March 2023 Bookshelf

If we cannot talk to each other within our communities, the notion of dreaming, creating, and inventing together may seem out of reach. But, in the face of one-sided social media conversations and rising levels of partisanship, Mónica Guzmán offers curiosity as a tool to create new opportunities for honest, authentic communication. “Mónica shows how you can put your natural sense of wonder to work for you immediately, finding the answers you need by talking with people — rather than about them — and asking the questions you want, curiously.” Check out this book if you’re looking to make difficult conversations a little bit easier.

Professor Jarvis Givens has collected over 100 powerful accounts of Black youth who have broken through stigmas, barriers, and the limitations society has sought to enforce to create fulfilling lives of their own choosing. “School Clothes elevates a legacy in which Black students are more than the sum of their suffering. By peeling back the layers of history, Givens unveils in high relief a distinct student body: Black learners shaped not only by their shared vulnerability but also their triumphs, fortitude, and collective strivings.” Pick up this read to hear from learners fighting for themselves in a system that is too often working against them.

From Gloria Steinem and Lena Waithe to Cynthia Erivo and Billie Jean King, some of your favorite celebrities, activists, and change-makers are sharing the forces they had to fight against to have their voices and talents heard. “This powerful essay collection is a natural extension of the #MeToo movement, revealing the interior experience of women after they’ve inevitably been underestimated or hurt — the epiphany that the world is different than they thought it to be — and how they’ve used this knowledge to make change.” Check out this collection if you want to hear from women who pushed the boundaries when society tried to hold them back.

If you’ve been around a very young learner, you’re familiar with the endless stream of “why” questions. Their questions can range from the mundane to the profound. Yet, as we grow up, we often stop asking. Your Why is an invitation to bring that powerful question back into your life. “Barbara [Bray] tells her story with stories from 26 inspirational thought leaders along with quotes, resources, questions, and activities to help you on your journey to define your WHY so you own your story.” This book is recommended for anyone looking to find or refocus their mission in life.

In learner-centered ecosystems, we envision educators as designers of experiences where young people can explore their interests and everyone can bring their authentic skills and curiosity. The authors of Deep Learning are exploring the same possibility and considering its global implications. “This book not only defines what deep learning is, but takes up the question of how to mobilize complex, whole-system change and transform learning for all students.” Check out this academic book for a deep dive into an exploration of shifting how we learn within a global context.