From My Bookshelf...

I finished reading two more books this week. The first one is an educational book by Dr. Todd Whitaker called Dealing with Difficult Teachers. This book intrigued me because it's true that I work in a profession where it is very difficult to "get rid of" ineffective and difficult teachers. It's one of the saddest things about my job.


Dr. Whitaker gives some insight that I think is helpful in everyday life. He notes that difficult teachers really are often very negative people. They are not just difficult at school, but most likely in their home/personal life as well. Therefore, they don't know that they are difficult. I think this is true about most "Negative Neds and Nellies" out there.


This book, and Dr. Whitaker's strategies, will help me when I deal with teachers in my own school. It also serves as a reminder that we have to be "about kids" in education...and sometimes this means that we have to be tough with those who forget this most important part of the job.

As I mentioned earlier about my Summer Reading, I am trying to balance Nonfiction/Informational with Fiction/Fun reading.

So the second book I picked up is Silent Partner: A Memoir of My Marriage by Dina Matos McGreevey. This is actually my favorite genre: biography. Dina is the ex-wife of former New Jersey Governor, Jim McGreevey. Her husband resigned from office in 2004 after admitting that he was gay and that he had an affair while in office (and married).

The story that unfolds in Dina's book is one of strength and character. She is a woman who had political convictions as well as a strong faith. She believed in "forever marriage" and the sacredness of it. Yet, she was blind-sided by this admission of her husband's.


While I don't espouse many of her political stances, I could certainly feel her pain and grief as the rug was literally pulled out from under her. I found myself connecting with her as a wife and a mother. And certainly I haven't "been there"---but I am certain that, in her situation, I may have had similar reactions. And I admire her strength as she continues to fight for what's right for her and her daughter, Jacqueline.


Now, I'm back to nonfiction. I've chosen another Todd Whitaker book What Great Teachers Do Differently. I figure I need to read about what sets the superstars apart from the rest to balance out my earlier reading. My next "fun" book will be Memoirs of a Geisha (unless I decide to go out and get Khaled Hosseini's new book A Thousand Splendid Suns (which is a good possibility after reading some of the reviews).

Happy Reading Everyone!

{Edited to Add: I am not sure what is going on with these pictures...can you only see half of them? The full pic is in my post and preview. Weird.}