Staff Podcast Picks
A collaborative activity where staff share podcast episodes focused on personal and professional growth.
10-15 min
Staff Book Club
A staff book club gives your team a low-key way to explore new ideas, spark conversation, and grow together professionally.
Alissa Christensen
A staff book club gives your team a low-key way to explore new ideas, spark conversation, and grow together professionally. Pick a book, set a meeting time, and let staff-led discussion do the heavy lifting. The included book recommendation list gives you a ready-made starting point.
Why try it
A book club gives staff a dedicated space to explore new ideas, share perspectives, and grow together outside the usual flow of the school day. The discussions that follow often spark connections across your team that carry well beyond the session itself.
What's included
Browse the printables included with this resource.
Instructions
1
Choose a book
Use the included book recommendation list to find a title that fits your team's current needs or interests. Look for books that offer practical ideas, fresh perspectives, or stories staff can connect to.
2
Set a schedule
Decide how much of the book staff will read between sessions and when discussions will happen. A chapter or two every few weeks works well for most teams. Block time on the calendar so it doesn't get bumped.
3
Prepare a few discussion questions
Before each session, pull two or three questions from the book or come up with your own. Questions that connect the reading to your school's current goals or challenges tend to generate the best conversations.
4
Hold the discussion
Carve out 20–30 minutes during a staff meeting or a dedicated session. Open with one question and let staff share what resonated and why.
Activity variations
Adapt to fit your school's vibe, budget, and setting.
Team-specific clubs
Let grade-level teams or departments choose and discuss their own books based on what's most relevant to their work, then share highlights with the full staff.
Leader's pick series
Select a new book each semester tied to a school-wide goal and kick off the year by introducing the selection and why you chose it. Staff discussions can happen informally in smaller groups throughout the term.
One book, one chapter
Not ready for a full book club commitment? Bring a single chapter or article to a staff meeting instead. Use the same discussion format and see how the team responds before scaling up.
Go deeper
Additional tips for running this resource.
Leader Tip #1
Keep the commitment light
One chapter at a time is plenty. A manageable pace keeps participation up and keeps the momentum going all year.
Leader Tip #2
Rotate the facilitator
Let different staff members lead the discussion each session. It distributes ownership and gives more voices a chance to shape the conversation.
Leader Tip #3
Connect reading to practice
After each discussion, ask one follow-up question: what's one thing from this chapter you could try this week?
Built by Educators, for School Leaders
This resource was created in collaboration with passionate educators and school leaders who believe in the power of intentional connection.
Alissa Christensen
Head of Customer Success
Loading...
Similar resources
