The Book Love Foundation Podcast

Welcome to The Book Love Foundation Podcast! And thank you for joining us in this celebration of teaching and the joy of learning.In this episode, Part 3 of Penny’s conversation with John Irving.Subscribe in iTunesDonate to the Book Love FoundationThis conversation was recorded as part of the 2017 Book Love Foundation Summer Book Club. The 2018 Summer Book Club is coming up soon. Visit the Book Love Foundation web site to learn more.Season 2 Ep 13 Show notesThis episode is Part 3 of a three-part conversation Penny had recently with John Irving.From Irving’s web site:John Irving, the modern American novelist, has written thirteen novels over the course of his prolific career, nine of which have been international bestsellers.  The World According to Garp, which won the National Book Award in 1980, was John Irving s fourth novel and his first international bestseller.Worldwide, the Irving novel most often called an American classic is A Prayer for Owen Meany(1989) the portrayal of an enduring friendship at the time when the Vietnam War had its most divisive effect on the United States.Thank you for listening to this episode of the Book Love Foundation podcast. The Book Love Foundation is a non-profit 501 3(c) dedicated to putting books in the hands of teachers dedicated to nurturing the individual reading lives of their middle and high school students. In the past five years, we have awarded $223,000. If you can help us in our mission, visit booklovefoundation.org and make a donation. 100% of what you give goes to books.– PennyThank you to our sponsorSupport for the Book Love Foundation Podcast comes from Booksource.The post A Conversation with John Irving, Part 3. Season 2 Ep. 13 of the Book Love Foundation Podcast appeared first on Teacher Learning Sessions. ★ Support this podcast ★

Welcome to The Book Love Foundation Podcast! And thank you for joining us in this celebration of teaching and the joy of learning.In this episode, Part 2 of Penny’s conversation with John Irving.Subscribe in iTunesDonate to the Book Love FoundationThis conversation was recorded as part of the 2017 Book Love Foundation Summer Book Club. The 2018 Summer Book Club is coming up soon. Visit the Book Love Foundation web site to learn more.Season 2 Ep 12 Show notesThis episode is Part 2 of a three-part conversation Penny had recently with John Irving.From Irving’s web site:John Irving, the modern American novelist, has written thirteen novels over the course of his prolific career, nine of which have been international bestsellers.  The World According to Garp, which won the National Book Award in 1980, was John Irving s fourth novel and his first international bestseller.Worldwide, the Irving novel most often called an American classic is A Prayer for Owen Meany(1989) the portrayal of an enduring friendship at the time when the Vietnam War had its most divisive effect on the United States.Thank you for listening to this episode of the Book Love Foundation podcast. The Book Love Foundation is a non-profit 501 3(c) dedicated to putting books in the hands of teachers dedicated to nurturing the individual reading lives of their middle and high school students. In the past five years, we have awarded $223,000. If you can help us in our mission, visit booklovefoundation.org and make a donation. 100% of what you give goes to books.– PennyThank you to our sponsorSupport for the Book Love Foundation Podcast comes from Booksource.The post A Conversation with John Irving, Part 2. Season 2 Ep. 12 of the Book Love Foundation Podcast appeared first on Teacher Learning Sessions. ★ Support this podcast ★

Welcome to The Book Love Foundation Podcast! And thank you for joining us in this celebration of teaching and the joy of learning.In this episode, Part 1 of Penny’s conversation with John Irving.Subscribe in iTunesDonate to the Book Love FoundationThis conversation was recorded as part of the 2017 Book Love Foundation Summer Book Club. The 2018 Summer Book Club is coming up soon. Visit the Book Love Foundation web site to learn more.Season 2 Ep 11 Show notesThis episode is Part 1 of a three-part conversation Penny had recently with John Irving.From Irving’s web site:John Irving, the modern American novelist, has written thirteen novels over the course of his prolific career, nine of which have been international bestsellers.  The World According to Garp, which won the National Book Award in 1980, was John Irving s fourth novel and his first international bestseller.Worldwide, the Irving novel most often called an American classic is A Prayer for Owen Meany(1989) the portrayal of an enduring friendship at the time when the Vietnam War had its most divisive effect on the United States.Thank you for listening to this episode of the Book Love Foundation podcast. The Book Love Foundation is a non-profit 501 3(c) dedicated to putting books in the hands of teachers dedicated to nurturing the individual reading lives of their middle and high school students. In the past five years, we have awarded $223,000. If you can help us in our mission, visit booklovefoundation.org and make a donation. 100% of what you give goes to books.– PennyWhat Penny is ReadingIf your students like high action fantasy books that connect strongly to character, like the Hunger Games and the Maze Runner, check out The Arc of Scythe series, by Neil Shusterman.  Thunderhead, Volume 2, is now available.Also, The Dorothy Must Die series, by Danielle Paige lets students revisit Oz in a whole new way.Thank you to our sponsorSupport for the Book Love Foundation Podcast comes from Booksource.  The post A Conversation with John Irving, Part 1. Season 2 Ep. 11 of the Book Love Foundation Podcast appeared first on Teacher Learning Sessions. ★ Support this podcast ★

