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October 10th, 2005

Whether a daycare worker, homeschooler, or traditional teacher, the task of educating can be daunting. Assignments, lesson plans, grading, and discipline are just some of the responsibilities involved with being an educator. However, no amount of education can prepare you for what truly happens in the classroom.

To this end, we have gathered 50 incredible books every educator should read. No matter if looking for inspiration, advice, or just a good read, they can help your career in education immensely.

Incredible Books Every Educator Should Read by a Teacher

Read these books by teachers for teachers to get a jump on that next school year.

1. The Last Lecture : The late Randy Pausch inspired both a university and world with his teachings and famous last lecture. It was so phenomenal, it inspired this book and is a must read for anyone, especially educators. If still unsure, check out his entire lecture on YouTube.

2. Educating Esmé : Esmé Raji Codell wrote a funny, hip diary filled with one-liners and unadorned thoughts that speak volumes about the raw, emotional life of a first year teacher. Full of both fantasy and real life accounts, this one is a can’t miss. Given five stars by nearly 90 readers, be sure and give this one a look.

3. First Year Teacher’s Survival Guide : Julia Thompson has been a public school teacher for more than 25 years. She has taught a wide variety of subjects including English, reading, special education, math, geography, home economics, physical education, and employment skills. The book gives new teachers a wide variety of tested strategies, activities, and tools for creating a positive and dynamic learning environment while meeting the challenges of each school day.

4. If You Don’t Feed the Teachers They Eat the Students : This book is packed with words of wisdom and is one book no administrator or teacher should be without. Filled with practical tips to improve school climate, communication skills, and fun, this must-have resource will leave you laughing your way to a more successful school year.

5. Teacher Under Construction : Jerry Parks shares things he wished he could have known when starting out his teaching career. He is a National Board Certified Teacher and regular speaker at the National Middle School Association. It provides practical, essential, and usable information to help new teachers set up and run a classroom in middle school.

6. The First Days of School : Harry Wong believes the first days of school for a teacher can either make or break you. The book walks a teacher, either novice or veteran, through the most effective ways to begin a school year. With over three million copies sold, it is definitely worth a look.

7. Teach My Kid: I Dare You! : A series of authors discuss how parenting and teaching combine. It provides ten essential steps for designing a comprehensive parent involvement program to increase communication between students, parents, and schools. Practical strategies and activities are also included.

8. My First Year as a Teacher : Get recounts of the ups and downs of a first year in the classroom. Twenty five teachers total give firsthand accounts. They include the trials and rewards of educating a variety of students.

Incredible Books Every Educator Should Read for a Teacher

These books were written with inspiring educators in mind.

9. Tuesdays With Morrie : Famous writer Mitch Albom wrote the successful “Five People You Meet in Heaven.” In this true story, he tells of his college professor of 20 years ago and how he was inspired by Morrie. It also became a television series of the same name.

10. The Don’t Sweat Guide for Teachers : Learn how to cut through the clutter so every day counts with this book. Best-selling author Richard Carlson wrote other similar books to help others learn how to make the most of their work.

11. Letters to my Teacher : This book contains a collection of inspiring letters to teachers from adults looking back and kids looking up. It is filled with dozens of real-life letters and speaks of lessons learned, lives changed, and the quiet heroes who made it all possible. An inspiring read for anyone who was effected by a teacher.

12. God’s Little Devotional Book for Teachers : If you need the Almighty’s help in teaching, this is the book for you. It is full of true-to-life stories and scriptures to provide teachers with the heartfelt inspiration they need to renew their spirits and refresh their minds. It also makes a great gift.

13. The Story of My Life : Any teacher who feels frustrated should have a look at this book. It is the story of Helen Keller and her teacher. Best of all, the book is public domain and can be read in its entirety here.

14. So You Want to Be a Teacher? : If unsure about a career in teaching, have a look at this book. It is a valuable tool for both students and teachers. Four parts cover the many aspects of education.

15. The Power of Their Ideas : Deborah Meier is a veteran school principal who fights to get large high schools into smaller, more efficient ones. In the book, she shares lessons from a struggling school in Harlem. See teaching at its most difficult and inspiring here.

Incredible Books Every Educator Should Read to Become a Teacher

If still studying to become an educator, these books can be your best friend.

16. Accomplished Teaching : Get the key to National Board Certification with this book. It will help those just entering the education field to understand the Standards of the teaching profession and will help experienced teachers review and refine their practices against those Standards whether or not they choose to seek National Board Certification. A CD is also included.

