We offer several online book clubs per year. Each book club is a series of four 60-minute interactive discussions.
Through these peer-facilitated, co-learning sessions, OPC Members and Associates will explore and discuss key concepts in the chosen book and how those concepts might inform practice as a school leader. For at least one session, the author would be invited to attend and answer questions or support the discussion.
Participants will need to purchase the books in advance of the first session. Whenever possible, we try to obtain a discounted book price. If a discounted price is available, it will be detailed below. The rate applies to all OPC Members and Associate Members, whether you participate in the book club or not.
Book Clubs are open to all OPC Members. Participation in the book clubs is at no cost to Members and Associates. Non-Members welcome. We encourage broad and diverse input and participation in attending, recommending books, and facilitating sessions.
Call for Titles!
If you are interested in suggesting a book for a future book club, and/or volunteering to facilitate the sessions and/or writing a book review for the Register Magazine, complete our form. Potential facilitators need only have enthusiasm for reading the book and willingness to facilitate some conversation.
Spring 2024
|
Coolie Woman: The Odyssey of Indenture |
|
Description: In 1903, a young woman sailed from India to Guiana as a “coolie”— the British name for indentured laborers who replaced the newly emancipated slaves on sugar plantations all around the world. Pregnant and traveling alone, this woman, like so many of the indentured, disappeared into history. Now, in Coolie Woman, her great-granddaughter Gaiutra Bahadur embarks on a journey into the past to find her. Traversing three continents and trawling through countless colonial archives, Bahadur excavates not only her great-grandmother’s story but also the repressed history of some quarter of a million other coolie women, shining a light on their complex lives. Purchase: Canadian distribution is through Indigo.ca or Amazon.ca. Meeting on Tuesdays:
Time: 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. EDT Cost: Free Facilitator: Jasminie Singh, Toronto DSB Register |
|
Cultivating Imagination in Leadership: Transforming Schools and Communities |
|
Description: This comprehensive book provides a theoretical understanding of how imagination contributes to effective leadership, as well as practical tools all educational leaders can employ to cultivate their imaginations and the imaginations of others in their communities. To support these goals, book chapters offer multiple perspectives on what imagination is, why it is essential for educational leaders, and how it can be developed. Contributions by leadership scholars and school-based leaders are organized around three themes: exploring possibilities, poetics of memory, and imagination's role in social justice and equity. This work can now be used by individuals or within formal or informal learning communities to expand, deepen, and apply concepts. Expanding on Kieran Egan's theory of Imaginative Education, this book will help current and future leaders employ imagination to make sense of and address the day-to-day challenges they encounter. Purchase: Canadian distributor, UTP Distribution, is offering a 15% discount off list price. Meeting on Wednesdays:
Time: 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. EDT Cost: Free Facilitator: Lawrence DeMaeyer, Professional Learning Consultant, OPC |
|
Unearthing Joy: A Guide to Culturally and Historically Responsive Teaching and Learning |
|
Description: In this sequel to Cultivating Genius, Gholdy Muhammad adds a fifth pursuit—joy—to her groundbreaking framework. Dr. Muhammad shows how joy, which is rooted in the cultural and historical realities of Black students, can enhance our efforts to cultivate identity, skills, intellect, and criticality for ALL students, giving them a powerful purpose to learn and contribute to the world. Dr. Muhammad’s wise implementation advice is paired with model lessons that span subjects and grade levels. Purchase: Canadian distribution is through your Scholastic Consultant (book order form) or Amazon.ca. Meeting on Thursdays:
Time: 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. EDT Cost: Free Facilitators: Franca Ostella and Wendy Banhan, Toronto DSB |
Author: Gaiutra Bahadur
Edited by: Gillian Judson and Meaghan Dougherty
Author: Gholdy MuhammadWinter 2024
| Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics (K-12) |
|
Description: A thinking student is an engaged student. Sparked by observing teachers struggle to implement rich mathematics tasks to engage students in deep thinking, Peter Liljedahl has translated his 15 years of research into this practical guide on how to move toward a thinking classroom. This guide:
When combined, these unique research-based practices create the optimal conditions for learner-centered, student-owned deep mathematical thinking and learning, and have the power to transform mathematics classrooms like never before. Purchase: Canadian distribution is through Corwin with volume discount or Amazon.ca. Meetings on Thursdays:
Time: 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. EST Cost: Free Facilitator: Mervi Salo, Toronto DSB Sessions in progress |
| Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead |
|
Description: In a world where “never enough” dominates and feeling afraid has become second nature, vulnerability is subversive. Uncomfortable. It’s even a little dangerous at times. And without question, putting ourselves out there means there’s a far greater risk of getting criticized or feeling hurt. But when we step back and examine our lives, we will find that nothing is as uncomfortable, dangerous, or hurtful as standing on the outside looking in and wondering what it would be like if we had the courage to step into the arena. Daring Greatly is a practice and a powerful vision for letting ourselves be seen. Purchase: Canadian distribution is through Indigo.ca and Amazon.ca. Meeting on Tuesdays:
Time: 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. EST Cost: Free Facilitator: Julie Chouinard, Ottawa-Carlton DSB Sessions in progress |
Author: Peter Liljedahl
Author: Brené BrownPast Book Clubs
We maintain a list of all past book clubs. If you would like to recommend a book for our book clubs, please check this list to see if we have already offered the title. The list might also be useful if you are looking for a book to read for your own professional growth.
|
Organized by Session Offered |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
The Ontario Principals’ Council is committed to accommodating the individual needs of our Members and learning session participants, in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Our professional learning offerings provide access to a variety of AODA compliant mechanisms, including technologies, to share, collaborate and connect across Ontario and beyond. If you require accommodation, please contact learning@principals.ca or call 416-322-6600 and ask to speak with a member of our professional learning team.
Contact(s)
Subscribe to this Page