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 10 of The Book Love Foundation Podcast! And thank you for joining us in this celebration of teaching and the joy of learning. This episode is part of a series of special shows for winter break 2017! In each episode, we will help you figure what to do with those book store gift cards by sharing some titles you may want to add to your classroom library. Today Penny talks with Tiana Silvas-Brunetti!Subscribe in iTunesDonate to the Book Love FoundationSeason 2 Ep 10 Show notesTiana Silvas-Brunetti considers effective teaching to be an intersection of continuous co-constructed learning, self-confidence, and lifelong leaders that emerge from teacher teams and classrooms. Silvas feels that the best way to grow as an education leader is through experience in the classroom saying, I continue to lead from the trenches. She says true leadership isn t what you do in the moment, but the legacy you leave behind. TIana is a 4th Grade Teacher, and former Literacy Coach at PS 59 (from her Heinemann Fellows bio).Find Tiana on Twitter and Facebook.Read the recent post from the Heinemann Fellows blog, Heinemann Fellow Tiana Silvas on Fostering Empathy and Understanding Among Students.In their conversation, Tiana and Penny mentioned several authors who have books that kids can connect with throughout their development as readers.By Jacqueline Woodson: The Other Side, Brown Girl DreamingBy Gary Soto: Baseball in April, his many books of poetryBy Matt de la Pena: Last Stop on Market Street, Mexican WhiteBoyBy Jason Reynolds: Ghost, All the Way DownBy Kwame Alexander: The Crossover, SoloHere are Tiana’s book recommendations…Her Right Foot, by Dave EggersThe Paper-flower Tree, by Jacqueline AyerFamily Pictures Cuadros de Familia, by Carmen Lomas GarzaThank you for listening to this episode of the Book Love Foundation podcast. The Book Love Foundation is a non-profit 501 3(c) dedicated to putting books in the hands of teachers dedicated to nurturing the individual reading lives of their middle and high school students. In the past five years, we have awarded $223,000. If you can help us in our mission, visit booklovefoundation.org and make a donation. 100% of what you give goes to books.– PennyThank you for listening to the The Book Love Foundation Podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please share it with a colleague or two. ★ Support this podcast ★

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 9 of The Book Love Foundation Podcast! And thank you for joining us in this celebration of teaching and the joy of learning. This episode is part of a series of special shows for winter break 2017! In each episode, we will help you figure what to do with those book store gift cards by sharing some titles you may want to add to your classroom library. Today Penny talks with Aeriale Johnson!Subscribe in iTunesDonate to the Book Love FoundationSeason 2 Ep 9 Show notesAeriale Johnson  serves children and their communities as a kindergarten teacher at Washington Elementary School in San Jose, CA. Prior to that, she taught in rural Alaska for 11 years and Florida for eight years. Her research focuses on both exploring and eliminating word poverty and the impact of the vestiges of colonialism on public school education in rural and urban settings throughout the world. She is a National Board Certified Teacher, served on the ILA Rural Diversity Committee from 2012-14, has presented at ILA and NCTE, and is currently a Heinemann Fellow.Find Aeriale on Twitter and Facebook.Here are her book recommendations…Where the Past Begins, by Amy TanMy Name is Not Easy, by Debby Dahl Edwardson(Also mentioned: Blessings Bead and Whale Snow.)The Rock and the River, by Kekla Magoon(Also mentioned: How It Went Down and X, a novel, written with Ilyasah Shabazz.)Other texts mentioned:Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption, by Bryan StevensonEvicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, by Matthew DesmondThere Are No Children Here: The Story of Two Boys Growing Up in the Other America, by Alex KotlowitzThe Hate U Give, by Angie ThomasAll American Boys, by Jason Reynolds and Brendan KielyRefugee, by Alan GratzThank you for listening to this episode of the Book Love Foundation podcast. The Book Love Foundation is a non-profit 501 3(c) dedicated to putting books in the hands of teachers dedicated to nurturing the individual reading lives of their middle and high school students. In the past five years, we have awarded $223,000. If you can help us in our mission, visit booklovefoundation.org and make a donation. 100% of what you give goes to books.– PennyThank you for listening to the The Book Love Foundation Podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please share it with a colleague or two. ★ Support this podcast ★