17. So You Want to Become a National Board Certified Teacher? : As a teacher with the implementation of No Child Left Behind, the career is becoming more difficult. As more states encourage validation of teaching effectiveness, NBPTS certification remains the one standard by which you can establish unquestioned credibility. This book can help you learn everything about it.

18. The National Board Certification Workbook : Click here for more information on another book to help with certification. It can help you develop a portfolio and prepare for assessment exams. The second edition contains even more tools.

19. Mentoring the NBPTS Candidate : Jerry Parks returns to coach you through the certification process. He accomplished this goal himself in 2002 and shows you how. Chapters include FAQs, ethics, writing tips, and others.

20. Ganbatte Means Go For It! : Celeste Heiter shows you how to become an English teacher in Japan. The book is packed with information and advice on getting a job, moving to Japan, succeeding in your new job and environment, and enjoying your stay there. Even though it is specific, any teacher can learn from the lessons.

21. Road to Teaching : Maximize your teacher training, excel at student teaching, and find your ideal teaching job. Eric Hougan addresses these unique stages of becoming an educator by providing 50 valuable strategies and insightful advice. He also shows you how to allow for a smooth transition from student teacher to exemplary teacher.

22. Teacher Interviews : An important part of becoming a teacher, learn how to nail the interview with this book’s help. Robert Pollock shows you how to get the interview and how to get hired. He tells prospective candidates how to write eye-catching cover letters and resumes that will move them to the top of the must interview list.

23. U.S. News Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Teacher : If you enjoy the magazine, you will enjoy this comprehensive guide. It offers a complete overview of the turmoil in the profession and the spread of reforms designed to attract the best and brightest to teaching-and to encourage them stay.

24. How to Get the Teaching Job You Want : Robert Feirsen takes on the competitive world of teaching in this book. Now extensively revised, this book maintains its place as the most up-to-date book available on job hunting for teachers. It covers changes in the educational marketplace, the new mandates about standardized testing, public reporting of student achievement, and more.

Incredible Books Every Educator Should Read to Teach Better

These books focus on helping educators improve their craft.

25. Teaching Outside the Box : LouAnne Johnson shows you how to “grab your students by their brains” in this popular book. It is a unique resource that also acknowledges the importance of each teacher’s personal attitudes and beliefs about teaching. It contains a step by step plan, approaches for discipline, motivation, management, and portfolios.

26. Reluctant Disciplinarian : Gary Rubinstein was a self-described “softie” who eventually became a successful teacher. In this funny and insightful book, he relives his own truly disastrous first year of teaching. He begins his teaching career armed only with idealism and romantic visions of teaching and absolutely no classroom management skills.

27. Setting Limits in the Classroom : Robert Mackenzie’s first edition was so popular, he revised it into this one. The book shows how to move beyond the dance of discipline in today’s classroom. It shows how you can apply practical advice and skills to the classroom from day one.

28. Rookie Teaching for Dummies : What would the “Dummies” series of books be without one for teachers? Along with the usual tips, it also explains politics, paperwork, and legal issues. Explanations are in plain English with get in, get out information.

29. The Everything New Teacher Book : Melissa Kelly shows you how to increase confidence, connect with students, and deal with the unexpected. She is a longtime teacher who shows you how to set goals. From the rules and tools of a successful learning environment to advice on behavior management, the book is the perfect guide for educators during their first or second year and even veteran teachers making a grade change.

30. The Creative Teacher : This book contains an encyclopedia of ideas to energize your curriculum. Specifically for teachers K-6, it offers tools to enhance standard based curriculum. Writing prompts, projects, DIY cut outs, and more are included.

31. Discipline in the Secondary Classroom : Get a positive approach to behavior management with this educational book. Classroom management guru Randall Sprick offers practical strategies for beginning the school year, organizing the classroom for success, and establishing rules and behavior expectations for students. He also provides scores of helpful tips gathered from successful classroom teachers or gleaned from the latest educational research.

32. Motivating Students Who Don’t Care : Allen N. Mendler is an educator and school psychologist who has worked extensively with children of all ages. As one of the internationally recognized authors of the Discipline With Dignity program, he has worked to develop effective strategies for educators. In this book he shows you how.

33. One Minute Discipline : Get 60 second classroom management strategies that work. The book delivers a unique collection of practical, proven-effective techniques. It also contains ready-to-use tools for managing classroom behavior and creating the positive environment that students and teachers need to promote learning.

