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I talk a lot about books on my blog, because 1 – I love books and 2 – when it comes to learning new things, nothing really does it for my brain like reading a book does. So while I’ve certainly mentioned some of these titles before, especially in my Teacher’s Summer Reading Guide last month, I have absolutely no qualms about mentioning them again! So, whatever you teach in elementary, these are the tried and true best of the best (in my not so humble opinion) teacher professional development books!
Best Book for Literacy Teachers
The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller
I’ve said it so many times before – this book changed my reading teaching life. Miller focuses on self-selected texts, building stamina, and reading conferences. And maybe it’s a little weird of me, but I find this book to be such a joy to read every time I come back to it!
Best Book for Math Teachers
About Teaching Mathematics by Marilyn Burns
An absolute must-have for math teachers. Burns delves into all the why behind the what and gives a plethora of strategies and ideas for teaching math concepts for K-8.
Best Book for Teacher Self-Care
So, I’ve actually included two books in this category. The first, I own and have read numerous times, but it’s no longer in print, so definitely hard to find. The second, I admittedly have not read, but it’s on my list, because I am all about living a happy teacher life!
The Contented Classroom: Strategies for Teacher Happiness by Arlene Prewitt
The writing style of this one reads like a book written by an old friend. Prewitt doesn’t pull any punches and is very open about her discontent with both life and life in the classroom. Lots of food for thought, but as mentioned above, this one is out of print, so may be a little harder to track down. However, definitely some used copies available on Amazon as of this writing.
Happy Teachers Change the World: A Guide for Cultivating Mindfulness in Education by Thich Nhat Han
Mindfulness is one of those buzzwords we hear so often these days, but as someone who has (very inconsistently) toyed with meditation, I do find that I am happier and more at peace when I implement a mindfulness practice into my day. That being said, this book is high on my teacher to be read list!
Best Book for Teaching Procedures & Routines
The First Days of School by Harry Wong
I’m going into my 17th year of teaching and this book is one I go back to every single year without fail. It’s actually one of the books that I was first obsessed with before becoming a teacher and was a really a driving force behind my passion for education, especially in those early years. So much great advice on making sure those routines and procedures are firmly instilled in your students during the first few weeks of school.
If you are looking for an easy way to plan out those first couple of weeks, look no further than my Back to School Lesson Plans: Routines, Procedures, Social Emotional Learning, and Growth Mind resource where I have done all the planning for you! Just take what you need and leave the rest!
Best Book for All Subjects
Teach Like a Champion 3.0 by Doug Lemov
I stumbled across the original edition of the modern day teacher classic at a Borders Books more than 10 years ago. It’s another one of my go-to resources when I am gearing up for a new school year. This book is filled with teaching strategies that will engage your students from the very beginning. The original edition had 42 strategies, this edition has 62! Definitely worth reading.
Thanks for stopping by today and make sure you sign up for the email list below to receive my Teacher’s Summer Reading Guide which mentions several of these titles, plus a whole lot more!
I will see you again (virtually!) soon!
Deedee
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