This summer I'm reflecting on my 26 years as an educator, and how I can improve my teaching.  

For me, it's the best time to take inventory of my strengths, as well as the skills that I need to develop and improve.  

But this time I'm doing something different.  

I'm reading business books, 

and applying these techniques to the educational setting.

Here is my reading list, in no particular order.

So what are YOU reading?

TAKEAWAY:

Design a mission statement in which your product 

helps the consumer solve a problem and becomes a hero.

EDUCATIONAL APPLICATION:

Advocacy is when you solve another person's problem.  

Listen carefully to your students, your colleagues, 

and your administrators.  

How can what you teach be invaluable to them, 

and how can you help them to become the hero of the story?  

Design a mission statement for your library or classroom, and post it as a reminder for yourself and others that your goal is 

to help them solve their teaching and learning problems.  

What are the problems that YOU can help others solve?

TAKEAWAY:

There are 6 key ingredients to making an idea catch on.  

It must have social currency, spark triggers, instill emotion, be public, have practical value, and contain stories.

EDUCATIONAL APPLICATION:

To make people really care and remember what you teach, we need to make it relatable and personal.  If our students don't have interest in or prior knowledge of a topic, we can help them by providing “hooks” for them to connect their learning to their lives.

How are you leveraging these 6 key ingredients 

to engage your students?

TAKEAWAY:

Oftentimes a productive meeting can be a “walk and talk.”

EDUCATIONAL APPLICATION:

Unfortunately, students spend much of their day seated.  

Studies have shown that our brains are more relaxed when we walk because of our bodies' release of chemicals. 

Take a walk around the school with your students for a quick chat before your next extra help session, 

and you will notice increased focus and attention.  

Perhaps you could try a social-emotional wellness check in or a team meeting while getting some exercise.

How can you incorporate a walking meeting with your students 

or a colleague? 

If you're hosting a Hacking School Libraries book study, 

click here for accompanying questions for each hack.

Please don't hesitate to reach out to me through email or on social. 

I'm happy to drop by.   

It would mean so much to me 

if you'd leave an honest review of Hacking School Libraries.

Just drop one on Amazon and I'll be sure to see it.  Thank you!