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 8 of The Book Love Foundation Podcast! And thank you for joining us in this celebration of teaching and the joy of learning. This episode is part of a series of special shows for winter break 2017! In each episode, we will help you figure what to do with those book store gift cards by sharing some titles you may want to add to your classroom library. Today Penny talks with Dana Johansen!Subscribe in iTunesDonate to the Book Love FoundationSeason 2 Ep 8 Show notesPenny talks about Enticing Hard-to-Reach Writers, by Ruth Ayers.Dana Johansen  Dana has taught elementary and middle school for more than ten years. She currently teaches fifth grade English and is earning her doctorate in Curriculum & Teaching at Teachers College, Columbia University. Dedicated to the ever-expanding applications of technology in the classroom, she has presented at conferences on the use of iPads, wikis and blogs in the classroom.Dana is the co-author with Sonja Cherry-Paul of Flip Your Writing Workshop: A Blended Learning Approach, and Teaching Interpretation: Using Text-Based Evidence to Construct Meaning.Find Dana on Twitter.Here are her book recommendations…The Swap, by Megan Shull. (Megan on Twitter.)Kate Messner includes a link on her web site to authors who Skype with classes and book clubs (for free).Ghost, by Jason ReynoldsPatina, by Jason ReynoldsSunny, by Jason ReynoldsThe Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle, by Janet Fox.Thank you for listening to this episode of the Book Love Foundation podcast. The Book Love Foundation is a non-profit 501 3(c) dedicated to putting books in the hands of teachers dedicated to nurturing the individual reading lives of their middle and high school students. In the past five years, we have awarded $223,000. If you can help us in our mission, visit booklovefoundation.org and make a donation. 100% of what you give goes to books.– PennyThank you for listening to the The Book Love Foundation Podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please share it with a colleague or two. ★ Support this podcast ★

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 7 of The Book Love Foundation Podcast! And thank you for joining us in this celebration of teaching and the joy of learning. This episode is part of a series of special shows for winter break 2017! In each episode, we will help you figure what to do with those book store gift cards by sharing some titles you may want to add to your classroom library. Today Penny talks with Tricia Ebarvia!Subscribe in iTunesDonate to the Book Love FoundationSeason 2 Ep 7 Show notesTricia Ebarvia teaches at Conestoga High School outside Philadelphia, PA. From her Heinemann Fellow bio:  Tricia has spent the last 15 years as a classroom educator with a student-driven approach to teaching reading and writing. Through her career, Tricia has applied the philosophy of the teacher-as-researcher while applying best practices to cultivate independent learners through independent reading and student choice. For better or worse, well enough doesn t satisfy me. I approach each school year, each course, each unit with fresh eyes. Find Tricia on Twitter and her web site.Here are her book recommendations…When Dimple Met Rishi, by Sandhya MenonCrazy Rich Asians, by Kevin KwanThe Paper Menagerie, by Ken LiuThe story “The Paper Menagerie” was also featured on an episode of LeVar Burton Reads.Also, Penny talked about Reimagining Writing Assessment: from Scales to Stories, by Maja Wilson. Thank you for listening to this episode of the Book Love Foundation podcast. The Book Love Foundation is a non-profit 501 3(c) dedicated to putting books in the hands of teachers dedicated to nurturing the individual reading lives of their middle and high school students. In the past five years, we have awarded $223,000. If you can help us in our mission, visit booklovefoundation.org and make a donation. 100% of what you give goes to books.– PennyThank you for listening to the The Book Love Foundation Podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please share it with a colleague or two. ★ Support this podcast ★

