Here are books for and recommended by teachers, from Scholastic Instructor magazine and titled the “Ultimate Summer Reading List for Teachers:”
We searched far and wide to come up with a list of great books for you to crack open during the summer break—and, most important, we asked our teacher advisers and Facebook teachers what they were looking forward to reading (or rereading!). We received an avalanche of interesting responses. It was hard to choose just a few but here are some newer releases that you can pick up at your bookstore or download to an e-reader, plus teachers’ dog-eared favorites.
FOR LESSONS ON LIFE AND TEACHING
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain
—Amy Bennett-Rosado, teacher adviser
Mind in the Making: The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs by Ellen Galinsky
“Should be mandatory reading for parents and teachers alike.”
—Susie E., via Facebook
Teach Like a Pirate by Dave Burgess
“Behind the funny title is a book full of creative ideas that will help you have fun while becoming a more effective teacher.”
—Grady Doane, teacher adviser
Life, Animated: A Story of Sidekicks, Heroes, and Autism by Ron Suskind
Strings Attached: One Tough Teacher and the Gift of Great Expectations by Joanne Lipman and Melanie Kupchynsky
“Why Do Only White People Get Abducted by Aliens?” Teaching Lessons From the Bronx by Ilana Garon
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Get Inspired
Reading Unbound: Why Kids Need to Read What They Want—and Why We Should Let Them
by Jeffrey D. Wilhelm and Michael W. Smith with Sharon Fransen
The Literacy Teacher’s Playbook, Grades K–2 by Jennifer Serravallo
—Lyssa Sahadevan, teacher adviser
Closing the Attitude Gap: How to Fire Up Your Students to Strive for Success by Baruti Kafele
—Stefania H., via Facebook
Falling in Love With Close Reading by Christopher Lehman and Kate Roberts
—Laura Lai, teacher adviser
The Book Whisperer; Reading in the Wild by Donalyn Miller
—Recommended by numerous teachers
Building Fluency: Lessons and Strategies for Reading Success by Wiley Blevins
“I have dog-eared so many pages.”
—Ellen Palmer, teacher adviser
Time to Teach by Rick Dahlgren and Judy Hyatt
—Jenny Letson, teacher adviser
Some of My Best Friends Are Books: Guiding Gifted Readers by Judith Wynn Halsted
—Kim F., via Facebook
4 FOR FUN (AND YOU CAN DISCUSS WITH STUDENTS!)
“The Divergent series: There is a mile-long wait list for these books at school, which definitely sparks my interest!”
—Leann Parrish, teacher adviser
“For pleasure, I want to reread many Agatha Christie and Jan Karon novels. Both provide a well-deserved escape into a different world.”
—Marsha Rains, teacher adviser
“I just finished the Parallel Trilogy—Gone, Imprisoned, Hunted—by Christine Kersey. I love young adult fiction!”
—Kathy S., via Facebook
“For fun? Matilda.”
—Jennifer H., via Facebook
AWARD-WINNING TEACHER BLOGS FOR THOUGHT-PROVOKING IDEAS
Venspired
A passionate, smart place to feed your own inspiration, or get reinspired. Krissy Venosdale blogs about mentors, the importance of play, and what schools could be, and offers downloads of crazy-colorful “Venspired” posters to brighten up your walls.
Matt B. Gomez
This self-titled blog has a number of fun and useful lists, including Google Hangout resources for teachers, apps to use in kindergarten, and favorite videos for brain breaks, transitions, and indoor recess.
Kleinspiration
Teacher and author Erin Klein’s blog is loaded with lesson plans, room design ideas, technology tips, and more, all presented in a warm voice that invites fellow teachers in.
Teacher Blog Spot
The focus is on teaching math, with lots of helpful graphics to demonstrate strategies. There’s a special section that deals specifically with Common Core convergence.