About the Book
For years, Kim Marshall and Jenn David-Lang have been considered "designated readers," curating ideas and research for busy frontline educators. Kim's weekly Marshall Memo summarizes the best articles from more than sixty magazines and journals. In The Main Idea, Jenn writes a detailed synopsis of a carefully selected education book each month, accompanied by professional development suggestions.
In The Best of the Marshall Memo, both Book One and Book Two, they have combed through more than eight thousand article summaries in the Marshall Memo archive and compiled a "best of" collection of the most thought-provoking and helpful ones, organized by topic, with accompanying professional learning suggestions to help school leaders address the most pressing problems in schools today.
Each chapter of each book covers one of eleven crucial "must know" education topics and is a jackpot for the busy school leader--access to a curated set of top articles, thoughtfully organized, easily read in under an hour, and accompanied by suggestions for action. This is a welcome resource for school leaders who don't have the time to forage for school-improvement ideas while tackling the day-to-day challenges of effectively running their schools.
You may read this book from cover to cover, or focus on chapters for support in a specific area, such as:
A principal helping staff better understand and interrupt racism and implicit bias in the school
A department head planning a school-wide initiative to teach effective literacy skills across every grade and subject
An instructional coach expanding their toolkit of effective pedagogical strategies
A math department rethinking inequitable grading practices
A district leader planning to roll out new teacher leader positions
About the Author :
Kim Marshall was a teacher, central office administrator, and principal in the Boston Public Schools for thirty-two years. Since 2002, he has led workshops and courses, coached school leaders, and consulted with schools and districts. Starting in 2003, he has produced the weekly Marshall Memo. Kim is the author of a number of articles and books, including Rethinking Teacher Supervision and Evaluation (Jossey-Bass, second edition, 2013). Jenn David-Lang has worked in the field of education for more than twenty-five years as a teacher, administrator, and consultant. Currently, she runs THE MAIN IDEA, an annual subscription service that provides monthly summaries of compelling books and professional learning ideas to school leaders throughout the world. In addition, Jenn facilitates Masterminds (online groups of educational leaders learning together), designs and provides workshops for leaders, coaches leaders, and conducts school evaluations.
Review :
"The Best of the Marshall Memo: Book Two will challenge conventional wisdom, offer divergent perspectives, and provide practical insights that can be applied immediately to some of the most vexing challenges in schools. The chapters could not be more timely, including a thoughtful series of articles about race in schools. Each chapter includes activities for practical application and reflection for a deeply engaging professional learning opportunity. " --Douglas B. Reeves, Author/Consultant, and Founder, Equity and Excellence Institute
"I don't know how they do it, but they do it and do it well. The Best of the Marshall Memo: Book Two should be on the bookshelf of every educator--dogeared, tattered, worn, and highlighted." --Ken Williams, Educator and Author, Sharpsburg, GA
"Readers can drink from the unending well of research, analysis, and guidance contained in its pages, offering a pathway on how we can achieve a more equitable educational system. In The Best of the Marshall Memo: Book Two, I encourage you to quench your thirst with this excellent compilation of resources." --Shahara C. Jackson, Principal, Brooklyn, NY
"In my 49-year career, I have never met a more voracious reader of education-related literature than Kim Marshall. Since he launched the Marshall Memo almost 17 years ago, Kim has devoured numerous periodicals every week searching for salient articles to summarize and synthesize. Kim's many years of experience as a teacher, principal, district-level administrator and educational consultant undergirds his capacity to spot the most useful, thought-provoking, and timely articles, and enables him to capture their "big ideas" for efficient consumption by busy educational leaders. This book, with coauthor Jenn David-Lang, offers the second compilation of "greatest hits" and deserves a prominent spot on your nightstand or desktop for ready reading and reference." --Jay McTighe, Author and Consultant, Coauthor with Grant Wiggins of Understanding by Design
"Professional reading not a high priority just yet? Think again. School-based leaders and practitioners require relevant, reliable, and contemporaneous information at our fingertips now more than ever; particularly, as we negotiate global health crises and embrace authentic anti-racist strategies in the service of truly realizing the American dream for all. The formidable collection of articles and resources that comprise The Best of the Marshall Memo: Book Two fits the bill nicely. Marshall and David-Lang have performed an incredible service on our profession's collective behalf. Now, let's get to reading. There's not a second to waste." --David J Vazquez, Founder and Master Principal, Bronx Academy for Multi-Media/New York, NY
"There is SO much out there regarding education, especially with current COVID-19 concerns! How do educators know what is the best research-based information on which we can make important and quick decisions? Kim Marshall and Jenn David-Lang succinctly share the most relevant ideas and insights to guide our actions in education. They do the research for us!" --Kelly Hastings, Principal, Strike Middle School-Little Elm ISD/Little Elm, TX
"Since the beginning of the Marshall Memo, Kim's summaries have always kept me current on the best thinking about good teaching and successful leadership--an invaluable resource. His first book with co-author Jenn David-Lang proved an excellent resource when looking for innovative ideas and the most persuasive studies on current issues. With their new Book Two, I have lightning access to the finest minds in our field." --Jon Saphier, Founder, Research for Better Teaching/Acton, MA