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 6 of The Book Love Foundation Podcast! And thank you for joining us in this celebration of teaching and the joy of learning. This episode is part of a series of special shows for winter break 2017! In each episode, we will help you figure what to do with those book store gift cards by sharing some titles you may want to add to your classroom library. Today Penny talks with Cornelius Minor!Subscribe in iTunesDonate to the Book Love FoundationSeason 2 Ep 6 Show notesCornelius Minor is a frequent keynote speaker for and Lead Staff Developer at the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project. In that capacity, he works with teachers, school leaders, and leaders of community-based organizations to support deep and wide literacy reform in cities (and sometimes villages) across the globe. Whether working with teachers and young people in Singapore, Seattle, or New York City, Cornelius always uses his love for technology, hip-hop, and social media to recruit students engagement in reading and writing and teachers engagement in communities of practice. As a staff developer, Cornelius draws not only on his years teaching middle school in the Bronx and Brooklyn, but also on time spent skateboarding, shooting hoops, and working with young people.Find him on Twitter, and on Facebook. And also check out some of the episodes of the Heinemann Podcast that he has been part of.What a variety of titles from Cornelius! Here are his recommendations…Video Game Guides for Pokemon, Legend of Zelda, Super Mario, and MineCraft.Can’t Stop Won’t Stop, by Jeff ChangThe Rap Yearbook, by Shea Serrano and Arturo TorresHip Hop Raised Me, by DJ SemtexBasketball (and Other Things): A Collection of Questions Asked, Answered, Illustrated, by Shea Serrano, illustrated by Arturo TorresDear Martin, by Nic StoneThe Great Greene Heist, by Varian JohnsonTo Catch a Cheat, by Varian JohnsonMarvel ChampionsThank you for listening to this episode of the Book Love Foundation podcast. The Book Love Foundation is a non-profit 501 3(c) dedicated to putting books in the hands of teachers dedicated to nurturing the individual reading lives of their middle and high school students. In the past five years, we have awarded $223,000. If you can help us in our mission, visit booklovefoundation.org and make a donation. 100% of what you give goes to books.– PennyThank you for listening to the The Book Love Foundation Podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please share it with a colleague or two. ★ Support this podcast ★

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 5 of The Book Love Foundation Podcast! And thank you for joining us in this celebration of teaching and the joy of learning. This is the first in a short series of special shows for winter break 2017! In each episode, we will help you figure what to do with those book store gift cards by sharing some titles you may want to add to your classroom library.Subscribe in iTunesDonate to the Book Love FoundationSeason 2 Ep 5 Show notesSome recommended titles from Penny Kittle…What Made Maddy Run: The Secret Struggles and Tragic Death of an All-American Teen, by Kate FaganOut of Wonder, by Kwame AlexanderUntwine, by Edwidge Danticat(also mentioned, The Art of Death: Writing the Final Story and Create Dangerously)Reading for Their Life: Re-building the Textual Lineages of African-American Adolescent Males, by Alfred Tatum Thank you for listening to this episode of the Book Love Foundation podcast. The Book Love Foundation is a non-profit 501 3(c) dedicated to putting books in the hands of teachers dedicated to nurturing the individual reading lives of their middle and high school students. In the past five years, we have awarded $223,000. If you can help us in our mission, visit booklovefoundation.org and make a donation. 100% of what you give goes to books.– PennyThank you for listening to the The Book Love Foundation Podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please share it with a colleague or two. ★ Support this podcast ★

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 4 of The Book Love Foundation Podcast! And thank you for joining us in this celebration of teaching and the joy of learning. In this episode, Part 2 of Penny’s recent conversation with Deborah Wiles.Subscribe in iTunesDonate to the Book Love FoundationSeason 2 Ep 4 Show notesThis episode is Part 2 of a two-part conversation Penny had recently with Deborah Wiles.Deborah Wiles is an award-winning author of novels and picture books whose work is loved by readers of all ages. She is a two-time National Book Award Finalist, and you can learn more about her at her website.Deborah’s novels include Love, Ruby Lavender (2001), Each Little Bird That Sings (2005. National Book Award Finalist), The Aurora County All Stars (2007), Countdown (2010), and Revolution (2014. National Book Award Finalist).Her picture books include Freedom Summer (2001) and One Wide Sky (2003).From the conversation:Deborah Wiles on Pinterest.Minds Made for Stories, by Tom Newkirk12 truths I learned from life and writing, by Anne Lamott.“Story is the primary vehicle human beings use to structure knowledge and experience.”   – Richard RhodesThank you for listening to this episode of the Book Love Foundation podcast. The Book Love Foundation is a non-profit 501 3(c) dedicated to putting books in the hands of teachers dedicated to nurturing the individual reading lives of their middle and high school students. In the past five years, we have awarded $223,000. If you can help us in our mission, visit booklovefoundation.org and make a donation. 100% of what you give goes to books.– PennyThank you for listening to the The Book Love Foundation Podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please share it with a colleague or two.Click here to view the episode transcript. ★ Support this podcast ★

