best books for educational leaders 2022

Best Books for Teachers and School Leaders – Updated for Summer 2022

Learning Ladders Blog Best Books for Teachers and School Leaders – Updated for Summer 2022

Education books are a valuable resource that help teachers and leaders improve their knowledge and skills. Not only that, they’re often funny, inspiring and packed full of actionable advice. Educators pour so much time into creating these CPD books for teachers that provide value to so many – but they rarely get the attention they deserve.

As the school holidays kick off in the UK, we wanted to award the best books for teachers and school leaders to read in summer 2022. After longlisting over 100 education books for teachers, our panel of experts narrowed this down to a shortlist of 40 titles. Then, we compiled our top ten picks and our winner – which you can find at the bottom of this post.

Our panel includes teachers, school leaders and EdTech entrepreneurs, such as Matt Koster-Marcon, CEO of Learning Ladders and Chair of EdTech at the British Educational Suppliers Association. To be clear: this list contains no affiliate links, and we earn no revenue from including these titles. We simply wanted to award the best CPD books for teachers to help inform your summer reading list. We’ve broken down the titles into topics, including wellbeing and educational leadership books, so you can jump to the section most relevant to you. Why not bookmark this page, so you have a library of top books for teachers ready to dive into?

Top Wellbeing Books for Teachers

A Little Guide for Teachers: Teacher Wellbeing and Self-Care

“Our book was written partly before but also during the pandemic. It’s a practical book, backed up by evidence, that guides teachers and school leaders in how to look after themselves so they can teach well but also so they can lead fulfilling lives inside and outside of the classroom.

“But our book isn’t just about self-care and helping teachers cope within a broken system. We purposefully chose to end our book with a focus on agency and the small steps that teachers and leaders can take to not only after themselves but also to change things for the better in the wider education system. It might be small but it packs a punch and we hope it’s a book educators keep coming back to [and help teachers] restore their sense of perspective to help them focus on what really matters.”

Emotion Coaching with Children and Young People in Schools: Promoting Positive Behavior, Wellbeing and Resilience

“Emotion Coaching is an evidence-based, ‘in the moment’ strategy which has been shown to be a valuable ‘tool’ for educators and school leaders to bring about positive change and help reduce stress in schools.

“The book is timely given the current global COVID-19 crisis and the disruptive impact this has had on children and young people in schools. The book takes the reader on a step-by-step journey to understand how Emotion Coaching supports the work of educators in helping pupils to, for example, understand their emotions, manage their anxiety and anger, and problem solve more effective ways to cope with their feelings so that they follow school rules more effectively and focus on their work.

“It is filled with real-life illustrations of how staff have been able to de-escalate challenging situations with pupils, reduce incidents and exclusions in school, improve attendance and academic attainment, and enhance the wellbeing of staff and students alike through using Emotion Coaching.”

The Spread the Happiness Approach: Happy Teachers, Happy Classrooms, Better Education

“This book includes detailed case studies, a five-week programme of taster challenges and a section on measuring outcomes and sharing success. The Spread the Happiness approach invites teachers to undertake a 27-day challenge, which encourages problem-solving and challenges them to make their immediate workplace happier. It identifies the strengths of adults and children and sets realistic goals to achieve as an individual, as a team and even as a community.

“This powerful resource will be of great interest to all teachers and school leaders, as well as trainee teachers and students on leadership or early educational courses.”

The Teacher’s Guide to Self‑Care

“While there are undoubtedly larger factors that need to be addressed within education, practicing self-care is critical to building resilience and creating a sustainable career as a teacher. The Teacher’s Guide to Self-Care will help you leave the teacher-martyr complex behind and embrace a lifestyle that includes taking care of yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually while continuing to make a difference in the world.

“Whether you’re a brand-new teacher preparing for your first year in the classroom or a veteran educator realizing you need to take better care of yourself, The Teacher’s Guide to Self-Care will help you create the self-care routines you need for a sustainable career.”

Love Teaching, Keep Teaching: The essential guide to improving well-being at all levels in schools

“With so many teachers and leaders questioning whether they can continue with the job or resigned to just ‘surviving’, never before has there been a greater need to reignite a passion for teaching and re-think the way we do education.

“Love Teaching Keep Teaching provides the stimulus and tools to help education professionals at all levels to look after themselves, lead with emotional literacy and challenge thinking and norms which undermine the wellbeing and progress of our staff and students. This is not just about avoiding burnout but about loving coming to school again. It’s about, together, transforming school culture so that our schools and classrooms really do what they are supposed to: change lives and change the world.”

