Professional Book Study Overview  
Purpose
The primary purpose of a Professional Book Study is to offer educators an opportunity to participate in professional discourse around a specific topic of teaching and learning. Through engaging in a Professional Book Study, together we can do the following:

  • Create a culture of inquiry and research, characterized by collaborative learning and reflective practice
  • Have professional dialogue about teaching and learning that is based on the expert research or 
  • Identify opportunities for coaching and professional development

Book/Group Identification
The Instructional Coaches will identify a number of books that support the goals for Professional Development in District 7 and solicit interested teachers to be a part of these Professional Book Studies throughout the year. However, if desired, a group of teachers may identify a book of their own choosing to be used for a Professional Book Study.

Initial Planning Meeting
At this meeting, teachers and coaches will use the Professional Book Study Collaboration Document to confirm the book to be read, set group norms, determine a schedule for reading/meeting and identify individuals’ desired outcomes for the study.

Ongoing Book Study Discussions
Reporting on Results
  • Did you apply any of your new learning in your classroom since the last time we met?
  • Were you successful? Why or Why not?

Insights
  • What idea struck you as most significant in the reading?

Ties to Personal Experience
  • How do these significant ideas relate to your experiences?

Implications for Teaching and Learning
  • What implications do these ideas have for your classroom/our school/your teaching?

So What? Now What?
    What might you try in your classroom?
Self-Reflection
After the finishing the book, participants summarize their conclusions from the book study by answering these questions:
  1. As a result of reading this book, which aspects of my teaching do I feel were validated?
  2. As a result of reading this book, which questions do I have about my own teaching?
  3. As a result of reading this book, what new ideas do I want to try in my own instructional practice?