Re: Salk Staff Book Club -- follow-up & looking ahead

The date for our next book club has been set for Wednesday, June 11th, and Pedro Noguera will be joining us! Mark your calendars, and hope to see you there.

Pauline

On Mon, Apr 7, 2008 at 9:44 PM, Pauline David ; wrote:

Thank you to Jake, Jason, Sonia, Ling, Marcel, Cherith, Katherine and Rhonda for making it to the most recent session of the Salk Staff Book Club. We had an interesting discussion about the book Being Smart about Gifted Children by Dona Matthews. Since Ling studied with her, she was able to give us some insight into how Dona might react to our comments about the book. One of the big things we talked about was differentiating for students who are at the top of our classes, not just for those who struggle. We also discussed the politics of gifted education and some of our own experiences. Additionally, we discussed school choice in New York City and the decisions parents are faced with when looking for school placements for their children. Thanks, Ling, for suggesting the book, and to everyone who came to the discussion!

Exciting news about our next book: Pedro Noguera has said that he would be willing to come to our next session if we wanted to discuss his latest book, The Trouble With Black Boys, with him! For those of you who don't know him, Pedro is a professor of education at NYU who focuses on issues of urban schooling (I can't possibly do justice to his rich resume in just one sentence, but you can read about him here). He's also a former Salk parent, and an amazing speaker and thinker. This is a really great opportunity to read a thought-provoking book and discuss it with the author. Read about the book here.

Rhonda is checking Pedro's availability regarding dates -- we will shoot for sometime in May, so stay tuned. Patti has graciously agreed to host (thanks, Patti!!). And, as always, I'm happy to order copies of the book to be delivered to school. Amazon is selling the book for $16.50 (o.k., $16.47, but I don't want to get any pennies!). If you want me to order you a book, please send me an email by the end of the week so that we can (hopefully) get the books in before break.

Whether you're a diehard book club attendee or someone who's been lurking in the shadows, this is one book club session you're not going to want to miss!!

Yours,
Pauline

Salk Staff Book Club -- follow-up & looking ahead

Thank you to Jake, Jason, Sonia, Ling, Marcel, Cherith, Katherine and Rhonda for making it to the most recent session of the Salk Staff Book Club.  We had an interesting discussion about the book Being Smart about Gifted Children by Dona Matthews.  Since Ling studied with her, she was able to give us some insight into how Dona might react to our comments about the book.  One of the big things we talked about was differentiating for students who are at the top of our classes, not just for those who struggle.  We also discussed the politics of gifted education and some of our own experiences.  Additionally, we discussed school choice in New York City and the decisions parents are faced with when looking for school placements for their children.  Thanks, Ling, for suggesting the book, and to everyone who came to the discussion!

Exciting news about our next book:  Pedro Noguera has said that he would be willing to come to our next session if we wanted to discuss his latest book, The Trouble With Black Boys, with him!  For those of you who don't know him, Pedro is a professor of education at NYU who focuses on issues of urban schooling (I can't possibly do justice to his rich resume in just one sentence, but you can read about him here).  He's also a former Salk parent, and an amazing speaker and thinker.  This is a really great opportunity to read a thought-provoking book and discuss it with the author.  Read about the book here. 

Rhonda is checking Pedro's availability regarding dates -- we will shoot for sometime in May, so stay tuned.  Patti has graciously agreed to host (thanks, Patti!!).  And, as always, I'm happy to order copies of the book to be delivered to school.  Amazon is selling the book for $16.50 (o.k., $16.47, but I don't want to get any pennies!).  If you want me to order you a book, please send me an email by the end of the week so that we can (hopefully) get the books in before break. 

Whether you're a diehard book club attendee or someone who's been lurking in the shadows, this is one book club session you're not going to want to miss!!

Yours,
Pauline

Salk Staff Book Club -- **change of venue**

Because of a scheduling conflict, we will be changing the location for Thursday's book club meeting.

 

We will meet at 4 PM at Push Cafe (3rd Ave. & 22nd St.).

 

Thanks, and hope to see you there.

 

(If you can't come but have ideas for a future book, please let me know!)

 

Pauline

 

On 3/12/08, Pauline David <pauline.david@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello all,

 

Several people have commented to me that this next book club book (Being Smart About Gifted Education by Dona Matthews) is rather long and have suggested that we could jigsaw some chapters.  So, if you're not up for reading the entire book, you might consider reading chapter 1 and then choosing one other section that particularly interests you.  Please don't let the length of the book deter you from participating!

