Staff Book Club proving to be successful

Local middle school teachers have been getting together for a monthly book club, but they leave the romance novels at home.

Instead, the staff focus on improving student learning.

Thurston Middle School science teacher Ina Inouye Wu started a Staff Book Club two years ago as a professional development opportunity and the club has been meeting monthly to discuss a research-based book and share instructional methods and creative classroom strategies.

“Our amazing staff continues to discover new ways to collaborate and share ideas,” said Principal Jenny Salberg in a statement. “This year’s book is focused on the Common Core Implementation and provides time for teachers [and] staff to connect and discuss implementation strategies.”

The book club is reading “Formative Assessment & Standards-Based Grading” and “Navigating Implementation of the Common Core State Standards: Getting Ready for the Common Core Handbook Series, Book One.”

The club, which is made up of teachers in a variety of disciplisnes as well as administration and staff, provides a place for cross-curricular collaboration as well as diverse perspectives and approaches.

“Our staff book club is great,” said language arts teacher Laura Silver in the release. “It is a truly diverse group with so many perspectives, yet we are all dedicated to learning new techniques or strengthening our trusted ones. The group instills professionalism and [a] sense of camaraderie in each of us. Personally, I don’t want to become complacent and want to keep up on the research; this group addresses both those pieces.”

— Britney Barnes

Twitter: @britneyjbarnes