reviewed by by Michelle Zoss & Ian Custar – September 14, 2020
Title: Five 
Big Ideas for Effective Teaching
Author(s): Donna Wilson, Marcus Conyers
Publisher: Teachers College Press, New York
ISBN:9780807763766, Pages: 224, Year: 2020
The organization and progression of ideas in the book create a clear path for us to learn. The book offers copious terms and citations to contemporary and classic studies done in laboratories in multiple countries and in schools across the U.S. to back up the five big ideas. Wilson and Conyers make the case that learning in the 21st century requires both teachers and students of all ages to embrace the notion that learning is ongoing, relational, and social. Likewise, it is clear that learning interconnects bodies, minds, emotions, and communities.
Especially now in the pandemic of COVID-19, when educators in schools and colleges are faced with less time to spend with their colleagues, this book may serve well as a resource for continuing to learn about their own learning and their students’ learning. As a framework to launch conversations, this book could be of use for teachers and administrators working together in professional learning communities. The last chapter in particular focuses on the learning that can happen in small communities of educators seeking to exercise their bodies and minds with challenging ideas. For teacher educators, this book could kick off discussions with preservice teachers about how to navigate teacher certification requirements. At a time when life in schools and universities may seem overwhelming, this book offers readers a glimpse into framing this moment as an opportunity to expand and develop.
Read the full review at Teachers College Record