 

As a reminder, our next meeting will be on Thursday, April 3rd at 4 PM at Patti's.

 

Hope to see you there!!

 

Pauline

Salk Staff Book Club -- update about April 3rd meeting

Hello all,

 

Several people have commented to me that this next book club book (Being Smart About Gifted Education by Dona Matthews) is rather long and have suggested that we could jigsaw some chapters.  So, if you're not up for reading the entire book, you might consider reading chapter 1 and then choosing one other section that particularly interests you.  Please don't let the length of the book deter you from participating!

 

As a reminder, our next meeting will be on Thursday, April 3rd at 4 PM at Patti's.

 

Hope to see you there!!

 

Pauline

Re: Salk Staff Book Club -- next meeting April 3rd

Quick reminder -- please let me know by the end of the school day tomorrow (Wed.) if you want me to order you a book (if you haven't already done so).  Cost is $25; I will have the books delivered to school and they should be waiting when we return from break.

Pauline

On Feb 7, 2008 2:56 PM, Pauline David <pauline.david@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear all,

 

A big thank you to Cherith, Ling, Patti, Katherine, Rhonda and Sonia for coming out to Push last week to discuss An Ethic of Excellence.  We had a spirited discussion about the kinds of work we want to see students engaging in, and the way that having students present work to a greater audience pushes them to want to do their best.  We talked about places where we already see students working with an ethic of excellence -- such as the 6th grade Egypt monologues and Marsha's Design-a-Greener-Salk project last year -- and ways we can craft more projects that incorporate a broader audience.  We also discussed the kinds of multi-disciplinary projects that were mentioned in the book and brainstormed ways of increasing collaboration between disciplines here at Salk.  It was an energizing conversation, and hopefully we can return to some of the ideas that were generated throughout this year and into next year.

 

Thank you also to those of you who expressed interest in attending, and in the book, even if you weren't able to make it this time.  I think everyone who's had a chance to read An Ethic of Excellence has agreed that it was very inspiring, and I highly encourage anyone who hasn't yet read it to borrow a copy and check it out.

 

Looking ahead to our next meeting, there are two exciting developments in the world of the Salk Staff Book Club:

 

1) Patti has graciously offered to host us at her apartment for our next meeting, so that we can kick back in a relaxing environment instead of squeezing into a local restaurant or coffee shop.  Thank you, Patti!!!  The date we chose is Thursday, April 3rd at 4 PM.

 

2) Ling has suggested our next book, which is one that will hopefully spark some interesting conversation: Being Smart About Gifted Education: A Guidebook for Parents and Educators by Dona Matthews.  Ling knows the author, who is one of her professors at Hunter College, and we thought this book might help us answer some questions we have about what the label "gifted" means, who should be classified as "gifted", and what that implies for teaching and parenting.  We're also imagining that it will spark some lively debate.  We hope you'll join us in reading and discussing this book!  The book costs $25 and, as before, I'm happy to order books to be delivered to school.

 

So, to recap:

 

Next meeting: Thursday, April 3rd at 4 PM, at Patti's apartment (specific details to follow)

Book: Being Smart About Gifted Education by Dona Matthews

 

Please drop me an email by Wednesday, April 13th letting me know if you want me to order you a book.

 

Yours,

Pauline

 

Salk Staff Book Club -- next meeting April 3rd

Dear all,

 

A big thank you to Cherith, Ling, Patti, Katherine, Rhonda and Sonia for coming out to Push last week to discuss An Ethic of Excellence.  We had a spirited discussion about the kinds of work we want to see students engaging in, and the way that having students present work to a greater audience pushes them to want to do their best.  We talked about places where we already see students working with an ethic of excellence -- such as the 6th grade Egypt monologues and Marsha's Design-a-Greener-Salk project last year -- and ways we can craft more projects that incorporate a broader audience.  We also discussed the kinds of multi-disciplinary projects that were mentioned in the book and brainstormed ways of increasing collaboration between disciplines here at Salk.  It was an energizing conversation, and hopefully we can return to some of the ideas that were generated throughout this year and into next year.

 

Thank you also to those of you who expressed interest in attending, and in the book, even if you weren't able to make it this time.  I think everyone who's had a chance to read An Ethic of Excellence has agreed that it was very inspiring, and I highly encourage anyone who hasn't yet read it to borrow a copy and check it out.