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 3 of The Book Love Foundation Podcast! And thank you for joining us in this celebration of teaching and the joy of learning. In this episode, Part 1 of Penny’s recent conversation with Deborah Wiles.Subscribe in iTunesDonate to the Book Love FoundationSeason 2 Ep 3 Show notesThis episode is Part 1 of a two-part conversation Penny had recently with Deborah Wiles.Deborah Wiles is an award-winning author of novels and picture books whose work is loved by readers of all ages. She is a two-time National Book Award Finalist, and you can learn more about her at her website.Deborah’s novels include Love, Ruby Lavender (2001), Each Little Bird That Sings (2005. National Book Award Finalist), The Aurora County All Stars (2007), Countdown (2010), and Revolution (2014. National Book Award Finalist).Her picture books include Freedom Summer (2001) and One Wide Sky (2003).From the conversation:Deborah Wiles on Pinterest.Minds Made for Stories, by Tom Newkirk12 truths I learned from life and writing, by Anne Lamott.“Story is the primary vehicle human beings use to structure knowledge and experience.”   – Richard RhodesThank you for listening to this episode of the Book Love Foundation podcast. The Book Love Foundation is a non-profit 501 3(c) dedicated to putting books in the hands of teachers dedicated to nurturing the individual reading lives of their middle and high school students. In the past five years, we have awarded $223,000. If you can help us in our mission, visit booklovefoundation.org and make a donation. 100% of what you give goes to books.– PennyThank you for listening to the The Book Love Foundation Podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please share it with a colleague or two.Click here to view the episode transcript. ★ Support this podcast ★

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 2 of The Book Love Foundation Podcast! And thank you for joining us in this celebration of teaching and the joy of learning.In this episode, Part 2 of Penny’s recent conversation with Kwame Alexander.Subscribe in iTunesDonate to the Book Love FoundationSeason 2 Ep 2 Show notesThis episode is Part 2 of a two-part conversation Penny had recently with Kwame Alexander.Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, and the New York Times Bestselling author of 24 books, including SOLO, a Young Adult Novel, and THE CROSSOVER, a middle grade novel which received the 2015 John Newbery Medal for the Most Distinguished Contribution to American literature for Children, the Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor, The NCTE Charlotte Huck Honor, the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, and the Paterson Poetry Prize.Thank you for listening to this episode of the Book Love Foundation podcast. The Book Love Foundation is a non-profit 501 3(c) dedicated to putting books in the hands of teachers dedicated to nurturing the individual reading lives of their middle and high school students. In the past five years, we have awarded $223,000. If you can help us in our mission, visit booklovefoundation.org and make a donation. 100% of what you give goes to books.– PennyRESOURCES REFERENCEDKwame’s web site is where you can find all things Kwame.  Details and links are available there.He served on the advisory committee for Nikki Giovanni’s 100 Best African American Poems.Thank you for listening to the The Book Love Foundation Podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please share it with a colleague or two.Click here to view the episode transcript. ★ Support this podcast ★

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 1 of The Book Love Foundation Podcast! And thank you for joining us in this celebration of teaching and the joy of learning.We kick off the season with a conversation with Kwame Alexander.Subscribe in iTunesDonate to the Book Love FoundationSeason 2 Ep 1 Show notesThis episode is Part 1 of a two-part conversation Penny had recently with Kwame Alexander.Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, and the New York Times Bestselling author of 24 books, including SOLO, a Young Adult Novel, and THE CROSSOVER, a middle grade novel which received the 2015 John Newbery Medal for the Most Distinguished Contribution to American literature for Children, the Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor, The NCTE Charlotte Huck Honor, the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, and the Paterson Poetry Prize.Thank you for listening to this episode of the Book Love Foundation podcast. The Book Love Foundation is a non-profit 501 3(c) dedicated to putting books in the hands of teachers dedicated to nurturing the individual reading lives of their middle and high school students. In the past five years, we have awarded $223,000. If you can help us in our mission, visit booklovefoundation.org and make a donation. 100% of what you give goes to books.– PennyRESOURCES REFERENCEDKwame’s web site is where you can find all things Kwame.  Details and links are available there.He served on the advisory committee for Nikki Giovanni’s 100 Best African American Poems.Thank you for listening to the The Book Love Foundation Podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please share it with a colleague or two.Click here to view the episode transcript. ★ Support this podcast ★

