Opening Minds to #cyberPD

Summer is the perfect time to catch up on summer professional reading.  Over the last few weeks, colleagues have been sharing their stacks of reading.  These posts are getting dangerous for me to read as my stack was already too big.  As I've stopped by blogs (Laura, Jill, Franki, Maria, Nicole, Jaquelyn) I've added more to my "to be read" pile knowing there will never be enough time.  So many books...so little time.

#cyberPD
We are happy to announce our July #cyberPD event.  Twitter has definitely made summer reading a greater learning experience as talking with colleagues about books helps me to think more deeply about ways to put this new learning into practice.  Last year, Laura Komos, Jill Fisch, and I hosted our first #cyberPD event where colleagues from all over talked together about Patrick Allen's:  Conferring (the entire conversation is living here).  The event was such a success, we wanted to host it again this year.  After viewing everyone's professional reading stacks we have decided upon Opening Minds by Peter Johnston.  This book seemed to be on a multitude of lists and is a professional read that would be helpful to educators in a variety of teaching and learning positions.

Opening Minds:   Event Schedule
I know everyone is excited to begin Peter Johnston's new book, but if you can wait until July we'd love to have you join us.  We are dividing the book into three sections.  Each week we will be posting a reflection on our blogs and the host blog will be the place to leave links of other blogs participating in the event.

July 11th  Chapters 1-3  Hosted here at Reflect and Refine
July 18th  Chapters 4-6  Hosted by Jill Fisch at My Primary Passion
July 25th  Chapter 7-9  Hosted by Laura Komos at Camp Read-a-Lot
July 26th  Twitter Chat (time to be announced)

How to Participate

• Blog Reflection:  If you have a blog you may join us each posting date with your reflection of the chapters read.  Then link your blog to the host blog by leaving a comment and your link.  If you don't have a blog, but have been considering getting started this is the perfect opportunity.
• Blog Commenting:  If you do not have a blog, you are welcome to comment on the host blog to join the conversation.
• Twitter:  You can also participate by commenting any time on Twitter using the hashtag #cyberPD.  
• Other:  Last year we had people participate using other sites as well.  If you can link, they will come.  :o)  We love a little creativity.  

Getting the Book

Peter's book is published by Stenhouse.  You can preview the book at their website.  The book is available in hard copy or e-book. (Though I haven't found it in an e-reader version yet that allows you to highlight and annotate.  Please let me know if you discover it somewhere.)  

We look forward to learning with all of you in July.  I hope you'll join us!