As summer begins to wind down, now is the perfect time to start thinking about the upcoming school year. The right book could make a huge difference for you and your students! Here are some of our editors’ and directors’ favorite picks:
Teaching the Male Brain by Abigail James
Chances are about half of your students are boys. And if you’re a K-12 teacher, it’s more likely than not that you are you are female. But regardless of your gender, neuroscience shows that males and females learn differently, and exploring those differences while discovering ways to reach and teach boys better is both intriguing and illuminating. Read the Introduction.
Recommended by Jessica Allan, Senior Acquisitions Editor, Assessment, Special Ed, School Counseling
Teaching Outside the Lines by Doug Johnson
Being creative and innovative is critical to students and teachers alike. This easy-to-read, well-paced book uses great stories and examples to remind us that ignoring creativity is a crisis in waiting. Doug Johnson acknowledges the difficulty of integrating real creativity into the curriculum, and delivers surefire strategies for equipping learners across all grades and subjects with the motivation and critical thinking skills to thrive in a high-tech future. Read Chapter 1.
Recommended by Arnis Burvikovs, Executive Editor, Leadership
High-Impact Instruction by Jim Knight
Jim Knight’s High-Impact Instruction is a classic! Every educator can find something new to try every time they read it, and learn something new about pedagogy and best practice. Bonus? QR codes where they can watch the best practices in action. Read Chapter 1.
Recommended by Kristin Anderson, Senior Director of Professional Learning
Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain by Zaretta Hammond
In a recent Ed Week blog post from Larry Ferlazzo, author Zaretta Hammond stated that a big myth (about Culturally Responsive Teaching) is that it’s about motivating students of color by mentioning cultural facts or naming famous people of color. Hammond wrote this fascinating and groundbreaking book to dispel such myths and to help educators understand the brain-based principles that are the foundation of culturally-responsive teaching. This is a must-read for all educators who wish to better-serve underperforming, culturally and linguistically diverse learners. Read Chapter 1.
Recommended by Dan Alpert, Program Director, Equity and Professional Learning
Growing Language through Science by Judy Reinhartz
Science is a natural motivator and an academic engine for utilizing language, but it is the teacher who is the key to fostering the innate curiosity in each learner. Growing Language Through Science offers a model for contextualizing language and promoting academic success for all students, particularly English learners in the K-5 science classroom, through a highly effective approach that integrates inquiry-based science lessons with language rich hand-on experiences. Read the Preface.
Recommended by Erin Null, Acquisitions Editor, Math and STEM
Teaching the Last Backpack Generation by Zachary Walker, Kara Rosenblatt, and Don McMahon
This super-practical workbook is perfect for the teacher who wants to integrate technology, but doesn’t know exactly where to start. The author trio walks readers through exactly how to use devices, with classroom management tips, example lesson plans and templates, and countless ideas for every content area. Perfect to keep on your desk for easy reference! Read the Introduction.
Recommended by Ariel Price, Associate Editor, EdTech and General Methods
