Professional Reading Log 2017
Title and Author Alan Cooper, Growth Mindset
What are the key
ideas/strategies/concepts
discussed?
How does this reading support my
current teaching/leadership
practice
How does this reading challenge
my beliefs or practices as a
teacher/leader?
What key pieces can I take from
this reading for my own practice?
DateTerm 1
Self-Reflection Any discussion over reading
(Colleagues/PLG/Team)
Growth mindset in a classroom and who Discussed at a staff
should be involved in it. It is not about
presentation but about being productive.
We have a growth mindset in the
classroom but it is in its early stages.
It is working with some students.
It helps because it gives me ideas for the
classroom, how to approach it with the
children and how to change my own
mindset.
I need to reflect more on my own
teaching to help me plan and assess
better.
Title and Author Stephen Lethbridge, Modelling a growth
mindset
What are the key
ideas/strategies/concepts
discussed?
How does this reading support my
current teaching/leadership
practice
How does this reading challenge
my beliefs or practices as a
teacher/leader?
Date Term 1
Self-Reflection Any discussion over reading
(Colleagues/PLG/Team)
That learning isnt easy and to keep
trying and persevering.
We use student voice in the class and
have an open relationship where we tell
the truth and own up to things.
Teachers need to model growth mindset
all the time so it seems natural to the
students.
What key pieces can I take from
this reading for my own practice?
Title and Author Stephanie Menzies, Play based learning
What are the key
ideas/strategies/concepts
discussed?
How does this reading support my
current teaching/leadership
practice
How does this reading challenge
my beliefs or practices as a
teacher/leader?
What key pieces can I take from
this reading for my own practice?
Title and Author Claire Amos, NZ Educators casualties of
Not getting things right the first time
to ok, keep trying and you will succeed if
you learn from your mistakes.
Date Term 1
Self-Reflection Any discussion over reading
(Colleagues/PLG/Team)
Children being school ready before they We discussed this in staff meetings and
come. Giving them the time to play. Teacher only days. Great discussions.
I am in a senior class so we dont do play
based learning but it would be good to
try for an afternoon so the children can
fill gaps in their development.
I wonder if play based learning in the
Ferns will make a difference in the future
when they get to me.
Children can miss out on important
development stages for one reason or
another and these need to be plugged.
Date Term 1
flawed opinion piece
What are the key
ideas/strategies/concepts
discussed?
How does this reading support my
current teaching/leadership
practice
How does this reading challenge
my beliefs or practices as a
teacher/leader?
What key pieces can I take from
this reading for my own practice?
Title and Author Kimberly Baars, The Maker Movement: A
portal of possibility
What are the key
ideas/strategies/concepts
Self-Reflection Any discussion over reading
(Colleagues/PLG/Team)
MLEs and if they work
It is about connecting with the students
and being a facilitator in their learning to
promote their self-management.
It is interesting to listen to a different
point of view.
Possibly arrange some different spaces in
my classroom and see how they work.
Date
Self-Reflection Any discussion over reading
(Colleagues/PLG/Team)
Developing a can do attitude, tinkering
and a sense of community. Using
 discussed?
How does this reading support my
current teaching/leadership
practice
How does this reading challenge
my beliefs or practices as a
teacher/leader?
What key pieces can I take from
this reading for my own practice?
Title and Author Ministry of Education, Teaching Maori
Learners
What are the key
ideas/strategies/concepts
discussed?
How does this reading support my
current teaching/leadership
practice
technology in the classroom to facilitate
their learning.
Using technology to enhance learning but
also getting hands on with activities.
I like the idea of tinkering with things
and giving the children the opportunities
to have hands on activities.
Date Term 1
Self-Reflection Any discussion over reading
(Colleagues/PLG/Team)
Ways in which Maori learners learn. How
to ensure they progressing by using a
variety of ways.
It is interesting to see how Maori
students learn and what is needed to
help them progress. This will work with
all children in the end.
 How does this reading challenge
my beliefs or practices as a
teacher/leader?
What key pieces can I take from
this reading for my own practice?
Title and Author Helen Timperley, Linda Kasar and Judy
Halbert, Spiral of Inquiry
What are the key
ideas/strategies/concepts
discussed?
How does this reading support my
current teaching/leadership
practice
How does this reading challenge
my beliefs or practices as a
teacher/leader?
What key pieces can I take from
this reading for my own practice?
Title and Author Suzy Pepper Rollins, Round Robin
I think I am helping facilitate their
learning but I am always looking for ways
to improve.
Date Term 1
Self-Reflection Any discussion over reading
(Colleagues/PLG/Team)
The spiral of Inquiry We are all doing this as a staff so there
is alot of discussion.
We are doing this method this year for
our Teacher Inquiry which is interesting.
I think it is just a different way of
setting it out but is similar to the other
one, just different wording.
Date Term 2
Reading
What are the key
ideas/strategies/concepts
discussed?
How does this reading support my
current teaching/leadership
practice
How does this reading challenge
my beliefs or practices as a
teacher/leader?
What key pieces can I take from
this reading for my own practice?
Title and Author Using spiral of inquiry to raise literacy in
boys
What are the key
Self-Reflection Any discussion over reading
(Colleagues/PLG/Team)
Round robin reading, one after the other
in a group
I dont do round robin reading and the
children prefer it. I do have a couple of
kids who miss it but they read to a
friend.
This is what I have always done so it was
interesting to stop it and try another
method.
Date Term 2
Self-Reflection Any discussion over reading
(Colleagues/PLG/Team)
Improving levels in literacy using the
 ideas/strategies/concepts spiral of inquiry
discussed?
How does this reading support my Lots of discussion, planning and including
current teaching/leadership family
practice
How does this reading challenge
my beliefs or practices as a
teacher/leader?
What key pieces can I take from
this reading for my own practice?

