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If there’s one thing I’ve learned from being in isolation, it’s we don’t read enough. We are constantly asking students to look inside of themselves, to push themselves, and to grow from the inside out–but are we taking our own advice?
No matter how much time we spend in this activity, there’s always more that we can do to grow. Whether that’s challenging our skills by attending a clinic, watching the work of other choreographers, or listening to others, developing ourselves as people and educators should not be secondary to instructing our kids. In order for them to grow, we need to be willing to grow and learn from others.
It is said that in order to get better, you have to have a solid foundation. As we all know, this heavily applies to our basics programs. But it also applies to our mental health and awareness as educators. Reading and personal development is necessary to take both you and your students to the highest level.
Need some books to get you started? Here’s a few of my favorites to start becoming more aware of yourself as an educator and to grow from the inside out, no matter the issue.
1. Other People’s Children by Lisa Delpit
This book explores the systematic racial disparity in schools and the mismatch between white educators and students of color. It is a great resource for advice on how to better connect with your students of color and honor their cultural identities. It will definitely give you some insight on how to recognize oppression (whether intentional or not) within your program.
2. Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria by Beverly Daniel Tatum
This book is SO. IMPORTANT. If you’re looking for a way to understand the importance of racial identity, look no further. This book can truly be a catalyst for creating change in the form of a more inclusive and open team environment.
Talking about race shouldn’t be taboo, but it is because we were brought up to think that it was “racist” to mention race. This book can help you understand the importance of racial conversations, how to go about it, and how to develop a safe culture within your team.
3. Start with Why & Find Your Why by Simon Sinek
Okay, so technically there’s two books listed here, but they go hand in hand. Simon Sinek is a world renown cultural anthropologist and leadership expert. As we move throughout our careers, we sometimes lose our passion and forget our purpose behind doing what we’re doing. These books can help you to realize the importance of your “why” and how to find it again if you’ve lost it.
These books are also great for mature performers who may have lost their passion in colorguard.
These books are so helpful for developing instructors by understanding how to bring your students together, how to engage their emotions and and mental health, and how to make sure every member knows their importance and purpose on the guard.
4. Ego Is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday
Not to put extra emphasis on this book, but omg PLEASE READ THIS. There’s nothing that kills passion faster than putting your students second to your ego (and I’ve had instructors who have done this). This is a book that will help you check yourself.
The ego is the part of the mind that mediates between the conscious and the unconscious and is responsible for reality testing and a sense of personal identity. In other words, this is the part of the mind that can turn any well-meaning educator to wanting to win for “their image” without any regard for the well-being of their students.
Your students are people, and they should come first. Full stop.
Read this.
5. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck
This book is great for both you and your students. Dweck focuses on the difference between the fixed and growth mindset, and how our success is greatly influenced by how we think.
It gives insight into the power (and danger) of language with the young & developing mind and how we can encourage students to embrace failure. It also talks about the idea of “talent”, which I think we can all agree is VERY RELEVANT to colorguard.
In an activity that puts so much emphasis on the “talented members” in the group, this book should be required for every instructor.
6. Dance Imagery for Technique and Performance by Eric Franklin
As someone who is transitioning from the colorguard world into the dance world, I’ve noticed that imagery is severely under used in colorguard. Imagery has elevated my performance skills faster than anything else I’ve learned in my movement practice.
This book introduces the importance of imagery in dancing and teaching dance. You get information, you get sample exercises, and you learn the importance of teaching and practicing improvisation and how it translates to choreographed performance. What’s not to love?
7. Breathing for Peak Performance: Functional Exercises for Dance, Yoga, and Pilates by Eric Franklin
Okay, I should probably start off by saying that all of Eric Franklin’s books are relevant, but the two on this list are incredible resources for instructors. When you were marching, did your instructors ever tell you to “remember to breathe”? Mine certainly did, and most of the time I just thought “Um…well I haven’t passed out so I am breathing.”
What no one actually told me explicitly (and sometimes we have to be more explicit than we think) was that breathing goes beyond the function of keeping our bodies alive! This book helps one to learn the function of breathe in movement, the habits that don’t support breathe that a lot of performers have, how it connects to the mind and body, the benefits, and ways to practice and teach it.
8. The Concise Book of Muscles by Chris Jarmey
A lot of instructors, surprisingly, have no idea how the body works. In an activity that teaches expression through movement, injury prevention and knowledge of basic anatomy should be a no-brainer. Learn how the body works so that your students don’t get injured.
If your students aren’t injured, they’ll be happier AND you’ll forgo the headache of having to fill holes and rewrite the show during the season.
Trust me. Read this.
9. The WE Gear: How Good Teammates Shift from Me to We by Lance Loya
This book is a reminder that you, as well as your students, make up the team atmosphere. This will help you develop your leadership skills as well as develop your guard’s mindset from “soloist” to “ensemble”.
We all want our students to work as a team, but teamwork doesn’t happen without good teammates—people who abandon self-serving motives and consider what’s best for everyone.
Through inspiring stories and lessons, you’ll learn how to be a good teammate (and how to teach it) while also learning the 5 ways to change your focus from me to we.
10. Contagious You: Unlock Your Power to Influence, Lead, and Create the Impact You Want by Anese Cavanaugh
This is a life-changing book. This will help you understand your leadership style, how everyone is a leader around you (whether they have a title or not), and how toxic leaders can affect you (yes, I’m talking about your peers who are constantly surrounded by negative energy).
Cavanugh explains how to be an effective leader, takes us on a journey to create more positive space for those we are leading, and shows how to step into our power.
So that’s my list! There are so many more books that I think could be helpful to new and experienced educators, but these are definitely must-haves! Have you read any of these? Let me know in the comments!