Educational Leadership Books

Middle Leadership Mastery: A toolkit for subject and pastoral leaders

“The book also pulls ideas from a wide range of professions, such as call centres and Silicon Valley to provide a toolkit for subject and pastoral leaders to use when dealing with students and parents.

“Middle leadership is also as much to do with supporting your team as it is designing your curriculum. Middle Leadership Mastery has specific sections devoted to the building of successful teams and the supporting of colleagues in times of crisis. Middle leadership is a challenging role and so the book aims to provide tangible advice on how to effectively manage a leader’s own wellbeing and cope with the pressures of high stakes accountability.”

Irresistible Learning: Embedding a culture of research in schools

“The author offers a practical guide on how to engage in meaningful research that will have a deep and lasting impact on you and your organisation. You will be taken on a journey through a Research Cycle that will build your confidence and purpose as a researcher; deepening professional relationships and improving outcomes for all.

“You will then be introduced to a range of systems that construct a culture of research in your school, building a climate where the voice of every member of staff is deeply valued and has the potential to influence the strategic development of the organisation. If you are interested in research in schools, this book is for you.”

Making the Leap – Moving from Deputy to Head

“I have been overwhelmed by the response. Since the book came out, I have been in steady receipt of messages of appreciation from readers who tell me how much they valued the advice, encouragement and practical guidance the book supplies for those on their journey into and through headship. Readers have told me that the book helped them to strengthen their applications, to be more confident at interview, and to deal with the reality of moving into the head’s role.

“Strong, well-prepared leaders at all levels are crucial to the success of our schools, and so to the success of young people. I feel privileged to have been able to contribute to this preparation of future generations of heads and principals who work hard to serve pupils and communities.”

Thrive Through the Five: Practical Truths to Powerfully Lead through Challenging Times

“We all have that small percentage of our work (and life) when things are really hard. And we’ve all had years, like this past one, where that percentage of the work that is difficult is so much higher than 5%.

“The goal of this book is to help us not just survive those moments, days and seasons, but to truly THRIVE! The work educators and leaders get to do is an incredible privilege – but it is not without cost. My hope is that the tips shared in this book will help you live and lead better. Because it is not enough to just survive. We owe it to ourselves and everyone around us to truly thrive.”

General Books for Teachers

The Action Hero Teacher: Classroom Management Made Simple

“But without effective classroom behaviour strategies, you will never be able to reach them no matter how smart you are.

“The Action Hero Teacher book helps teachers become the ‘heroes’ of their classrooms. The AHT book gives educators a grab bag of Classroom Management tools to build relationships, deal with poor behaviour and helps educators become the best versions of themselves to inspire their pupils.

“The AHT book is not another dusty, boring textbook. It’s a practical roadmap written by Karl C Pupé, a former NEETs Coordinator with ten years’ experience, who has worked with London’s most challenging students and managed to turn them around. Karl has worked with prestigious organisations like the National Education Union (NEU), Charted College of Teaching and the University of Essex to help teachers master classroom management.”

The Spelling Book: Transforming the Teaching of Spelling

“Each edition of The Spelling Book includes daily and weekly spelling activities that are built on the fundamentals of teaching spelling using strong phonic foundations. Each book includes notes for teachers that suggest how to introduce the key concepts their pupils will be meeting, alongside proven methods to increase pupil retention. The book contains activities for the whole academic year. The activities within the books are adaptable and engaging, serving as a way for primary teachers to ‘up-the-ante’ in their spelling provision.

“The Spelling Books outline a system of teaching spelling that relies on teachers to bring the ‘wonder of words’ to life. They allow enough room for creativity, whilst ensuring that all National Curriculum fundamentals are covered.”

Teaching Yourself to Teach: A Comprehensive Guide to the Fundamental and Practical Information You Need to Succeed as a Teacher Today

“Educators face a ridiculous number of changes, many of which coming from people with little experience in the classroom. I wanted to create resources that provide valuable information from experience, and that aren’t limited to a certain school year. Teachers can pick up this book tomorrow or in six months and the information will still be relevant.”

Put A Wet Paper Towel on It: The Weird and Wonderful World of Primary Schools

Paper cut? Wet paper towel!

Grazed knee? Wet paper towel!

Teacher retention crisis and well-being? Erm… slightly more complicated.

