Professional Book Clubs

Professional Book Groups for LAPS teachers and instructional assistants are a rewarding and low-cost way for the LAPS Foundation to provide professional development. These book groups allow educators to examine instructional techniques with the goal of implementing new or refined practices in their classrooms and/or broadening their pedagogical knowledge. Previous book group titles have included:

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
Ready Bodies: A Key to Academic Success
Whole-Brain teaching for Challenging Kids
Teaching Struggling Readers: How to Use Brain-based Research to Maximize Learning
Number Sense Routines
Making Number Talks Matter
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character

In addition, the LAPS Foundation agreed in 2017 to co-sponsor with 100+ Women Who Care a Community Book Group. 61 individuals signed up to participate in the book group or read along, including parents of children from all 8 school sites, LAPS staff, and community members. They read the book How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success and then met three times for discussions facilitated by an LAHS Counselor, the LAHS Psychologist, and the LAHS Librarian. Healthy snacks were provided at each meeting.

“I really enjoyed these conversations. I’ve been doing things at home differently, like looking for opportunities for real growth, letting my kids answer more of their own questions and figure things out.”

–Community Book Group participant

“During our year-long study of the book “Teaching Struggling Readers” by Carol Lyons, Aspen teachers and I were able to unpack invaluable information from this text and discuss how this impacted our students and our teaching. Through the grant the Foundation provided, we were able to form a professional book club in which literacy strategies were discussed and immediate, applicable instructional ideas were shared from our reading. By being a part of this book club, our group has gained a richer understanding of how the child’s brain processes print and how we, as teachers, can help to guide this learning. Thank you LAPSF!”

–Alisa Rolfe, Aspen Elementary School, Recipient of a Professional Book Club grant

Educators – to apply for a Professional Book Group Grant, click here.

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