5 PD Books to add to your summer reading list!!!!

With #ISTE2017 happening in Austin, TX right now I'm finding myself in idea overload from all of the amazing communications happening on Twitter right now!!! That being said here are the 5 must haves on my summer/school year reading list!

#5: EXPlore Like a Pirate! by Michael Matera @mrmatera 

• GAMIFICATION!!! If gamification intrigues you, your have to get this book! It's pure psychology right? You allow your students to score points and they will work harder for those points! Michael Matera has mastered this in his own classroom and is letting you in on his secrets, whether you want to fully gamify your classroom or start with a few ideas!
• Michael Matera teaches social studies in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is someone I was fortunate to get to know through the Wisconsin Council for the Social Studies.

#4: #sociaLEADia by Jennifer Casa-Todd @JCasaTodd

• Jennifer Casa-Todd is really working on getting teachers to realize the value of social media and of teaching our students to become LEADERS in the social media world. If they become positive leaders then some of the other might be reduced!
• "How will your students answer when an interviewer asks,"What social media networks are you on, and what will I learn about you if I go there?"" - Jennifer Casa-Todd

#3: Personalized PD: Flipping Your Professional Development by Bretzmann Group @jBretzmann

CoAuthors include: John Bretzmann (Author), Dave Burgess (Afterword), Salome Thomas-EL (Foreword), Kenny Bosch (Contributor), Kristin Daniels (Contributor), Laura Conley (Contributor), Dr. Brad Gustafson (Contributor), Ben Wilkoff (Contributor), Brad Currie (Contributor)

• This one hits home because it has long been my point of view that we as professionals are at very different levels and have expertise in various areas. The tech world is amazing and allows for this idea of Flipping our Professional Development! Jason Bretzmann, has brought in 6 fellow authors to talk about their personal experiences and ideas relating to how to flip your PD! Bretzmann is also well know for being an expert of the flipped classroom! Seek him out on Twitter!

#2: Courageous Edventures: Navigating Obstacles to Discover Classroom Innovation by Jennie Magiera @MsMagiera

• Jennie's main focus using this book is to allow educators to allow students to discover their passions within the school day. Jennie Magiera takes the reader on a journey towards innovation in their classroom. Magiera provides many ideas and examples of how to innovate and turn your classroom into a 21st Century Classroom!
• The book: "Breaks down actual classroom problems of practice in the areas of Assessment, Differentiation, Planning and Parent Communication to focus digital transformation in strong classroom instruction and pedagogy."

#1: Empower: What Happens When Students Own Their Learning by John Spencer & A.J. Juliani @spencerideas @ajjuliani 

• I'll be honest, all of these books look amazing but this one really calls to my immediate goals in my classroom. Empowering Students!!! It is truly amazing to see what they can do and in my experience many times they create something that is completely unexpected!
• "As teachers, leaders, and parents, we have the opportunity to be the guide in our kids’ education and unleash the creative potential of each and every student. In a world that is ever changing, our job is not to prepare students for something; instead, our role is to help students prepare themselves for anything." - Description of Empower...
• Our students in order to be better prepared to live and participate in their world need to learn very crucial 21st Century Skills and that most definitely starts with empowerment which mean it starts with us as educators!!!

All purchase information is linked to Amazon as well as the authors' Twitter handles (I was not paid to do this, just inspired!!!) 

What is on your summer reading list???