“We all know that teacher and school staff well-being is regularly paid lip service, but not enough is done to improve it. This book is all about raising smiles and will provide far more motivation than a pointless yoga staff meeting.

“The current education system is broken but not unfixable. Lee Parkinson (ICT with Mr P) and his brother Adam Parkinson (The Other Mr P) are on a mission to entertain and inspire school staff to reignite their love for working in schools and to inform the masses that a career in education should and can still be, the greatest job in the world.”

Uncommon Sense Teaching: Practical Insights in Brain Science to Help Students Learn

“The authors use the very techniques described in the book to help readers understand in-depth concepts of learning in a simple, highly pictorial way, with plenty of fun metaphors to help clarify the concepts.

“Coverage includes teaching today’s diverse students with their broadly varying working memory capacities; the importance of learning through and teaching to both the declarative (hippocampal) pathway and the procedural (basal ganglia) pathway; and easy-to-understand visuals that reveal how retrieval practice helps strengthen neural connections in long-term memory.

“Above all, Uncommon Sense Teaching allows teachers to understand not just what to do in the classroom, but why. As teachers themselves know, understanding why can make all the difference.”

Shimamura’s MARGE Model of Learning in Action

“Through summarising the links Arthur Shimamura made between Neuroscience and Cognitive Science, the book ensures staff are aware of how these ideas can be used to improve the long-term learning of students.

“Through the use of case studies from practising teachers and leaders, clear action ideas and tables “things to consider” when implementing these ideas, Shimamura’s MARGE Model of Learning in Action guides the reader through the process of implementing MARGE in the classroom.”

Sticky Teaching and Learning: How to make your students remember what you teach them: How to make your students remember what you teach them

“Additionally, it has a practical toolkit of 50 teaching techniques that can be easily adopted into classroom practice. Teachers who read this book will be enthused to try the practical strategies it suggests, and confident of their pedigree because the book is firmly evidence based.”

Visible Learning: Feedback

“The book argues students prefer “where to next” feedback but most teacher feedback is about “where am I going?” and “how am I going”, and including praise with feedback about student work can dilute the feedback effect.

“We have spent too much time on improving teachers’ feedback, whereas in this book we argue that it is more about students’ reception of feedback. We need to listen more what they hear, understand, and action from feedback and this not only helps teachers improve the nature and impact of their feedback it also invites teachers to teach students how to interpret and use the feedback.

“Feedback thrives in a climate of openness, of seeing errors as opportunities to learn, and where there are appropriately challenging tasks.”

In Teachers We Trust: The Finnish Way to World-Class Schools

“This book is different from many other books: It goes beyond describing what an ideal high-performing school could be in theory by sharing the key principles and practical ideas about how an entire education system has been transformed to address collaboration, agency and teacher professionalism.

“It reveals why teachers in Finland hold high status, and shows what school leaders and educators can do to build more trust in teachers as essential experts in the era of disruption and change. This makes In Teachers We Trust an essential reading for all teachers and administrators.”

100 Ideas for Primary Teachers: Questioning

“The ideas also seek to bust common myths and misconceptions, such as open questions are always better than closed questions. While each idea can be used in isolation, as a whole the book presents a unique question-centred pedagogy that will encourage children to examine the world around them and become independent and critical thinkers.

“It has an unusual philosophical depth and rigour for a primary-oriented book, yet it remains practical, easy to read and should be just as useful to secondary school teachers or anyone interested in good questioning.”

The Science of Learning: 99 Studies That Every Teacher Needs to Know

“The Science of Learning seeks to redress that balance. It covers a range of topics and answers questions that are at the heart of teaching. This includes how to best motivate bored students, why do students often forget things we have taught them, and how do we help develop resilience?

“It also covers hot topics, such as banning mobile phones, the importance of sleep, should we do mixed-ability teaching and what actually is metacognition and cognitive load theory?

“The book has been read by teachers from all over the world, with it’s impact being felt in classrooms in New Zealand, Australia, America, England, Canada, Norther Ireland and Dubai. This is because it is easy to read, simple to understood and contains strategies that are based on research that teachers can start to use immediately.”

Unpack Your Impact: How Two Primary Educators Ditched Problematic Lessons and Built a Culture-Centred Curriculum

“Educators all over the world have raved about how their lessons have been changed for the better after reading this book. In this book, readers will find themselves thinking about practices and strategies that they have engaged in previously and how they can make them more globally relevant.