34. Fires in the Bathroom : If you are a high school educator and feel in over your head, this is the book for you. Kathleen Cushman is an education journalist working in conjunction with the nonprofit organization What Kids Can Do and extensively interviewed high school students in several urban areas about every aspect of school, producing this compendium of their advice here.

Incredible Public Domain Books Every Educator Should Read

Put away your wallet, grab a computer, and read these top books every teacher should know at no charge.

35. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn : Mark Twain’s classic tale has long been a classroom staple. Themes include childhood, slavery, humor, friendship, and more. Read it again or for the first time.

36. Alice in Wonderland : Both children and adults have been captivated by this classic tale for over 100 years. During his time, Lewis Carroll and the rest of the world were being inundated with a new form of math and were struggling to make sense of it all. In the story, Alice escapes the real world to enter a fantasy one more fraught with danger.

37. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes : Show students that before it was a movie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s beloved character was practicing on Baker Street. One of the original mystery stories, Holmes and Watson go on several adventures. Included are The Red Headed League, The Man with the Twisted Lip, and many others.

38. Grimm’s Fairy Tales : In another entry that has been made into films, the brothers Grimm captivated the world with well-known tales such as Cinderella, Snow White, and others. A useful read if teaching younger children.

39. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz : Although there are several books that take place in Oz, this is the best known. The story follows Dorothy’s adventures as she is sucked out of Kansas and dropped into a mysterious land. Valuable lessons are also included.

40. The Count of Monte Cristo : Middle to high school students will enjoy this book. Alexandre Dumas weaves a story that was the basis for films such as “The Shawshank Redemption.” Subjects include revenge, adventure, and forgiveness.

41. Pride and Prejudice : If you lost the girls in your classroom with the above, try this book. Jane Austen is well known for capturing the voice of her generation so well, it translates into today’s society. Love, romance, and family are all examined.

42. Frankenstein : Written by Mary Shelley in the early 1800’s, this book is one of the first ever horror stories. The tale involves a man’s desperate attempts to defy death and the consequences that come with it. Id, ego, and superego are also good teaching tools for more advanced students.

> Incredible Fiction Books Every Educator Should Read

Whether to yourself or to the class, every educator should have these books on hand.

43. The Giving Tree : Shel Silverstein has captured the ear and imaginations of students for decades. In this moving book, a boy and a tree have a special relationship. Visit the official site to get more information, games, and even animations.

44. Green Eggs and Ham : Dr. Seuss is well known for wonderful, lyrical works. As fun to hear as it is to read, it follows the tale of Sam-I-Am and the breakfast that doesn’t want to be eaten. Students learn words, rhymes, and more.

45. Where the Wild Things Are : Winner of the 1964 Caldecott Medal as the “Most Distinguished Picture Book of the Year,” it was controversial when it was first written. The theme of dealing with dark emotions was rare in children’s literature, especially in picture book format for young children.

46. Charlotte’s Web : In his classic and beloved novel, E. B. White tells the memorable story of Wilbur, a little pig who becomes famous with the help of his clever friend Charlotte and their chatty animal neighbors. As the runt of the litter, Wilbur struggles to survive from the very beginning. This book will have all kids growing up a little, so be careful of age.

47. Ramona: Whether starting out with “Beezus and Ramona” or the award winning “Ramona Quimby, Age 8,” this is standard reading for educators. Beverly Cleary’s ability to create characters that resonate with both boys and girls is not to be missed. The official site has more, including teaching resources.

48. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing : Judy Blume’s book focuses on fourth grader Peter who has a problem. His little brother, also known as Fudge, is a terror. A fun fact is that the book was based on the story of a real life toddler who swallowed a turtle.

49. The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe : This book marks the first in the highly successful Chronicles of Narnia series. Four young children set on a quest to free the world of Narnia from tyranny. Also available as an audio CD or eBook.

50. The Hobbit : Before “The Lord of the Rings” there was this volume by J. R. R. Tolkien. Published in 1937, it remains one of the bestselling books of the 20th century. Tolkien drew deeply on his knowledge of ancient mythology, primarily Norse mythology, to flesh out the characters and plot.

No matter the grade, size, or ability of your students, there is much to be learned from the above 50 incredible books every educator should read. Be sure to pick both books that can be read inside or out of the classroom to get the most of your teaching.

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