Create a Reading Pile

Tip:
Do you have shelves full of journals and books that may have valuable information you could use as a professional developer? This is the year to create a system to organize your reading materials to either throw them away or use them later.

1. If you haven't read the journal in a year, look at each table of contents to see if any of the articles or the entire journal can be put in one of the following categories: Read, Throw Away, or Share.
2. Set aside 30 minutes twice a week to read from the "Read" pile.
3. Read the summary, recommendations, or conclusion first. Then go back for details if article seems promising.
4. Take some of the journals from the "Read" pile with you while commuting, waiting for appointments, or on airplane trips.
5. Highlight interesting articles and summarize the findings.
6. Ask colleagues to read some of the articles and share findings.
7. Create a professional development library on-site and online.
8. If the journals you read post articles online and archive articles, throw the paper versions out.
9. Encourage publishers to post articles online and save trees.

Submitted by:Barbara Bray

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