Title and Author Ministry of Education, Accelerating Date Term 2

Student Achievement
What are the key
ideas/strategies/concepts
discussed?
How does this reading support my
current teaching/leadership
practice
How does this reading challenge
Self-Reflection Any discussion over reading
(Colleagues/PLG/Team)
Ideas to accelerate achievement
Some interesting ideas and concepts for
me to try and see if they work in my
class.
I wonder if Im doing enough and how I
 my beliefs or practices as a can improve.
teacher/leader?
What key pieces can I take from
this reading for my own practice?

Title and Author Jo Lunn, Making the teaching of inquiry Date Term 2
easy
Self-Reflection Any discussion over reading
(Colleagues/PLG/Team)
What are the key Putting STEM and STEAM into practice.
ideas/strategies/concepts
discussed?
How does this reading support my This gave me the definitions and what
current teaching/leadership they are.
practice
How does this reading challenge I was unsure about the concepts but now
my beliefs or practices as a I have a good grasp.
teacher/leader?
What key pieces can I take from
this reading for my own practice?

Title and Author Karl Le Quesne, Consent and sexuality Date Term 2
education

What are the key
ideas/strategies/concepts
discussed?
How does this reading support my
current teaching/leadership
practice
How does this reading challenge
my beliefs or practices as a
teacher/leader?
What key pieces can I take from
this reading for my own practice?
Title and Author Linda Kasar and Judy Halbert, The Spiral Date Term 2
Playbook
What are the key
ideas/strategies/concepts
Self-Reflection Any discussion over reading
(Colleagues/PLG/Team)
Teaching respect for each other through
consent and sexuality education.
We are currently doing Sex Ed so this is
interesting to read. How to include this
into the programme we are teaching.
It didnt really, it was just interesting to
see how it may be taught in lessons.
Self-Reflection Any discussion over reading
(Colleagues/PLG/Team)
The spiral of Inquiry We are all doing this as a staff so there
is alot of discussion.
 discussed?
How does this reading support my We are doing this method this year for
current teaching/leadership our Teacher Inquiry which is interesting.
practice
How does this reading challenge I think it is just a different way of
my beliefs or practices as a setting it out but is similar to the other
teacher/leader? one, just different wording.
What key pieces can I take from
this reading for my own practice?