“The authors provide big ideas that are quickly followed up with concrete examples from their own classrooms. You will rethink everything that you do in the classroom after reading this book. Although it is told through the lens of two primary educators, Unpack Your Impact is a must-read for teachers of all grade levels and subjects because of the ease with which the reader can swap out their stories and topics for their own.”

Giving Students a Say: Smarter Assessment Practices to Empower and Engage

“Perhaps for too long we’ve overlooked this third element, and the origins of the word assessment might help us recalibrate. We get ‘assessment’ from the Latin ‘assidere’ which means ‘to sit beside’. Unfortunately, assessment in schools involves the teacher usually sitting across from the student – literally and figuratively.

“In this timely book, Dueck argues that for much of our collective educational experience, assessment is what we have done to students, not with them. With a balance of ‘real world’ applications, research and tools that teachers could use immediately, Giving Students a Say opens the door for how we can empower and harness student voice, choice, self-assessment and self-reporting in the realm formerly reserved only for teachers – assessment.”

Assessing with Respect: Everyday Practices That Meet Students’ Social and Emotional Needs

“Readers of this book will need to consider their current practices, their own biases and will learn to work in more equitable ways. Student voice and choice are at the center of the practice and there is a big focus on building relationships to set up a culture in the classroom where risk-taking and reflection are key. School leaders need to support their teams with instructional practices that put the needs of students first and the book helps with that.”

Word Aware 1: Teaching Vocabulary Across the Day, Across the Curriculum

“‘Word Aware’ provides schools with tools and resources to implement a whole school approach to develop all children’s vocabulary. It is based upon research, but applies this in a practical, time-efficient manner. Developing vocabulary is not a quick fix, so ‘Word Aware’ provides fun ways to engage children and their families right across the primary age range.

“The ‘Word Aware’ approach is being used in many schools across the UK and internationally. Research studies have shown it is effective and children love it too. School leaders will love it because improved vocabulary results in better learning outcomes and increased attainment.”

The Teacher and the Teenage Brain

“The first chapter in the book is a simple introduction to the brain, entitled “Ten things every teacher needs to know about the teenage brain”. I then go on to cover the topics of cognitive development, risk, the importance of sleep for learning, and the management of stress and anxiety. My discussions with teachers led me to believe that this knowledge changes the way teachers understand their students. Perhaps most importantly, it allows them to see how critical these years are, and that there is capacity for change. My work has been hugely rewarding as I have seen how this knowledge can give teachers new insight and enhance relationships in the classroom.”

Creating the World We Want to Live In

“Throughout the 13 chapters, from childhood to relationships to the environment, the seven authors cite the evidence on wellbeing. They conclude that we need to move from a focus on what is good for me now to what is best for all of us in the longer term. Written to engage and inspire all readers, the science is illustrated with stories of good practice and solutions from around the globe. There are reflections and searching questions in each chapter to stimulate discussion. These provide an excellent resource for KS3-4, or even younger.

“Our world is in a precarious place and young people are anxious about many things. What we all need is an injection of hope and practical ideas for a post-pandemic re-set. Education is about that future, for both individuals and the society they create.”

Grammarsaurus Key Stage 2: The Ultimate Guide to Teaching Non-Fiction Writing, Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar

“We felt that teachers would benefit from a book which would allow them to easily access high-quality texts which were both age-appropriate and contained the relevant writing, grammar, spelling and punctuation from the National Curriculum and the teacher assessment frameworks. We strongly believe that these skills should be taught in context, rather than in standalone grammar or punctuation lessons.

“We hope this book will support you when deciding what skills to teach and when. We ourselves use our text-specific overviews and model texts when planning: they are invaluable to us, and we hope they will become invaluable to you, too! The overviews will help you to decide when to teach different skills and the model texts will show how these skills can be used in different contexts. Whether you use the model texts to support your own knowledge or share them with your pupils to expose them to high-quality texts, we are sure they will be a great support.”

Teaching in the Game-Based Classroom: Practical Strategies for Grades 6-12

Teaching in the Game Based Classroom Book

“Teachers and school leaders will learn a variety of strategies for engaging students as they return to classes from the isolation of COVID-19. For example, school leaders and teachers learn how Minecraft can build after-school communities and promote in-class creativity around any subject matter.

“Other chapters show how students can write their own history-based stories using text adventure software or teach Biology using cutting edge immersive virtual reality in “Learning About Cells from the Inside Out”. Moreover, a triad of chapters will help teachers and support staff with best practices in the Social Emotional Learning domain vital to the post-pandemic school world.

