Teachers Are Readers Too!
Posted by Kim Murphy on 30 Jun 2009 | Posted in: Inspiration and Motivation, Life After School
From my experience, teachers generally have a love of reading. I know one of my favorite activities is to curl up with a good book, and there’s no better time to read than during the summer months! Magazines abound with recommended summer reading lists and best books for the beach. So I thought we would try our own little teacher-approved recommended reading list on The Mailbox® Blog. What are you planning to read during the summer months? What are some of your favorite books from past summers? Type me a quick note to name your all-time favorites! Then you can use the recommendations to jot down a list of potential books to read. Hey, all of these books are teacher-approved—just like our ideas in The Mailbox® magazine!
All the best,
Kimberly
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I could not conceive of being without a book to read. I’ve read some of the books mentioned above and highly reccommend THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins. My favorite books are the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. Stephanie is always involved in some kind of mischief and the reading is light and full of laughter at her (and her family’s) antics. I just finished reading The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. Mr. Hosseini is a great author. Bring along a box of tissues. Happy Summer Reading!
I love reading young adult literature. I teach a summer school age program and like to read with them. I have several favorite series including first and best Gregor the Overlander, and Harry Potter of course, Charlie Bone and the Children of the Red King, and Percy Jackson The Olympian series. I’m now reading 100 Cupboards and am hooked. It’s so difficult to keep kids interested in reading but I am intent on keeping reading number one on my summer curriculum:) I also like Jodi Piccoult books, my favorite being Keeping Faith.
“My Sister’s Keeper”…awesome, but a box of tissue is required!! Southern literature (Yes, I’m from SC!!!),…try Dorothea Benton Frank’s Pawley’s Island, Shem Creek, nPlantation, and Isle of Palms. Pawley’s Island II is coming out in Aug. Can’t wait!!
I enjoyed reading all or your comments, but no one mentioned The Outliers by Maxwell Gladwell. It is non-fiction and a fascinating read. It explains in terms of culture, family, and generation how the Beatles, Bill Gates, Asians with math, and many others are so successful. I couldn’t put it down.
I’m in a teacher/knitting-reading group and we try to read a book a month and discuss it when we get together on Fridays. My favorite so far has been City of Thieves by David Bennioff.
Oh my, where to start!
Hunger Games- Suzanne Collins I also read the sequel Advanced Reader Copy of Catching Fire due out Sept 1st! Both are EXCELLENT - for older teens
Girl in a Cage - Jane Yolen
Wicked Lovely- Melissa Marrs
Schooled- Spinelli
Star Girl
Wednesday Wars- Schmidt
Most of the books I read are teen books or tween books to keep ahead of my students. It allows me to have a list of books in my mind for particular students once I get to know their interests. The list above are all books I enjoyed so much!
A good list to check out are the Sonlight Curriculum books (Read Alouds) there are books on that list that every child should read and are often overlooked.
Summer and school year I love listening to mystery books on CD while I am in the car or grading papers after school. But during the summer, I also try to read all of the new Bluebonnet Award Books and Newberry Honor Books. Then I will have some suggestions for my students.
I, too, must read every night before I can sleep. I would like to recommend The Mark of the Lion trilogy by Francine Rivers. Don’t get discouraged at the beginning; It took me the first eighty pages to get hooked. It is a fascinating read and on my top ten list. Isn’t it great to have a hot, lazy day devoted to pleasure reading?
My wonderful, loving, dedicated mother has dementia. The book “Still Alice” was a wonderful tribute to all the people we love that has this disease. It is written from the patients point of view. This book made me cry but also gave me insight of what my mother went through in the first stages. Excellent.
I love to read, but don’t find much time during the school year. I love the summer when I have a chance to catch up on my reading. I really enjoyed The Shack, but my favorite authors are Debbie Macomber and Karen Kingsbury. I also read several professional books each summer and of course my Mailbox magazines (including about 10 years of back issues) to see which ideas I’ll use this school year.