Taylor Kanzler shares how trust fuels innovation, empowering teachers and students to take risks and build meaningful learning experiences.In this episode, hosts Elaine Millen and Penny Kittle sit down with high school teacher Taylor Kanzler to explore how trust empowers educators and fuels innovation in the classroom. From defining trust as “the coin of the realm” to co-creating a groundbreaking interdisciplinary podcast course, Taylor shares the habits, leadership moves, and relational mindsets that inspire both teachers and students to thrive.GuestTaylor Kanzler, veteran high school English and Spanish teacher based on the coast of Maine. Co-designer of the interdisciplinary course If This Land Could Talk.Key Takeaways• Trust is foundational. When teachers feel trusted, they gain courage to innovate.• Publishing student work publicly raises engagement.• Supportive leadership encourages experimentation.• Small classroom pilots spark cultural change.• Post-pandemic openness has paved the way for community-connected learning.Books & References• Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart• Trust: The Coin of the Realm - essay by George P. Shultz• “The water will always flow around the boulders.” - Taylor Kanzler• “When trust was in the room, good things happened. Period.” - George P. Shultz ★ Support this podcast ★

Sully Gaudreault shares how creative freedom in the classroom sparked a passion for storytelling that now drives his work in advocacy and justice.In this episode of Moves Leaders Make, hosts Penny Kittle and Elaine Millen reconnect with Sullivan “Sully” Gaudreault, a former student whose love of storytelling evolved into a career in advocacy filmmaking. Sully shares how creative freedom in the classroom helped him discover his voice, and how he now uses film to fight for justice and human rights through projects with the Syrian Emergency Task Force and the Making an Exoneree program.GuestSullivan (Sully) Gaudreault, documentary filmmaker, teacher, and Deputy Director of Communications at the Syrian Emergency Task Force. Head of Documentary Filmmaking for the Making an Exoneree program.Key Takeaways• Creative freedom can ignite lifelong passions and purpose.• The learning process matters more than the final product.• Small sparks of curiosity can grow into meaningful creative pursuits.• Insights into Making an Exoneree and its impact: 12 exonerations since 2018.• Leadership lessons: find people’s passions and give them space to act.Books & References• Serial Podcast (Season 1, Adnan Syed case)• Omar Alshogre, Syrian activist and TED speaker• Syrian Emergency Task Force• Making an Exoneree• 11/22/63 by Stephen King• Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon• Percy Jackson - Sully’s first video project ★ Support this podcast ★

Dr. LaQuita Outlaw shares how small, intentional reading habits can transform connection, culture, and leadership across a school community.In this episode of Moves Leaders Make, hosts Penny Kittle and Elaine Millen talk with Dr. LaQuita Outlaw, Assistant Superintendent and longtime middle school principal. She shares how something as simple as carrying a book opened doors to deeper connections with students, staff, families, and even the school board. Together, they explore how joy, vision, and literacy can become everyday tools for leadership, and how small intentional moves create lasting culture change.GuestDr. LaQuita Outlaw, Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Curriculum and Instruction, with nearly 30 years in education, including 19 as a middle school principal. Advisory board member with the Book Love Foundation.Key Takeaways• How one small move made reading part of the fabric of school culture.• Using literacy as a connector for staff, students, and families.• The power of sharing “What I’m reading now / next / just finished” to spark curiosity.• Choosing diverse books to reflect the community you serve.• Effective leadership is rooted in connection, not compliance.Books & References• Wonder by R.J. Palacio• The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab• John Maxwell: “Leadership’s not about titles, positions, or flow charts. It’s about one life influencing another.”• Brené Brown: “Joy comes in ordinary moments.” ★ Support this podcast ★

Listen in on a conversation between Denver librarian and Book Love Foundation board member Julia Torres as she talks to author Laurie Halse Anderson about memoir writing.

In the second episode of the Book Love Foundation Podcast Season 5, Julia Torres talks to school librarian Edith Campbell about being educators of color and how young Black people are being served in American schools.Instagram handles: @pennykittle, @juliaeri80,@crazyqulitedi, @ctvchelsea ★ Support this podcast ★

In the first episode of the Book Love Foundation Podcast Season 5, Julia Torres talks to school librarians Julie Stivers and Kathryn Cole about the challenges and opportunities in their work during the pandemic and about their #LibCollab initiative. ★ Support this podcast ★

 In this episode, Julia speaks with Namrata Tripathi Vice President and Publisher of Kokila books, an imprint that specializes in centering  stories from the margins, and Randy Ribay, educator and author of An Infinite Number of Parallel Universes, After the Shot Drops, and the highly acclaimed Patron Saints of Nothing. Listen as the three of them talk all things books, publishing, education and the intersections between them. ★ Support this podcast ★