 

Looking ahead to our next meeting, there are two exciting developments in the world of the Salk Staff Book Club:

 

1) Patti has graciously offered to host us at her apartment for our next meeting, so that we can kick back in a relaxing environment instead of squeezing into a local restaurant or coffee shop.  Thank you, Patti!!!  The date we chose is Thursday, April 3rd at 4 PM.

 

2) Ling has suggested our next book, which is one that will hopefully spark some interesting conversation: Being Smart About Gifted Education: A Guidebook for Parents and Educators by Dona Matthews.  Ling knows the author, who is one of her professors at Hunter College, and we thought this book might help us answer some questions we have about what the label "gifted" means, who should be classified as "gifted", and what that implies for teaching and parenting.  We're also imagining that it will spark some lively debate.  We hope you'll join us in reading and discussing this book!  The book costs $25 and, as before, I'm happy to order books to be delivered to school.

 

So, to recap:

 

Next meeting: Thursday, April 3rd at 4 PM, at Patti's apartment (specific details to follow)

Book: Being Smart About Gifted Education by Dona Matthews

 

Please drop me an email by Wednesday, April 13th letting me know if you want me to order you a book.

 

Yours,

Pauline

 

This WED! Re: Salk Staff Book Club: DATE CHANGE

I'm excited for book club! This book is inspiring :).

On 1/8/08, Pauline David <pauline.david@gmail.com> wrote:
> So, the new date and time for book club will be Wednesday, Jan. 30th
> at 4 PM, since that seems to work for the most people.
>
> (Clover, hopefully you can join us once you're done w/ after school.)
>
> We'll meet at Push Cafe.
>
> I've started the book and honestly think it's really great and
> inspiring. Plus, it's short!! Rhonda has an extra copy if you don't
> have one but would like to check it out (and now you have a little
> extra time!).
>
> Hope to see you at book club--
> Pauline
>
> On Jan 4, 2008 12:39 PM, Pauline David <pauline.david@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Several people said they just got their copies of An Ethic of Excellence by
> > Ron Berger, so it seems to make sense to push off our meeting date to give
> > everyone time to read.
> >
> > So, we will NOT meet Tuesday, 1/15. Instead, if you're interested in
> > attending, could you please let me know which of the following days works
> > best for you?
> >
> > Possibilities:
> > Tuesday, Jan. 29 at 4
> > Wednesday, Jan. 30 at 4
> > Thursday, Jan. 31 at 4
> >
> > (I know I had told some of you we'd switch to Thursday, 1/24, but it turns
> > out that date isn't good for Patti and Rhonda.)
> >
> > If you have an opinion on date, please email me by Tuesday -- I'll then let
> > everyone know what the new day will be.
> >
> > Thanks! & if you haven't gotten the book, it's very short -- there's still
> > time to get it and join us!
> >
> > Pauline
> >
> >
> > On 12/6/07, Pauline David <pauline.david@gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > Rhonda, Cherith, Julia, Mike, Kathleen, Betsy, Marcel, Keisha, Patti and I
> > had the big treat last week of sitting with Jake to discuss his book,
> > Spanking Shakespeare. It was a great opportunity to talk about what we
> > liked about the book and ask him questions about the writing and revising
> > process. A big thank you to Jake for agreeing to be our
> > author-in-residence, and to Rhonda for supplying treats.
> > >
> > > Jake has asked that people write reviews on Amazon for his book. So,
> > instead of just telling people verbally how much you liked the book, get
> > online and write your opinions for the world to read!!
> > >
> > > Our next book is a short yet powerful read: An Ethic of Excellence:
> > Building a Culture of Craftsmanship in Schools by Ron Berger. This book,
> > which has been favorably reviewed by Ted Sizer, Howard Gardner and Debbie
> > Meier, speaks about the way schools can create a culture that spurs students
> > to hold high standards and strive for excellence. It seems like a great
> > book to read to reenergize us as we head into 2008.
> > >
> > > Tentative next meeting date: Tuesday, Jan. 15th at 4 PM
> > > (Please let me know if you want to come but can't make that date/time.)
> > >
> > > If you want me to order you a copy of the book, please email me by Friday,
> > 12/14 and I will place an order to be delivered to school. (The cost will
> > be $18.50.)
> > >
> > > Hope you can make it -- and don't forget to go to Amazon and write a
> > review of Jake's book!!
> > >
> > > Yours,
> > > Pauline
> >
> >
>