🎓Unlock Your Best School Year Yet with Our Top Summer Reads!

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What’s Inside This Week:

• The Big Picture: 10 Summer Reads for Insights and Inspiration

• Classroom Hack: Enhance your Classroom’s Time Management

• Connecting the Dots: Links to my Favorite Educational Highlights from this Week

Happy Tuesday,

Summer is in full swing, and while it’s the perfect time for relaxation, many of us are already thinking ahead to the upcoming school year. It's a common struggle—balancing the need to recharge with the desire to stay informed and prepared.

We’ve all been there: the first day back, feeling overwhelmed by the flood of responsibilities and the daunting task of re-engaging students. The summer break is a golden opportunity to gain new insights, discover innovative teaching methods, and find inspiration that can transform your classroom. Without the right resources, though, it’s easy to let this valuable time slip by without truly capitalizing on it.

In this issue of The Thinking Cap, you’ll find must-read titles that cover everything from innovative teaching techniques to self-care practices, ensuring that you return to the classroom feeling rejuvenated and ready to tackle any challenge. Let’s make this summer a transformative period for your professional growth and personal well-being.

Happy reading and enjoy the rest of your summer break!

-Brandon

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🏆 10 Summer Reads for Valuable Insights and Inspiration

1. The Growth Mindset Coach by Annie Brock and Heather Hundley

This book offers practical strategies and lesson plans to help teachers foster a growth mindset in their classrooms, promoting resilience and a love of learning in students. (Link)

2. Teach Like a Pirate by Dave Burgess

Burgess shares dynamic teaching techniques to captivate and engage students. This book is full of creative ideas to bring excitement and innovation to your lessons. (Link)

3. Culturally Responsive Teaching and The Brain by Zaretta Hammond

Hammond explores the neuroscience behind culturally responsive teaching. This book provides actionable steps to make learning more accessible and effective for all students. (Link)

4. The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact by Chip Heath and Dan Heath

This book delves into the science of memorable experiences. It’s a great read for teachers looking to create impactful and lasting memories for their students. (Link)

5. The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child by Donalyn Miller

Miller’s inspiring approach to teaching reading encourages a love of books in students. This is perfect for educators who want to foster a strong reading culture in their classrooms. (Link)

6. The Distance Learning Playbook, Grades K-12 by Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, and John Hattie

With the increase in online and hybrid learning environments, this book offers essential strategies and tools for effective distance teaching, making it a timely read for all educators. (Link)

7. Dare to Lead by Brené Brown

Focused on leadership and courage, Brown’s book is a great resource for teachers aspiring to lead with empathy and resilience, whether in the classroom or in broader educational roles. (Link)

8. Mindfulness for Teachers: Simple Skills for Peace and Productivity in the Classroom by Patricia A. Jennings

This book provides practical mindfulness techniques to help teachers manage stress and create a more peaceful and productive classroom environment. (Link)

9. What School Could Be: Insights and Inspiration from Teachers Across America by Ted Dintersmith

Dintersmith’s book offers a compelling look at innovative teaching practices across the U.S. It’s a source of inspiration for educators looking to rethink and revitalize their teaching methods. (Link)

10. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth

Duckworth’s best-selling book explores the importance of grit in achieving success. It’s an inspiring read for teachers looking to cultivate resilience and determination in their students, as well as in their own professional lives. (Link)

✏️ Steal this Classroom Hack:

• Color Changing Classroom Timer

👍 Why I love this hack:

What I love about this organizational setup is its color-changing LED display that's easy to read from anywhere in the room.

Teachers can use different colors for different activities, making it fun and easy to manage time. With a countdown/up function up to 10 hours, it’s great for long projects or timed tests. It has adjustable brightness, volume levels, and even a silent vibration mode, so it’s perfect for any classroom setting.

Plus, it’s rechargeable and can stick to any magnetic surface, stand up, or hang for ultimate convenience.

✅ Have a classroom hack that you would like to share? Reply to this email and let me know what awesome hack you’ve created. (I can even include it in next weeks newsletter - with a shout out, of course!)

📚 Highlights from this Week:

• Avid Note-Taking Skills: A more detailed summary of how to use the 10-2-2 Scaffolding Strategy (Link)

• Mathcation: Use code 5Dollars on a Monthly Membership to get your first month for just $5! (Link)

Thank you for reading The Thinking Cap!

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Send me a reply if you have something to share with me and I will respond to you. (Seriously, I read and respond to all my replies)