Lead with Literacy

A Pirate Leader's Guide to Developing a Culture of Readers

Leaders are readers! Elementary school principal Mandy Ellis offers practical, immediately actionable, fun ideas and strategies that will deeply embed books, reading, and literacy into your school culture. You’ll learn how to make reading a joy for every member of your school community.

Order Now!
Order Now
Buy from Amazon
Buy from Barnes and Noble
Buy from Amazon Kindle
About the Book

Readers are leaders. Leaders are readers. Literacy impacts every aspect of life—from schoolwork and test scores to the way we relate to others and to the career paths we and our students pursue. But learning to read—and teaching students to read—isn’t always easy, which is why the most important tenet of developing a culture of reading in your school is to foster a love of reading. In Lead with Literacy, educator and elementary school principal Mandy Ellis offers practical, immediately actionable, fun ideas and strategies that will deeply embed books, reading, and literacy into your school culture. You’ll learn . . . Who should decide which books students should be reading What it takes to create a culture of reading Where books can and should be found in your school Why books need to come with a “no strings attached” policy How to lead the way by sharing what you are reading now Rather than focusing exclusively on Lexile scores and reading levels, Ellis encourages leaders to integrate literacy everywhere. The ultimate goal is to make reading a joy for every member of the school community—starting with the lead reader.

"As an elementary teacher, global thought leader, avid reader, and advocate for kids everywhere, I am excited to fully endorse Lead with Literacy. Mandy includes several ideas to implement immediately in order to create and support a true culture of readers in every area of school. The guidelines she shares serve as powerful reminders for leaders on their mission to becoming true reading role models for students, families, and staff members. Once you start reading this book, you will have a hard time putting it down! Trust me, I am already executing so many of her strategies in my third-grade classroom, and my students are better for it!"
– Kayla Delzer, globally awarded teacher, author, CEO of Top Dog Teaching, Inc., @topdogteaching
"Mandy's passion for empowering all learners to develop a love of reading radiates through the pages of this book. She doesn't just tell you her story but shares a treasure chest of precious gems to create a culture of lead readers in your school. In true pirate fashion, Mandy navigates the rough waters of 'educators choosing books for our students,' and expresses how we must set SAIL to create a culture of reading within our system. Don't wait! Hop on board the Lead with Literacy ship!"
– Tara Martin, author of Be REAL, @taramartinEDU
"Anyone in education needs to read Lead with Literacy. Mandy is, in my opinion, one of the leading experts in our country on how to build a literacy culture at a school, and she lives this out each and every day. With fun stories, amazing examples, and creative ideas, you'll be wanting more as you turn each page of this book. What a literary gem and a must read!"
– Adam Welcome, director of innovation and technology, Principal of the Year, coauthor of Kids Deserve It!, @awelcome
"Lead with Literacy is more than a book; it is a call to action. Throughout the pages, Mandy Ellis does a marvelous job of inspiring readers to want to do more when it comes to literacy in our schools. Not only does she offer advice, she gives real life examples of how to improve literacy for yourself and for an entire school building. This is a must-read!"
– Ryan Sheehy, principal, speaker, and author of Be the One for Kids, @sheehyrw
Details
Author: Mandy Ellis
Series: Lead Like a PIRATE Series, Book 3
Preview
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the page above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."