Ahhh, summertime; catching up with friends, doing a bit of gardening and of course time to devour the pile of books by our bedside and review the list of 'want to reads' jotted on the sticky notes in our journals. We also look at this time of year as an opportunity to revisit some of our favorite professional books, reviewing highlighted portions, the notes scribbled in the margins, and tabbed pages of the most poignant thoughts and ideas shared by the authors.

We get asked all the time, "What professional books should I read?" These books that we revisit would probably be at the top of our list.

What Really Matters in Response to Intervention: Research-Based Designs by Richard Allington (or really ANY books by Richard Allington)

Choice Words by Peter Johnston

Best Practices in Literacy Instruction by Michael Pressley, Linda Gambrell, et al

RTI from All Sides: What Every Teacher Needs to Know by Mary Howard

Readicide: How Schools Are Killing Reading and What You Can Do About It by Kelly Gallagher

Beyond Leveled Books, Second Edition and Still Learning to Read: Teaching Students in Grades 3-6 by Franki Sibberson

Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcom Gladwell

Envoy: Your Personal Guide to Classroom Management by Michael Grinder

Reading Essentials: The Specifics You Need to Teach Reading Well by Regie Routman

In the Middle: New Understandings About Writing, Reading, and Learning by Nancy Atwell (an oldy but a goody)

The Reading Zone: How to Help Kids Become Skilled, Passionate, Habitual, Critical Readers by Nancy Atwell

Notebook Connections: Strategies for the Reader's Notebook and Notebook Know-How: Strategies for the Writer's Notebook by Aimee Buckner

For Literacy Coaches and Leaders Becoming a Literacy Leader and A Sense of Belonging: Sustaining and Retaining New Teachers by Jennifer Allen