Winter Reading Log: 19 Books Recommended by Educators

  • Jill Rockwell
  • Jan 14 2020
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This article was originally posted December 2018.

Perhaps it’s the introvert me, but when I wake up 30-60 minutes before the rest of my family and have quiet time to read (while drinking a warm cup of coffee), I feel so energized and ready to conquer the rest of the day ahead. (In a recent blog post, I highlighted the benefits associated with independent reading including mental stimulation, increased concentration, improved analytical skills, along with several other benefits.)

We’re here to help you practice what you preach in the classroom everyday – read, read, read! I’ve compiled this list of 19 fantastic book titles educators are reading for pleasure and for learning this winter. And while you’re at it, have you thought about starting your own reading log for 2019? This website provides a plethora of templates to download for all ages, including adults.

Nonfiction:

  • Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual by Jacko Willink
  • Heartland: A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth by Sarah Smarsh
  • Becoming by Michelle Obama
  • Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are so You can Become Who You Were Meant to Be by Rachel Hollis
  • 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari
  • Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching and Learning – Classroom Practices for Student Success, Grades K-12 by Shell Education and Sharroky Hollie
  • Smart but Scattered: The Revolutionary “Executive Skills” Approach to Helping Kids Reach Their Potential by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare
  • Fly Boys – A True Story of Courage by James Bradley
  • The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Historical Fiction:

  • The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder
  • The Guernsey Literacy and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
  • The Atomic City Girls: A Novel by Janet Beard
  • Lilac Girls: A Novel by Martha Hall Kelly

Fiction:

  • The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
  • Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
  • Vox by Christina Dalcher
  • The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
  • The Power by Naomi Alderman
  • The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

*Bonus Category - Podcasts*
Perhaps you’re having trouble finding time to sit down and read. Listen to a podcast episode on your commute to work, while walking on the treadmill, or wherever you choose. An educator in California shared a few of her favorites:

From the school psychologist in Maryland-to the math teacher in Illinois-to the special education para professional in California, thank you to all the educators who shared book titles. What are you reading this winter? Please share this post with your own recommendations and keep our list growing.

Finally, please be sure to check out our list of fantastic, university-accredited English Language Arts courses that educators are also working on this winter including:

Here are a few classes related to this topic:

TCL Logo Cognitive Foundations for the PK-2 Classrooms

TCL Logo The 21st-Century Mathematics Classroom 9-12

TCL Logo Technology in the 21st Century Math Classroom

Jill Rockwell
Jill has over 13 years of experience as a licensed teacher in the areas of Special Education, Reading Education, and Health Education. She embraces diversity and has worked with students in grades K-12 in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and California. Jill completed her Master of Science degree at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls while teaching full time. She fully understands the soaring demands of today’s teachers. Her courses are designed to maximize the time of all educators by providing engaging, meaningful, and applicable activities which can be used to enhance teaching practices. She focuses on research-based best practices and technology integration throughout her own instructional practices. Together with her husband and two young boys, Jill enjoys traveling, biking and the changing seasons of the great outdoors in Wisconsin. 

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