The Enchanted Hour: The Miraculous Power of Reading Aloud in the Age of Distraction
By Meghan Cox Gurdon
The Enchanted Hour highlights the transformative social, neurological, and emotional benefits of reading aloud within families. Backed by neuroscience and behavioural research, Meghan Cox Gurdon demonstrates how shared reading can be a remedy for modern digital distractions, restoring deep connections and expanding vocabularies. It’s a really practical and down-to-earth read for school leaders and a strong reminder that, if we want things to improve for our students, we as adults have to shift what we do first.
One of the most useful parts of the book is the idea of using simple scripts. These give teachers the words to handle tricky situations without getting caught up in the moment. It helps keep things calm, fair, and focused on learning rather than emotion. The idea of deliberate botheredness also stands out. Consistently showing students, especially those who push the boundaries, that we see them and care about them really matters and can make a big difference over time.
For principals, this is a great book to share with staff. It’s full of practical ideas and examples that teachers can pick up and use straight away. It reminds us that the students who challenge us the most, often need us the most, and that our consistency and care can make all the difference.
Heidi Hayward
Glad We Met: The Art and Science of 1:1 Meetings
By Steven G. Rogelberg
Let’s be honest, when was the last time you sat down with a staff member for a one-on-one (1:1) and it didn’t feel rushed, hijacked by a crisis, or like a tick-box compliance exercise?
Between the endless Ministry of Education updates, budget pressures, and daily fires, actually connecting with your team is often the first thing that gets pushed off the calendar. But if we’re losing good teachers to burnout, we have to look at how we’re supporting them week-to-week.
That’s why Dr. Steven Rogelberg’s book Glad We Met is worth your time. It’s not vague leadership theory, it’s a highly practical look at the single most underutilised tool we have for staff hauora and retention.
True whakawhanaungatanga and genuine relationships don’t happen in a crowded staffroom or during a formal annual review. They happen in the quiet, predictable spaces we create for our people.
If you want to boost morale and get a better pulse on your school’s culture, grab a copy of this book. It’s a quick read that changes how you lead on a daily basis.
Nathan Leith
Welcome to the NZPF Executive Bookclub. Here you’ll find recommendations from the working principals you have elected to drive NZPF forward, our executive team. This term, Heidi Hayward from Dunedin North Intermediate and Nathan Leith from Berkley Normal Middle School have brought a couple of books to the table. Add them to your to-read list if they’re not there already!