I plan to order The Cornerstone by Angela Powell to read before the summer’s over. Enjoy your summer reading everyone!
I am reading THE DAILY 5 and THE CAFE BOOK by “the sisters.” I also enjoy Christian romance novels that take place in the 1800s and early 1900s.
Jodi Picoult is one of my favorite authors - “Plain Truth”, “Keeping Faith”, “Change of Heart”, “Handle With Care” are just some of her books - amazing!
“PS - I Love You” - SO much better than the movie!!!
Happy Summer everyone!
There is never enough time to read but I read a little at least each day when I climb into bed. (like Donna above)I also read when brushing my teeth and doing kind of routine stuff! Summer offers me the time to read more. I just came back from a 2 week visit to my brother’s in Florida. I read 3 1/2
books while there. Sunshine,warm water,sandy beaches,
and books-a great combination!!
I too loved The Shack it really makes you evaluate your beliefs and how judgemental we can be. I love most historical fiction and I also love Karen Kingsbury. Her stories bring you into the family she is writing about.The Redemption series was my favorite. It reminds us that all of us live through crisis at some time in our life and how God will give you the strength to get through it.
I also love books about teachers!! Just plain fun reading!
I also love to read during the summer!! I just finished a book by Nicholas Sparks titled “The Choice”. Great book, but have the kleenex handy. If you know Nicholas Sparks at all, you know that already. I also started reading “The Messenger” by Lois Lowry. She’s an amazing author. I love reading young adult literature and finding new GOOD reads for my 5th graders. I’d love to hear any suggestions! Before that, I read the 4th installment in the “City of Ember” series. It was great!! I didn’t finish “Prophet of Yonwood”, but having read the last book, I may go back and reread it.
Have a great summer and enjoy!!
Like everyone else, I have a deep love for reading. I love anything biographical, but I like to read a wide range of titles. I love anything by Nicholas Sparks, Danielle Steele and I’m currently reading 2 books - Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and Little Bitty Lies by Mary Kay Andrews. Of course, I love to read various magazines.
A couple of my teacher buddies, our school bookkeeper, and I are avid readers and exchange books back and forth all during the school year. We have each introduced the others to some our favorite authors. Here are some of our favorites: Lisa Jackson, Nora Roberts, Mariah Stewart, Catherine Coulter (FBI series), Julie Garwood (FBI series), Lisa Gardner, David Baldacci, Brand Meltzer, and the list goes on. Most of these authors write suspense series, and you can go to their websites to figure out the order in which the books should be read (if you’re like me and hate reading the books out of order. Happy reading!!
Reading is my favorite hobby! I enjoy reading every night before bed, no matter the time, I have to read at least a page or two. I also enjoy reading to my own kids every day. It is such a special time to spend together. Reading takes you places!
I love to read science fiction. Some of my favorite authors are James Clemens, Carol Berg and Kate Forsyth.
Forgot to leave my favorite books…I love anything Science Fiction. James Clemens, Kate Forsyth and Carol Berg are some of my favorites.
Reading is my favorite hobby! I enjoy reading every night before bed no matter what time I still have to read at least a page or two. I also read to my own children every day. It is such a special time to spend together! Reading takes you places!!
I have loved reading for as long as I can remember. That is one thing, I hope to instill in all of my students. I love Nicholas Sparks, John Grisham, Jeanette Oake, etc. I even love to pick up my daughters Chapter books and read sometimes.
I agree with Diana B. I love to read, too, but it seems that too often, summertime is the time to catch up on organizing, cleaning, and preparing for the next school year ! With a pre-school aged child myself, I am often left reading short magazine articles, or the occasional teacher’s resource. However, this summer, my church has begun new small group classes on Wednesday nights, and I am in a class on parenting skills. We are studying the book Boundaries With Kids (by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend). This book is AMAZING ! It not only provides a Christian-based foundation for parenting, but it can be used in the classroom as well ! As a companion book, I am also reading The Blessing (by John Trent-PH.D. & Gary Smalley). This book is such an eye-opening experience into the brokenness of relationships, and how, as parents (and teachers), we hold such enormous power to help, or harm. I can’t read these books fast enough ! Try them ! You’ll see !
