Join or Start a Professional Book Study

Professional book studies engage educators in critical reading, intentional dialogue, and job-embedded learning with the purpose of enhancing teaching and students' learning.

More and more schools are using professional book studies to help educators connect their learning and their teaching. Educators, working together over an extended period of time, strengthen their content knowledge and pedagogy. The opportunity to read, discuss, implement, and evaluate the concepts presented in a book study, truly makes this form of professional growth one of the most valuable experiences to improve classroom instruction.

In an article in Education Week by Bess Keller, entitled Book Study Helps Teachers Hone Skills, Keller discusses the effectiveness of professional book studies. "One appeal of the book study is that it allows teachers to take the lead in informing their colleagues in seizing a moment in the life of a school," Keller writes.

A professional books study
* invites educators to embed their learning into the work they do everyday
* provides time for participants to read and reflect
* provides the structure for meaningful conversation with colleagues
* requires teachers to connect the text to their instruction
* challenges participants to examine their results

It is easy to get a professional book study started in your school. The PDI program has the tools and processes available for you to use. We can assist you in gauging interest for a professional book study with your colleagues, identifying potential books for study, providing graduate credit, and facilitating the book study. Facilitators for a SMU professional books study have access to an instructor toolkit and have opportunities to earn graduate credit for developing and facilitating a professional book study.

For more detailed information, please review the PowerPoint entitled, Professional Book Study Rationale to further explore the benefits of a book study.

For more information contact the PDI Program Office at 877-218-4755 or via email at pdi@smumn.edu.