vreeland writes stories about her passion – art. These books tell the background stories about the artists or paintings.