Remember: “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men”. -Frederick Douglass-
When I finished my Masters I was so excited to read for pleasure again, but found it was really hard! I was so used to skimming for info that I couldn’t get into the story like I used to. Thank goodness that has passed, and I’m finally back to reading the way I did as a kid-totally absorbed and forgetting to cook dinner
Martha and others who need a great resource that pertains to newbys and oldies like me… I found it while working on my National Board and it is an invaluable source of info and inspiration. It is called “Building the Primary Classroom” by authors Bickart, Jablon, and Dodge. I bought it in a college bookstore but I know you can get it online. It is pricey but if you can’t find it used, maybe some can share the cost.
I just read The Shack by Wm Paul Young. It is a great read and makes you think about your beliefs. I love Karen Kingsbury and just read Like Dandelion Dust. Her books are christian fiction and they always have a happy ending. I’m starting Jodi Picoult’s book Mercy and have 2 Nicholas Sparks books saved for the beach as well as Three Cups of Tea. For professional reading I have the daily 5 by “the sister” and Guided Reading: Making it Work for a pd course. I’d love to read the Twilight series since both of my kids have read it, but I’m afraid I’ll run out of summer!
I love the Twilight series. I had never heard of it and after seeing the movie decided to read the books. I love them! I read all the books in just a short time and recommend them to anyone! I also love Mary Higgins Clark, Patricia Cornwell, and oh ya, any cowboy romance! As for professional books I am reading Skillstreaming the Elementary School Child New Stratgies and Perspectives for Teaching Prosocial Skills, Making Sense of Phonics The Hows and Whys, and the PRE-REFERRAL INTERVENTION MANUAL (3rd edition) to help prepare myself for a new year of teaching kindergarten.
All time favorites: short stories by Peter Taylor; The Rose by Umberto Eco; Cobra Event or anything by Richard Preston; anything by Toni Morrison.
Professional books I am reading: Squish, Sort, Paint and Build (about centers);
Want to finish: The Last Lion (bio of Churchill); My Life as a Traitor, an Iranian Memoir; A thousand Splendid Suns.
Reading opens the world to everyone.
I recently moved to kinder from 4th so this summer I am reading up on kinder routines and literacy work stations to name a few.
I also plan on some pleasure reading. I like all types of books, mysteries, romance, suspense I get a good number of my books at the library book sales and tag(yard) sales.
Happy reading to all.
The first thing I did after the last week of school was return all of the children’s books that I had checked out to my local library. As much as I love these, I only wanted to look for some books for me. I walked down the fiction aisle and grabbed several books just because they had fun covers. I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by it’s cover, but I’ve read several good books already this summer.
FOR MARTHA SHAW….
Hi, Martha! I saw you post a question about good professional books to read to help you with your first year of teaching. I do have one recommendation for you. It’s called, “The First Days of School” and is written by Harry and Rosemary Wong.
Your school might have a copy of it (many do), but if they don’t, I’d highly recommend picking it up. It’s rather long, but is broken up into very useful segments to help you with specific ideas and suggestions. There are also lots of (black and white) photographs if you need a visual to go with the description of an idea.
Best of luck to you in your new career-it’s a terrifically rewarding job!
reading is oneof my favourite past times in the summer.last year^s favourite was A Thousand SLendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. this year`s list has The Island by Victoria Hislop andBest of Friends by cathy kelly to name a few. of course there will also be the mailbox magazines and books to get me ready for september…oh how i love leisure reading!
I recently purchased five of the past Mailbox Yearbooks….yeah five! So I have been busy going through them and jotting down the ideas that I will use for next year. These are wonderful resources…I will buy the yearbook from now on!
I hope to finish “Strategies that Work…Teaching Comprehension…” etc. etc. etc. this summer.