“You will even discover how to replace or supplement those deadening tests with playful assessments made possible learning games. In summary, readers will learn about the games and the stories behind the games through this engaging and informative book.”

Writing for Pleasure: Theory, Research and Practice

“The book explores what writing for pleasure means, and how it can be realised as a much-needed pedagogy whose aim is to develop children, young people, and their teachers as extraordinary and life-long writers. The approach described is grounded in what global research has long been telling us are the most effective ways of teaching writing and contains a description of what exceptional teachers of writing do that makes the difference.

“The authors describe ways of building communities of committed and successful writers who write with purpose, power, and pleasure, and they underline the importance of the affective needs of young writers, including promoting a sense of confidence, ownership, independence, desire, motivation, and writer-identity.

“The book defines and discusses 14 research-informed principles which constitute a Writing for Pleasure pedagogy and show how they are applied by teachers in classroom practice. Case studies of outstanding teachers across the globe further illustrate what world-class writing teaching is.”

101 Playground Games: A Collection of Active and Engaging Playtime Games for Children

“During an average primary school day in the UK, children spend up to 20% of their time playing in the school playground. This provides an opportunity for one-fifth of a child’s time at school to be used to support their recovery and rehabilitation from the pandemic and for schools to ensure children regain confidence, rebuild relationships, and remember they are children again.

“101 Playground Games is a comprehensive resource to support primary schools to dramatically improve the quality of day-to-day playtimes and lunchtimes, with a consequent beneficial impact on lunchtime behaviour, engagement, learning, social, emotional, mental and physical health and wellbeing.

“101 Playground Games offers enriching activities and traditional games to encourage active learning and social development among children at playtime. It is a book that will make playtime a richer experience for all.”

The Joy of Not Knowing: A Philosophy of Education Transforming Teaching, Thinking, Learning and Leadership in Schools

“It is fascinating to be experiencing this impact first-hand. Schools across the country are using the book to transform their culture, strategic thinking, professional development and pedagogy, which is then enabling every child to thrive emotionally, socially and academically. The love of learning that I’m seeing in these classrooms is extraordinary. The book also already forms the basis of many publications, NQT programmes, global educational conferences and courses. It has also become a key text in Initial Teacher Training and it is shaping the thinking of Governmental policymakers in the UK and in Uzbekistan through my work with APPG, FCCT, UNICEF.”

The Essential Blended Learning PD Planner: Where Classroom Practice Meets Distance Learning

The Essential Blended Learning PD Planner Book

“The Essential Blended Learning PD Planner: Where Classroom Practice Meets Distance Learning explores how the distance learning experience will impact the traditional classroom and how we can leverage the best practices developed to enhance learning through a combination of effective classroom instruction and technology. Most importantly, it examines how these changes can impact equity and access for all students and reinforce the pedagogical philosophy and resources needed to finally close the achievement gap.

“With a foreword by Michael Fullan and diagrams guiding the reader through the journey from theory to practice, this critical and timely book serves as a resource for school leaders and teachers to collaboratively design and implement a professional development program that supports all teachers during this transition. Included are interactive templates, tech tips, connections to instructional technology for social justice, and ideas for professional development sessions. Now is the time to take advantage of this momentous shift and forever alter the educational landscape.”

Diversity and Inclusion Books for Schools

10% Braver: Inspiring Women to Lead Education

“Its real impact is inspiring women to believe in themselves. For example, Parm Plummer said: ‘There are few books that can make a difference to people’s lives. For me, a woman of ethnic heritage, seeking to move into leadership but facing setbacks, reading 10% Braver had a huge impact. Up to then, I had full-blown Imposter Syndrome. The book galvanised me to action: I became a network leader for WomenEd to support other women. Now I’m a Global Strategic Leader of WomenEd’.”

Celebrating Difference: A whole-school approach to LGBT+ inclusion

“‘Celebrating Difference’ aims to inspire sustainable, compassionate change within individuals, learning communities and education systems. An inspiring initial chapter of painful (but uplifting) lived experience precedes a highly detailed, practical, tried, tested and multi-award-winning strategic process of personal, cultural and organisation change in respect of diversity, equitable inclusion and intersectional change deployable across the equality strands.

“The text is informed by over twenty years in class-teaching, leadership, governance, strategic school improvement and enriched with unique experience as a global LGBT+ education advocate.

