As a full-time educational leader and a full-time doctoral student, sometimes I feel like all I do is read. Way back during my first semester of the doctoral program (which feels like it was 100 years ago!) I took time to share a few thoughts from some of my many readings. I thought I would bring this feature back again to give you a peek into my bookshelf, eReader, and coffee table piles.

The Art of Coaching by Elena Aguilar

Throughout this year the Academic Coaches with whom I work and I are reading this book. We have delved into chapters three and eight. We took time to discuss our coaching beliefs. We spent a lot of time working on our listening skills, practicing the listening dyad exercise with one another. I’m looking forward to our discussion on chapter nine next.

Favorite line: “Once you’ve created a clear, safe, nonjudgmental field, there is plenty of space for clients to wander around their own mind, exploring their beliefs, their blocks, and their goals and how to fulfill them.” (Aguilar, p. 149)

Cultural Proficiency: A Manual for School Leaders by Randall B. Lindsey, Kikanza Nuri Robins, & Raymond D. Terrell

Culturally Proficient Leadership: The Personal Journey Begins Within by Terrell & Lindsey

Both of these books are required readings for my spring class. Not only is the topic of cultural proficiency important to my work as a leader, but it is also interesting to read. The personal journey text has built-in reflective questions that we are required to do as part of a class assignment. I actually enjoy the requirement because I would not take the time to reflect, in writing, at each of these stopping points otherwise. But knowing how much I learn from written reflection, I’m happy to make the time to do this throughout the semester.

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

This fiction book is the second book choice for the online book club in which I am participating. I have always been an avid fiction reader and I’m loving this book club as it forces me to make time to read for fun once in a while too! This particular story is fascinating! The basic premise is that a woman wakes up from an accident with no memory of the last TEN years of her life. Crazy! It is a quick, easy read with well-developed, interesting characters and I’m looking forward to our group’s discussion.

Favorite lines: “I don’t care what Ben says, without the narcotic effects of TV, I might have gone truly insane a long time ago.” “A tangled jumble of memories from various weekends poured into her head as if from an upturned laundry basket.”

Yoga Journal

My father got me a subscription to this magazine for Christmas and I look forward to each new month’s arrival. I never heard of it before, but with my new-found love of yoga, I am excited to read more. Each month seems to have a flow you can try at home, which is great for my expanding practice.

Wonder by R. J. Palacio

I’m currently listening to this novel as an audio book. I don’t enjoy listening to books very often, but I’m trying to use my commute as a time to catch up on some children’s literature, which holds my attention better than adult fiction audio books. I LOVE this story! Each part is told from a different character’s point of view and as you get to know each character as a narrator, you begin to love them even more. I wish I could listen faster!

What are you reading these days?