I’m also an avid reader of Christian fiction; favorite authors include Karen Kingsbury, Francine Rivers, and Tamera Alexander. My recommendation for poolside reading this summer would be “From a Distance” and “Beyond this Moment” by Tamera Alexander.
But my students will tell you I have a million favorite books; soooooo many times as I prepare to read our “Book of the Day” aloud, I preface it by saying “This is my favorite…” and they all roll their eyes, since they know I read my favorite yesterday, and the day before, and the day before…
I live to read. I wanted to write I love to read, but I guess what I first wrote was more accurate. This summer,I am gathering ideas from my various education books, including a Mailbox book titled 500 Classroom Tips for Grades K-1. I also read a lot for pleasure. I usually read biographies, but lately a friend of mine got me hooked on Debbie Macomber books. This author has written many books about ordinary women and their families and friends. She often writes books in a series. Once you finish one, you can’t wait to start the next one. If anyone else has any favorite authors, please write.
I am a huge reader! I actually started a book club amongst the staff at my school. Nine people joined. It is a great way to see each other outside of our building. Also, I have read books that I normally wouldn’t read. For example- Loving Frank (I cannot remember the author) was so fabulous! It is about Frank Lloyd Wright and an affair he had in the early 1900s.
I have also started the Twilight series. My goal is to finish it this summer.
I agree, modeling your love of reading really gets the kids involved too. I am always recommending books to kids. They come up to me all the time asking me if I would recommend something for them because I look at the student and their interests. They really appreciate that. Happy Reading Everyone!
I have a long list of professional books I want to read. one is Jan Richardson’s guided reading book. I am also reading Cooperative Learning by Kaegan, and Cafe by the Sisters. I am trying to find the next great series to recomend to my 5th graders. I am trying the Willow series.
I enjoy reading and summer time is a great time to catch up on the things that I don’t get read during the school year. My son got me hooked on The Overlander series by Suzanne Collins. They are really for pre teens but I thought they were good and have recommended them to friends.
I try to keep a balance between reading for pleasure while mixing in some educational reads that give me some new ideas for the upcoming year. Jodi Picoult and Susan Elizabeth Phillips are my two favorite authors. For the romantics, “Match Me If You Can” by Phillips is great, and for Picoult “Picture Perfect” and “The Tenth Circle” will have you flying through books!
I love to read as well! I’m a first year teacher and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for professional books that might help with the stress and nerves?? Thank you for any help!!
During the summer I like to catch up on my “pleasure reading” as well as professional reading. I just finished up the first Twilight book and now I am reading the newest book from Nora Roberts. As far as professional reading goes, I am reading Spaces and Places by Debbie Diller. It has great ways to organize your classroom and get rid of clutter. I am an avid reader and my love for reading does not stop when the school year starts. I try to make time before bed each night to catch up on my latest novel. Sometimes I even share with my class what I am reading at home if it is appropriate. I think they like to see that teachers are readers too.
Part of my daily routine during the school year is ’silent reading’ time shortly after lunch. Everyone gets out a book to read for 15-30 minutes. To set a good example as well as get in some reading time myself, I too read. When students see me reading a novel they begin to realize that it takes me longer than 10 minutes to finish it and use the same bookmarker I make for them at the beginning of the year. What great modeling I must be doing because so many of my fourth graders mock what I do during this time - even using their bookmark to same way I do! I continue this habit during the summer but change the time to the evening and for a much longer period of time. Since I live rather far from the closest town I get my books at the grocery store. Suspense, mysteries, biographies - are all for me. I’ve completed three of James Patterson’s ‘chance’ novels he wrote with Andrew Gross since June 3. Sweet iced tea, a lounge chair on the deck, phones turned off and lock the dogs inside so I can enjoy the air, trees, and nature in general. I try to stay on a schedule of sorts planning for next school year. The Mailbox is what I refer to the most for fun! I have some from 1989 that are a treat for me to pull from because no one at my school was even out of middle school by then. It’s the best thing I share to get tongues wagging (so to speak).
