Summer Reading Recharge

Written by Torie Mollett 

We've had our first Summer Reading meetup, and it was so much fun welcoming everyone to dive into Priya Parker's The Art of Gathering with me! We're going to dig into how we can make our gatherings more intentional and how that applies to everything we do as coaches.

Book Club Deets: Flexible & Fun!

So, the plan is a six-week journey through the book, with three virtual meetups spread out to make sure we hit times that work for as many of you as possible. Don't worry about getting a specific version of the book—grab it in whatever format you like best! My big hope is that we can all jump into the community feed and share our thoughts and questions as we go. Each meetup will be a chance to chat about the book's key ideas and brainstorm how we can actually use them in our coaching work. And yes, for our last meetup, we'll be wrapping things up, reflecting on everything, and thinking about some action items for the upcoming school year. As an English teacher, I'm super excited about this book study!

Why The Art of Gathering?

It was awesome to hear why so many decided to join! Some loved the title, others wanted to connect with fellow coaches, and many were just looking for fresh perspectives. The discussion also touched upon other relevant reads.  If you have a book recommendation, throw it in the feed for the greater good.  Always great to have those conversations!

Building Our Community & Connections

The "Happy Hour" was more than just talking logistics—it was about connecting! It was so cool to hear about everyone's experiences, especially with the end of the school year, and the importance of intentional reflection for us coaches was a key theme. We even had a little chuckle about the unique "smell" of middle school, which led to some relatable stories!

Quick Chat on ISTE Certification

We also had a really helpful side conversation about ISTE certification. One participant shared a positive experience with the instructional leadership pathway, finding it highly relevant to coaching and not as overwhelming as the educator track. Super useful information for everyone. (: 

What's Next for Us:

• READ: If you haven't started already, begin working through the first section of the book to prepare for our next meetup. 
• ENGAGE: Feel free to toss ideas and thoughts into the feed so that others can weigh in, giving us even more opportunities to connect and “gather” in a less traditional manner. 
• CONSIDER: I'll be playing around with Google Meet for our book club sessions and would love your feedback on how it works for you, as Zoom is our usual virtual meeting platform. 

I'm genuinely thrilled for this book club to be a space for us to learn, share, and support each other. Let's make some meaningful gatherings happen!

Not registered yet? Use this Google Form to join us!