“Recommended in Parliament, it features change strategies, research, anecdotal evidence, case studies, teaching, learning and curriculum guidance, impact study, challenge and reflection questions and strategic audit strategies supporting staff, leaders and governors to prevent prejudice whilst fostering conscious inclusion.

“The book nurtures a sense of permission and empowerment, enabling readers to find their authentic voices whilst aspiring to validate, represent and educate all, not merely some, of our wonderfully diverse young people.”

No Outsiders: Everyone Different, Everyone Welcome: Preparing Children for Life in Modern Britain

“We teach children that there are No Outsiders in our school because everyone is welcome. We link our language to the Equality Act 2010 and British Values. No Outsiders is a whole school ethos that provides a framework for delivering a simple but effective curriculum steeped in an understanding of equality where all children feel proud to know they belong.”

50 Wellbeing Lessons for the Diverse Primary Classroom: Teaching Through Inclusive Practice

50 Wellbeing Lessons for the Classroom Book

“Both accessible and fun, the collection of activities cover a wide range of pertinent topics that challenge children to reflect, ask questions, analyse and find solutions through open discussion and collaboration. It provides them with the opportunity to explore their feelings and understand empathy and develop coping strategies in order to promote wellbeing. The content covered in this resource includes key topics such as the impact of discrimination, the Black Lives Matter movement, prejudice, coping with loss, feeling left out, moving school and managing as a young carer.

“This practical guide is ideal for those new to teaching as well as more experienced practitioners. It addresses social and emotional wellbeing through themes that often affect marginalised groups and is crucial reading for anyone looking to embed an inclusive mental wellbeing culture within their school.”

Reading, Writing, and Racism: Disrupting Whiteness in Teacher Education and in the Classroom

“This book provides a framework to identify racist curriculum and argues that White teachers must reframe their understanding about race in order to advance racial justice, and that this must begin in teacher education programs. Drawing on two decades of experience preparing teachers to focus on social justice and antiracism, Picower demonstrates how teachers’ ideology of race, consciously or unconsciously, shapes how they teach race in the classroom.

“With a focus on institutional strategies, the book supports leaders to understand how racial justice can be built into programs across the teacher education pipeline—from admission to induction. By examining the who, what, why, and how of racial justice teacher education, she provides radical possibilities for transforming how teachers think about, and teach about, race in their classrooms.”

Books for NQTs and New Teachers

How to Survive Your First Year in Teaching

“Often referred to as one of the first practical handbooks for teachers, I wrote the book as a summary of everything that I had learned in my first few years as a teacher, and which I thought would be useful for others new to the profession. I like to feel that I ‘blazed a trail’ for all the practical handbooks that followed with this, my first book, and also my second practical guide Getting the Buggers to Behave.

“As with all my books, the key to its success, and the reason it has stayed in print for so long, is that it is honest, realistic, practical and easy to dip into to find advice. Written in a down-to-earth way that appeals to teachers in real life classrooms, this is not an academic text, nor is it based on years of research. It is simply a collection of best practice, top tips, useful strategies and honest reflections on what it is like being a new teacher. If you want to not only survive, but to succeed as well, this is the book for you.”

Top Tips for New Teachers

“Teaching is incredibly difficult and requires a broad skill set which grows over time. Nationally, there is not only a recruitment shortage but also a real retention problem with teachers within the profession. Much of the success of a teacher’s integration into the profession rests on the quality of their mentor within their school. And this is not right.

“Many teachers are left to their own devices and are left to fend for themselves. I was fortunate enough to have a fantastic mentor who guided me through the first few years of teaching within a really supportive school.

“As my career progressed, I trained more and more teachers new to the profession and found myself repeating key points which were often overlooked or ignored in teacher training programmes. As such, I wrote ‘Top Tips for New Teachers’ with the aim of sharing the best of what I have learned and experienced over time to help new teachers entering our wonderful profession.”

SEND Books for Teachers

SEND Assessment: A Strengths-Based Framework for Learners with SEND (The Essential SENCO Toolkit)

“The 7 C’s Learning Portfolio provides a language of SEN Support and helps teachers to work with learners and their families to identify 3 strengths and 3 areas for development that will inform the SEN Support for that half-term. Each ‘C’ contains 7 learning themes, so Cognition describes working memory, speed of processing, inference, anticipation, reflection, evaluation and analysis. There are a further 7 themes within Communication, Creativity, Control, Compassion, Co-ordination and Curriculum.

“The book also contains a progress tracker, which can be used to identify a starting point or baseline for each of the 49 learning themes, and to then track progress. Capturing the movement of a learner from Emerging to Evolving to Effective, with the possibility of identifying an enhanced or exceptional skill too.