I take turns reading MY “adult” book; then I read a book that my students have read or a new book for future sharing with my class. Plus all of the articles in my magazines… I crave more time to read. A colleague gave me a book, Cold Sassy Tree, by Olive Ann Burns, and I couldn’t put it down! It was a fast read for almost 400 pages. I’m ready to read her next novel, Leaving Cold Sassy, if I can find it. I also read the children’s book,The Mysterious Benedict Society BY Trenton Lee Stewart. Great book!! I’ve already bought the 2nd book by the author, so I’m anxious to finish my grown-up book, Finding Life by James Graham. Finding Life is wonderful also!! Plus, I’m taking an online class and reading the book, Time to Teach. I think I’ve got all bases covered, don’t I?
I love to read “fun” novels during the summer! I enjoy Charlene Harris, Diana Gabaldon, Catherine Coulter, and Patricia Biggs to name a few! I also like to purchase a few teacher resources and mark pages and make a note of things I want to try in the new school year. It’s fun to do when I have plenty of time and no deadlines! I also love to cook, so believe it or not, I read cookbooks!! Just for fun, I decided to re-read A Wrinkle in Time this summer. It was my most loved book in Elementary School. Happy Reading everyone!
I absolutely love to read. In the summer months I try to read a little for myself and for my kids. My all time favorite book is Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen. After using it as a novel study last year, I read the sequel Ghost of Spirit Bear. Awesome with real life situations going on in todays schools. I also just finished the Kidnapped series by Gordon Korman. Great adventure and very easy reads.
I also love to read! I don’t have alot of time during the school year to sit down and read all day, so I wait till summer vacation to “catch up”. My favorite authors are Nora Roberts, James Patterson, and Patricia Cornwell; for light reading-Southern Living magazine. When I finish my books I pass them on to my mother who is an advid reader and a retired teacher.
I couldn’t pick a favorite read if my life hung in the balance…well, maybe under that condition. I just read a book borrowed from my daughter that she bought because it “looked interesting”. As it turned out, it was set in Virginia not too far from where I live and my daughters grew up. In fact, the author, Jason F. Wright moved to the Shenandoah Valley area after having fallen in love with it while researching it for the book, The Wednesday Letters. He also wrote the New York Times bestselling book, Christmas Jars that I intend to read as well as his newest, Recovering Charles.
I write a weekly column, “wee Notes” for a small hometown newspaper The Southside Messenger.
I too am an avid reader — and I read just about anything. Just finished my 4-5 book for the summer. If I don’t slow down I am going to start raiding my beach bag - I buy myself 4 books for the week at the beach, park myself under that umbrella and start reading. I love historical fiction, but mystery is just as good sometimes. I can get very picky. Loved Harry Potter and the Twilight series. The Septimus Heap series is pretty good too. Last year I read the chronicles of narnia. I agree with Diane though alot of summer is spent catching up on magazine articles and figuring out better ways to organize my “Stuff”!
I use the summer to “cleanse the palate” when it comes to reading - I read Danielle Steele, Patricia Cornwell, Nicholas Sparks, Jodi Picoult - and maybe will read one education-related book. It is a time to catch up with all those magazines, like Cosmo, Good Housekeeping, Better Homes and Gardens, and just grab a big cup of iced coffee, kick off your shoes and turn down the phone - me time in its finest!
I love to read and try to instill that love in my own children as well as my class. I have already read three books this past month and many magazines. I love to read short articles because I have two younger children but this year they have given me more time to read. I am so excited!
I love to read. I find Karen Kingsbury Inspirational books to be very good and addicting. She writes series and single books. I also read books for 4th to 8th grade. But Kevin Henkes is one of my favorite children’s author.
