BOOK CLUB
What is the #MASCAReads Book Club? The #MASCAReads Book Club is a fun and educational way to stay on top of trends and network with other school counseling professionals. It allows school counseling professionals and graduate students to learn new information, share common experiences, and participate in a professional development activity outside of their school community. Participants have the opportunity to earn PDPs for their participation in the Book Club.
How does it work? #MASCAReads is an online club that discusses books related to school counseling. It meets two or three times a year, usually in the early evening. All book club discussions will be held on Zoom, an online video conferencing service. Participants do NOT have to be MASCA members although members will find it easier to get notifications of the book selection and date and times of the Zoom meetings.
How does one participate? Book club members are welcome to participate in any—or all—of the meetings, held on Zoom. Titles will be announced at least three weeks in advance of each meeting. Members can order online, use an audio book app, or visit their local library or bookstore to obtain a copy of the selection.
Who coordinates the Book Club? Shanelle Fernandez (fernandezs@merrimack.edu) and Ben Greenwood (ben.greenwood@schoolsofwestfield.org)
How will book club titles be selected? #MASCAReads participants are encouraged to submit titles for consideration to the Book Club coordinators. Titles will be selected with an eye for books that appeal to a broad cross-section of members and offer plenty of opportunity for discussion. Selected titles may relate to school counseling, self-care or general K-12 education. Selections do not imply endorsements. Whenever possible, we will try to get the book author to join us for a Zoom Meeting.
Get Involved! For more information or to become involved, please contact one of the Book Club coordinators listed above.
The first book that we will read this school year is Connections Over Compliance: Rewiring Our Perceptions of Discipline by Lori L. Desautels, Ph.D. Our meetings will occur via Zoom at 4 PM on the following three dates: Wednesday, October 23rd, Wednesday, November 20th, and Thursday December 5, 2024. The author will join us for a final discussion of the book at the December meeting.
From the book cover: “Children who carry chronic behavioral challenges are often met with reactive and punitive practices that can potentially reactivate the developing stress response systems. This book deeply addresses the need for co-regulatory and relational touch point practices, shifting student-focused behavior management protocols to adult regulated brain and body states which are brain aligned, preventative, and relational discipline protocols. This new lens for discipline benefits all students by reaching for sustainable behavioral changes through brain state awareness rather than compliance and obedience.”
The Zoom meeting links are as follows:
- Wed. Oct. 23, 20240 - 4pm – 5pm (EDT) – You must pre-register here.
- Wed. Nov. 20, 2024 - 4pm – 5pm (EST) – You must pre-register here.
- Thu. Dec. 5, 2024 - 4pm – 5pm (EST) – You must pre-register here.
PREVIOUS BOOKS INCLUDE:
Fall 2023 - The Use of Data in School Counseling 2e: Hatching Results (and So Much More) for Students, Programs, and the Profession by Trish Hatch & Julie Hartline.
Spring 2023 - School Counseling to Close Opportunity Gaps A Social Justice and Antiracist Framework for SUCCESS by Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy.
Fall, 2022 - 101 Solutions for School Counselors and Leaders in Challenging Times by Stuart F. Chen-Hayes, Melissa Ockerman and Erin Chase McCarthy Mason
May 2022- The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates by Wes Moore
March 2022- From Behaving to Belonging: The Inclusive Art of Supporting Students Who Challenge Us by Julie Causton & Kate MacLoed w/ companion Article: "Ready...Set...Success: A formula for leading schools with Love" by Julie Causton, Kate MacLoed, Kristie Pretti-Frontczak
October 2021 & January 2022 - Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators - by Elena Aguilar.
May 2021 - The Gifts of Imperfection - by Brene Brown
March 2021 - Trauma Doesn't Stop at the School Door - by Karen Gross
January 2021 - The Self Care Prescription: Powerful Solutions to Manage Stress, Reduce Anxiety & Increase Wellbeing - by Robyn Gobin
October 2020 - All Learning is Social and Emotional: Helping Students Develop Essential Skills for the Classroom and Beyond - by Nancy Frey, Douglas Fisher and Dominique Smith
July 2020 - Interrupting Racism by Rebecca Atkins and Alicia Oglesby
March 2020 - The Energy Bus, by Jon Gordon
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