5-Minute Film Festival: Winter Reading Suggestions

Now that it's colder, we can't think of anything more perfect to do with our weekends and holiday breaks than curl up under a nice fleece blanket with a thick book and a mug of hot cocoa. Hopefully you feel the same way! There are so many great books out there, and it's hard to know where to start, so we asked our community what they're planning to read this winter. Read (and watch!) on for their suggestions, paired with author interviews and book reviews.

Video Playlist: Winter Reading Suggestions for Teachers

Watch the first video below, or watch the whole playlist on YouTube.

1. Extended Interview: Malala Yousafzai (16:10)

   If you've been meaning to pick up Malala's book, now's definitely the time -- the determined, poised education activist just won the Nobel Peace Prize in October. In this clip, Malala discusses her remarkable story with Jon Stewart of the Daily Show. You can also watch her full address to the Nobel Peace Prize Committee here.

   I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai with Christina Lamb

2. Reclaiming Anne Frank's Diary as Literature (10:32)

   Francine Prose is a well-known writer of fiction, but her 2007 book examining the tools and tricks of several masterful writers is a must-read for anyone interested in writing. In this video from Big Think, she makes the case for why Anne Frank's diary should be considered a literary classic.

   Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and Those Who Want to Write Them by Francine Prose.

3. An Introduction to Student-Centered Coaching by Diane Sweeney (20:03)

   Diane Sweeney's two books on student-centered coaching are aimed at school coaches and principals who want to help teachers redesign their classroom instruction. Though this video is quite long, Sweeney provides a comprehensive overview of her own educational philosophy.

   Student-Centered Coaching: A Guide for K-8 Coaches and Principals by Diane Sweeney

4. Interview with California Reads author Rebecca Solnit (4:57)

   Rebecca Solnit's account of the early stages of the technological revolution in the late 1800s provides much food for thought about our current educational technology transformation. In this interview with California Reads, Solnit talks about how people bond in the aftermath of disasters and world crises.

   River of Shadows by Rebecca Solnit

5. The Depths by Jonathan Rottenberg (05:23)

   In the last few years, many more people have started to speak out about mental health and depression, but it's still not an easy thing to discuss. The Depths delves into the evolutionary and societal aspects around depression to empower readers. Candace, a middle-school librarian, gives a more comprehensive review of the book in this video.

   The Depths by Jonathan Rottenberg

6. Paul Tough - How Children Succeed (4:33)

   If you're curious about "grit," Paul Tough's book builds well on Angela Duckworth's research. In this quick video from the Dalai Lama Center, Tough talks about social and emotional learning, and the importance of judging student success based on character in addition to test scores.

   How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character by Paul Tough

More Resources for Exploring Great Books

The links below will help you find even more great books to read -- including more fiction books and books for your students and kids. Just don't spend too much time looking at book summaries online instead of reading!

Do you have winter reading goals suggestions of your own? Have you read any of these books and want to share your thoughts? Comment below!

• You can see the full list of books, as well as some additional suggestions from our community members on this Goodreads list.
• The Horn Book, an online magazine, has great lists of book suggestions for children and young adult readers, so your students can join in, too.
• 5 Eclectic Book Recommendations for Winter Break from Edutopia
• Several people specifically recommended Robert Marzano's teaching strategies books.
• The Top 75 New York Times Best-Selling Education Books of 2013
• The Best Young Adult Books of 2014
• 5 Tips for Helping a Student Find the Right Book from Edutopia

Finally, a special thanks to all of our facilitators, bloggers, and readers for their suggestions!