I read throughout the year but, of course, get more books read during the summer months. I am currently re-reading Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. I just finished The Other Queen and The Queen’s Fool by Philippa Gregory. I love reading historical fiction and would highly recommend the many books by Eugenia Gregory to Patricia as they all take place in the South. A friend of mine wants me to start reading the series about Stephanie Plum by Jane Evanovich but I think I’ll save those for during the school year as they seem to be quick-reads. And I also must read Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince one more time before the movie comes out.
Happy reading!
I am an avid mystery reader…I really like Katherine Hall Page and Diane Davidson Mott…Both of their characters revolve around catering…and recipes are included, which is fun because cooking is my other favorite thing to do!
If you are looking for inspirational books to read this summer try 3 Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin or Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi. Both excellent books about individuals trying to make a difference through education. I also love anything by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni.
Happy Reading!
Last summer I started reading Stephanie Meyer’s Twlight series. I was in a book club at the time and I was hearing all this publicity on the series and I suggested it to the book club and the ladies were like, “I don’t know–Vampires.” But we made it our pick and a lot of the ladies really liked it to their surprise. I’m still reading the series this summer I like it a lot. They are very long books around 500 pages but they’re easy reads and they’re very exciting.
I love to read and summertime is when I really indulge! The rule at our house is that I get an hour right after lunch to just float in the pool with my book all alone! (no splashing allowed!… my son has a problem with this!) Years ago I discovered Karen Kingsbury and she is by far my favorite author! She is a spiritual writer who brings her passion for life alive in everything she does. Her
“Redemption” series is fabulous. All of the books can be read as stand alone titles, but if you like to follow the lives of characters, be sure to start with the first one - “Redemption”. She has many others that aren’t part of that series. Enjoy!
Jodi Picoult books are amazing! The movie based on one of her books, My Sister’s Keeper, just came out. All of her books keep your attention and are great, fast reads!!
Hi,
When I am not teaching for the summer I like to read mystery books. I really like Carol Higgins Clark books. I will read 2 or 3 of her books in the summer time.
I like to read history books that I did not have time for … John Brown: The legend Revisited and Mary Todd Lincoln: A Life are excellent reads - not dry at all.
I too love to read but seem like I get caught up in organizing my ideas for the next school year. I do try to catch up on reading articles in my magazines which pertain to my teaching young children. I truely love new ideas especially from Mailbox.
I, too, am an avid reader, but the books I love to read most are romance novels. I love Danielle Steel. Many of her books contain a historical twist that I wouldn’t read otherwise unless, of course, it was for work purposes. I have a published poem on line as well that can be viewed by going to any search engine and typing in “Your Voice” by Annie Collins. You might have to add my middle initial “R,” but I don’t think so.
Anyway, happy reading and if you have published any works, please let me know.
I have always been an avid reader with a desire to write as well. I enjoy all kinds of stories, everything from gothic to murder mysteries, literture, children’s stories and stories of faith.
Reading has always been the cheapest way for me to travel because of that I started traveling when I was 10. Yeah, I’ve been EVERYWHERE.
For the past few summers, my family has a book contest. At the end of the summer, the person that has read the most books wins. The winner gets to choose the restaurant where we will eat on the very last day of summer. My kids love this contest and my daughter is especially excited this summer because she can read books to herself for the first time. So far I have two really good books in my stack. If you like mystery, try In the Wood by Tana French. If you like chick lit, try Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah. Of course, I have to reread Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling. The movie comes out in July! Watching movies is the only other thing teachers like to do more than reading books during the summer.
I am an avid reader and love to have the summer months to be able to catch up on books I didn’t get a chance to read during the year. So far this summer I have read 14 books, but the ones I would recommend would be The Middle Place, by Kelly Corrigan and The Help, by Kathryn Stockett. Boh are excellent books. Happy reading!
Every summer since I was 12 years old, I have read Gone With the Wind. I am originally from Rhode Island so the south was mysterious and magical and so….. far away. Now I live in Alabama. It is still a wonderful place. I also try to fit in The Diary of a Young Girl - Anne Frank. Every year since I was about twelve. I never get tired of her courage.