“The book is a practical resource that provides materials necessary to implement the 7 Cs Learning Portfolio in a functional, intermediate or extensive way.”

EdTech Books for Teachers

My Secret #EdTech Diary: Looking at Educational Technology through a wider lens

“The overriding aim of ‘My Secret #EdTech Diary’ is to demystify EdTech and make it accessible for everyone. Written in a conversational style, the book takes you on a journey through education technology and draws on 30 years of experience and insights from both educator and vendor perspectives, in a way that includes everyone within a school to feel able to join the conversation.

“The book includes plenty of ideas to help schools shape their digital strategies, develop teachers’ and students’ digital skills, co-produce solutions with EdTech vendors, use EdTech to support improved communication, wellbeing and much more.

“With lots of links for readers to discover valuable resources and check best practice, it’s a great handbook to help everyone within a school understand the pedagogical and practical potential of EdTech in their schools, the opportunities it can bring – and the pitfalls to avoid!”

Books for Early Years (EYFS) Practitioners

Developing a Loving Pedagogy in the Early Years

“However, love is not a word that is often used in the context of education and this book changes this – it celebrates the natural way that many adults who are in loco parentis feel about the children in their care – a deep sense of love.

“Developing a Loving Pedagogy draws upon my research, other research, theory and literature from academics and includes stories, anecdotes and case studies that I have gathered over a number of years.

“This book gives educators permission to love the children in their care and also empowers and includes children by helping educators to hold them in mind and speak the same (love) language as their children.”

Top 10 CPD Books for Teachers Summer 2022

After careful consideration, here are our top 10 CPD books for teachers to read this year, including our winner: well done to Bree Picower!

In a year marked by historic protests around the world, your book is helping to shape the next generation to dismantle racism in schools and beyond.

10. Unpack Your Impact: How Two Primary Educators Ditched Problematic Lessons and Built a Culture-Centred Curriculum

9. 10% Braver: Inspiring Women to Lead Education

8. The Spread the Happiness Approach: Happy Teachers, Happy Classrooms, Better Education

7. The Science of Learning: 99 Studies That Every Teacher Needs to Know

6. Uncommon Sense Teaching: Practical Insights in Brain Science to Help Students Learn

5. Celebrating Difference: A whole-school approach to LGBT+ inclusion

4. In Teachers We Trust: The Finnish Way to World-Class Schools

3. Visible Learning: Feedback

2. Shimamura’s MARGE Model of Learning in Action

1. Reading, Writing, and Racism: Disrupting Whiteness in Teacher Education and in the Classroom

We hope you enjoyed our list for best books for teachers featured on this list! Learning Ladders improved year-end Primary results by 11% in two years for one school. Want to find out more about how you can accelerate pupil progress?

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Two Books that Every School Leader Must Read To Rethink Accountability and Student Achievement in Schools

by Joe & T.J. | Mar 15, 2022 | 0 comments

Great School Leaders are Avid Readers

Learning and growing as a school leader through reflection, training, and experience is a professional choice. One powerful way to improve is through reading great books, which is why we feature a couple each month. Our aim is to link great books to our theme for the month. This month we are focused on rethinking what accountability looks like in schools .

We’ve heard from our subscribers that this content is being used as a leadership development curriculum. Kudos to you for investing in yourself as a school leader to grow and improve.

When we think about accountability, a school leader’s mind typically races to state and federal accountability–state assessments, scorecards, and different measures and metrics. This month we wanted to take a different look at accountability, one that speaks to the heart of the work within schools and that drills down into the classroom.

For that reason, we chose two books that get granular with very specific examples of what schools are doing and how to guide practice for improvement.

Joe’s Pick: What School Could Be: Insights and Inspiration from Teachers across America

Featured author: ted dintersmith.

This is a unique book because Dintersmith visited schools across the U.S. and reported on some incredible schools doing great work. Very early on in the book, he introduces us to the key principles that emerged as he visited schools across America. He identifies them as P.E.A.K.:

Each of the four represents key aspects of high-level performance that can be implemented by school leaders. This is why this is a great book for accountability; it describes what is working and what may be very helpful in another school or district. Sustainability and replicability are as important as the identified practice itself.

He also provides a provocative overview of how we got to where we are in regard to schooling. His brief overview and a short history of state tests, rankings, and institutes of higher education are fascinating as he describes their impact on innovation in schools.

