Looking back at the books I read at the end of a year is just a way to reflect on how I have grown as a person. I have loved reading since I learned how to at the age of five and have never been without a book since. The books I read show me how my tastes and thoughts have changed, evolved or been confirmed. Here are the ones that will stay with me and you will hear me quote or recommend: 1. Books that synthezied and articulated my beliefs in humanity and how we can do better and be better: Humankind: A Hopeful History by Ruger Bregman - I have always said that humanity needs a better PR person, someone that will point out that most of us, most of the time, are good. But it's the exceptions that get the coverage. Bregman cites evidence to show that yes, we are capable of commiting atrocities but it takes a lot to get us there. Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know by Adam Grant: a manifesto for living a life where we are constantly investigating the tru
Photo by Alex Guillaume on Unsplash At first it was just a game to have a brain break and use up the last few minutes of class before going to lunch. But as I observed my fourth graders playing, I saw an opportunity to learn about what makes for a productive conversation, in class or outside; now as ten year olds or later as adults. The object of the game is to count from one to ten in order, as a group, without knowing who goes next. One person will say "one", another will follow with "two", and on we go untill we reach "ten". If two people talk at the same time, we start over. It is almost impossible but it is fun and when we finally get to ten, there is loud cheering. The first few rounds we couldn't get past one because the same two or three kids wanted to be the first to start. These were the same students that always raised their hands to participate in class discussions, the same ones who initiated the group work. They are proactive and their