Welcome to the #tccbookclub
Our book club was born out of the inspiration we felt after attending the CITL conference at The Liggett School in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. As part of our workshop experience, we received several incredible books including, Dive into Inquiry and The Expert Effect among them. From there, Mike, Vidhya, and I came together to form a book club as a space to reflect on these titles and deepen our practice.
Our book club was born out of the inspiration we felt after attending the CITL conference at The Liggett School in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. As part of our workshop experience, we received several incredible books including, Dive into Inquiry and The Expert Effect among them. From there, Mike, Vidhya, and I came together to form a book club as a space to reflect on these titles and deepen our practice.
|
|
What made the experience even more meaningful was the opportunity to speak directly with the authors. We chatted about their books, their creative journeys, and the questions they are still exploring in their work. It added a layer of richness that helped our own thinking grow. Although CITL has since come to a close, the spirit of our collaboration continues. The book club has evolved into the thinkchat Book Club, a space that still holds the heart of what brought us together. While we’re sad to see CITL go, we’re grateful this community still lives on. |
This is not your typical book club. It is a space for thinkers, not just readers. We do not gather to read chapters aloud or follow a strict agenda. Instead, we come together to unpack big ideas, sit with powerful questions, and explore what these insights might look like in real classrooms and real lives.
This is not to say that regular book club formats are not powerful, but we have approached it a bit differently. No matter what book club you join, there will be plenty of opportunities to learn and grow together.
I have this book club, and we don't read one book; we offer up a few suggestions and create a library over time. Claire Danes
Purpose
Purpose
|
Like all meaningful learning communities, our group formed because of a shared curiosity and an eagerness to understand inquiry more deeply by using our CITL materials with greater intention. We came together not just to learn, but to connect. Over time, we discovered how much our shared values shaped our conversations and how those values pointed us toward something bigger than ourselves. The book club became more than just a space for reading. It became a space to listen, reflect, and grow together. Through these shared moments, we began to ask new questions, consider new perspectives, and imagine what it means to serve the common good through our teaching.
|
|
As we explore these ideas more deeply, I invite you to think about what you care about most. What brings you energy? What kind of future do you want to help create? These are the seeds of shared purpose. And from there, the work we do together becomes more than a task list, it becomes a collective journey. One rooted in connection, lifted by purpose, and grounded in the hope that together, we can make a difference.
Books
Books
Books hold a special place in our hearts because they have been constant companions in shaping how we understand learning. Each one book below offers new insights and helps us to grow as educators and as people. They may be varied in style and focus, yet each leave a lasting impact on our journey. I hope these books bring you inspiration and clarity as you continue your own path in learning.
|
If inquiry-based learning feels overwhelming or unclear, Dive into Inquiry by Trevor MacKenzie is a great place to start. He offers a clear rationale for why inquiry matters and breaks it down in a way that puts learner agency in focus throughout the book. What I appreciated most is the book’s conversational tone, because it’s approachable without losing depth. If you're looking for a balance of thoughtful theory and practical strategies you can use right away, this is a book worth diving into. |
|
As an educator, I’ve read my fair share of professional books. But every once in a while, a book stops me in my tracks and shifts something in how I see my role. Pop-Up Studio: Responsive Teaching for Today's Learners challenged me to reflect and to ask harder questions about what my learners truly need.
What I love most is how thoughtfully the frameworks are crafted. The 4 A’s, CME, and POWR aren’t just acronyms, because they are invitations to see learners as capable, creative, and full of potential. This isn’t a book that tells you what to do. It’s one that helps you see your practice with fresh eyes. |
|
The Expert Effect chronicles the learning journey of two upper primary/elementary teachers through project-based learning pathway. This book highlights their challenges, successes, and everything else inbetween. It is a great read for anyone trying to make inquiry happen more authentically in their practice but don't know where to start. The Expert Expedition is a companion picture book full of whimsical poetry that shares the joys and rewards of exploring your own inquiry. |
|
Our book club is back, and we’re thrilled to be diving into Seen, Heard & Valued by Lee Ann Jung. This book has been a breath of fresh air by affirming that inquiry and conceptual learning naturally open doors for all learners. It reminds us that agency, access, and purposeful assessment are not separate practices, but deeply connected. We’re only halfway through the book. I can already tell there are more insights waiting to be uncovered as we keep reading.
