Sara Needleman
- Jun 12, 2017
- 2 min read

Good Reads Summer 2017

Summer reading. For some of us, that phrase invokes an image of sitting on the beach with the novels we don’t have time to read during the school year (or the novels we classify with terms like “vacation” or “summer” books. I’ll let you define those terms as your imagination chooses.) Others think of the lists of titles we create for our incoming students -- some classics, some contemporary, some to help us find an ideal starting place when September rolls around, and some to just keep their brains from getting really mushy. My summer reading also includes the books and articles colleagues have recommended during the school year, but that slipped away as my attention turned to other things. I thought as you find yourselves close to summer vacation, I might share a list of books for you to consider. This list represents books I return to again and again. It also includes books I hope to read soon. And like so many other blog posts of mine, it includes ideas from some of my trusted colleagues. Consider it a curated resource from which you might draw. Enjoy!

These are the titles my USM colleagues and I rely on as we teach our courses on Proficiency-Based Planning and Assessment. Coincidentally, they are also the recommended titles from Megan Welter, trusted JumpRope friend and building principal at Memorial Middle School in South Portland, Maine.

Leaders of Their Own Learning

Author(s): Ron Berger Keywords: Designing learning experiences, instruction, student-involved assessment

Learning That Lasts

Author(s): Ron Berger

Keywords: Higher order thinking, instruction, student-empowerment

An Introduction to Student-Involved Assessment FOR Learning

Author(s): Jan Chapuis and Rick Stiggins

Keywords: Designing learning experiences, instruction, assessment

Seven Strategies of Assessment FOR Learning

Author(s): Jan Chapuis and Rick Stiggins

Keywords: Designing learning experiences, instruction, assessment

Understanding by Design

Author(s): Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe Keywords: Designing learning experiences, instruction, assessment

Integrating Differentiated Instruction and Understanding by Design

Author(s): Carol Ann Tomlinson and Jay McTighe

Keywords: Designing learning experiences, instruction, assessment

Becky Brown, Curriculum Coordinator for South Portland Schools in Maine says, “Here is a list of books that I use ALL the time to support PD around Proficiency-Based Learning in our district.”

Learning Targets

Author(s): Susan Brookhart and Connie Moss Keywords: Instruction, student achievement, designing learning experiences

Visible Learning

Author(s): John Hattie Keywords: Instruction, designing learning experiences, reflection, self-evaluation

Balanced Assessment Systems

Author(s): Jan Chapuis, Carol Commodore and Rick Stiggins Keywords: Assessment, professional development, leadership, instruction

The Perfect Assessment System

Author(s): Rick Stiggins Keywords: Assessment, education policy, leadership, school improvement and reform

Anything by Rick Wormeli

(I use a lot of his YouTube stuff) Keywords: Instruction, assessment, leadership

Deb Taylor, Curriculum Coordinator for Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit 12 in Maine says, “Some of my favorites come from outside the education world and relate to motivation and changing behavior.” Deb goes on to inlude, “a couple I am looking forward to reading soon and about which I have heard good things”