books have the power

I am reading a great new book - Sparks in the Dark: Lessons, Ideas, and Strategies to Illuminate the Reading and Writing Lives in All of Us by Travis Crowder and Todd Nesloney.

From the back cover:

Books have the power to shape the way we think. Stories--reading them, writing them, and sharing them--give us new lenses through which to view the world and the people we encounter. In short, words matter. 

Some of my favorite quotes:

"We believe this book matters because reading and writing are the foundation of all we do. When you teach someone how to read or how to express themselves using the written word, you change a life."

"When teachers allow students to choose their own books, assignments, and the ways they will demonstrate mastery, it sends a clear message to students that we value their voices." 

"There is an exquisite joy when a self-proclaimed nonreader falls in love with a book."

I love Chapter 7 on Critical Conversations. "Talk is a powerful tool. It is during dialogue that we argue ideas, build new ones, extend our thinking, and grapple with the words and phrases that will enhance an argument."

And Chapter 11, The Noble Heart of a Teacher, is worth reading twice.

Finally, Chapter 13 gives amazing lists of books and resources to inspire your reading and writing life.

I found the Things To Think About and Tweet at the end of each chapter very enlightening.  Check out other readers' thoughts at #SparksInTheDark

Also, Todd and Travis have a Sparks in the Dark Podcast.