If you’re reading along with us, we’d love to hear from you. What are some of your aha moments so far? |
|
The Four Agreements felt exactly the right book at exactly the right time. What started as a typical book club meeting quickly evolved into a hybrid sketch club. We explored the text through guiding questions and translated our reflections into sketches that captured how we felt. We also used the True Colors personality framework to help us process and personalize the agreements. |
Guides
Guides
In our book club, we love having a visual that captures what we are learning together. It helps us make sense of the ideas in a different way and allows us to see how our thinking connects and evolves. These visual guides offer a glimpse into that process. They reflect how our group made meaning collectively, how we responded to one another, and how ideas started to take shape.
They are not perfect. In fact, they are messy and a bit disorganized, but that is what makes them beautiful. They show the thinking in progress. They capture the energy of curiosity and the back-and-forth of real dialogue.
They are not perfect. In fact, they are messy and a bit disorganized, but that is what makes them beautiful. They show the thinking in progress. They capture the energy of curiosity and the back-and-forth of real dialogue.
|
|
Podcast
Podcast
If meeting regularly does not fit into your schedule, you can still be part of the conversation by joining us through the book club series on my podcast, Confessions of a PYP Teacher. It offers you the flexibility to engage with the ideas in your own time and space. Whether you are commuting, prepping for class, or taking a quiet moment for yourself, each episode invites you into thoughtful dialogue around powerful texts.
The Expert Effect I first met Grayson and Zach at the CITL Inquiry Conference in 2021 and I was curious about their work with building more agency through project-based learning and local and global inquiry. Our book club was eager to dive into their book and here are some of my thoughts too. |
|
Culturally Responsive Teaching & The Brain I found myself in tears the first time I read this book. It brought up memories of my own life growing up in the United States and the many learners I may not have fully seen in my career. This book is an absolute must-read. |
|
Videos
Videos
These video sessions grew out of the genuine curiosity of our book club community. They are responsive conversations rooted in the real questions that emerged as we explored the work together. What makes them even more meaningful is that the authors themselves took the time to join us. They listened to our wonderings and offered thoughtful insights shaped by their own lived experiences.
These moments reminded me of the power of connection through dialogue. To hear directly from the voices behind the work brought such depth and clarity. They sparked new ideas, deepened our understanding, and reminded us that this work is not done in isolation. It is done in community with open hearts and minds.
These moments reminded me of the power of connection through dialogue. To hear directly from the voices behind the work brought such depth and clarity. They sparked new ideas, deepened our understanding, and reminded us that this work is not done in isolation. It is done in community with open hearts and minds.
|
|
Our book club had the opportunity to sit down with Trevor MacKenzie and explore how authentic inquiry can take shape from early years through high school. The conversation was thoughtful, energizing, and full of new perspectives that pushed our thinking further. Trevor was incredibly generous with his time, helping us unpack misconceptions and deepen our understanding in ways that felt both practical and inspiring.
For primary or elementary teachers, Inquiry Mindset offers a similar experience; grounded, practical, and tailored to the needs of younger learners. Both books support you in making inquiry feel possible. |
|
|
Our book club had a rich and thoughtful conversation with Misty that we accidentally forgot to record. Thankfully, she generously joined us for a follow-up session where we shared our progress, asked new questions, and continued the learning. You can watch that conversation here.
We had the privilege of using Misty’s thoughtfully designed book club kit while reading her inspiring book. It offered just the right balance of structure and reflection to deepen our conversations. If you’re looking for a meaningful and engaging way to explore a book, her kit is definitely worth exploring. Get your copy here. |
|
|
Our book club had a chat with Grayson McKinney and Zach Rondot into what it really means to be an expert and how that mindset can transform learning for students of all ages. They shared their personal stories to help us visualize what it might look like in pratice. If you want to help your learners to demonstrate agency in their learning, take a watch here. |