Lastly, this book is filled with real stories from the field. You won’t be disappointed. Get your copy of What School Could Be today.

T.J.’s Pick: Practice Perfect: 42 Rules at Getting Better at Getting Better

Featured authors: doug lemov, erica woolway, & katie yezzi.

There are a few reasons why we love this book. One reason is that the journey to this book’s creation started in a high poverty school, detailed in the book that many are familiar with, Teach Like A Champion . Two, this book is about getting better through practice. Programs are great, but they are only as effective as the individual using them. In our accountability approach, we have a very teacher-centric focus .

A common issue in education is our lilly pad approach to change. Too often, schools jump from one initiative to the next in search of a better program that will yield greater student learning. This isn’t due to leadership laziness in schools, but rather an attempt to find a solution in a short amount of time. However, true growth requires time and practice– Perfect Practice . As T.J. describes in his account, the authors detail key practices like Name It, Make It Fun, and Apply First then Reflect as key tools to improving. Practice also goes perfectly with feedback , which is an essential ingredient to improvement.

Enjoy both of these books to lead better and grow faster as school leaders.

Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at [email protected] . And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site.

We can’t wait to hear from you.

Joe & T.J.

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Book Review Festival / Book Reviews

Our 2022 Winter Book Review Festival

by MiddleWeb · Published 01/30/2022 · Updated 01/31/2022

A Toolbox Packed with Practical Math Ideas

In The Math Teacher’s Toolbox Bobson Wong and Larisa Bukalov offer strategies, tools, resources and advice that will help any math teacher better serve middle and high school learners. Middle school teacher leader Laura Von Staden says the book should be part of all new math teacher training.

Where Reading and Writing Converge

Using the ideas in The Literacy Workshop: Where Reading and Writing Converge can transform literacy teaching, writes Linda Biondi. Authors Maria Walther and Karen Biggs-Tucker offer an easy-to-follow, research-based guide as teachers journey into making a dual reading-writing workshop a reality.

Empower Students with Metacognition Skills

In Metacognition: The Neglected Skill Set , Robin Fogarty and Brian Pete offer 30 grab-and-go strategies to help students create a new habit of mind, writes middle school director Jeny Randall. Along with tools for teaching, they invite us to hone our own metacognitive skills.

Nineteen Things Great Teachers Do Differently

Todd Whitaker has the experience, research, data, anecdotes, and feedback from teachers and administrators to help readers see what “great teachers do differently.” He reminds us of the eternal importance of educators and the impact we make, writes Linda Biondi.

How to Empower Students as Questioners

Jackie Acree Walsh’s Empowering Students as Questioners provides educators with the skills, strategies and structures to help each learner reach their potential by transforming their understanding of questioning, writes 5th grade teacher and NBCT Kathleen Palmieri.

Leadership through Connected Relationships

In Unconventional Leadership , Minnesota school leader Jessica M. Cabeen offers principals many ideas and resources to move beyond the office and become more connected, collaborative, and creative leaders, writes teacher and school PD director Becky Johnson.

All You Need to Teach Writing in Small Groups

After making a strong case for small group instruction during the writing process, Jennifer Serravallo shares how to implement and develop six types of groups in grades K-8. Teacher Jennifer Wirtz loves the access to videos of groups in action and the printables for students. Highly recommended.

How to Audit Your K-12 Literacy Curriculum

Evaluating the K-12 Literacy Curriculum is a valuable resource for facilitating teams through the overwhelming yet vital task of auditing programs, materials and instructional approaches, writes educator Abby Markley, noting its user friendly organization. “Through Colleen Pennell’s practical synthesis of literacy research and pedagogy, I am also able to see how secondary literacy instruction fits into the complex world of K-12 literacy curriculum.”

Help Kids Stop Hiding Behind Literacy Masks

Cris Tovani has written a true page turner to assist all teachers with literacy strategies that will captivate their most reluctant students. Why Do I Have to Read This? begins with insights into the many masks of reading resistance that students wear, says Linda Biondi.

20 Things That Great Principals Do Differently

In What Great Principals Do Differently Todd Whitaker sets out a clear and understandable path to success and demystifies some of the unique aspects of school leadership. Any school leader will find value, reinforcement, and solid advice, writes educator Becky Johnson.

It’s Time to Bring Back the Playful Classroom

In T he Playful Classroom Jed Dearybury and Julie Jones offer a playful guide written in a playful style with all the research and resources to create a classroom where students will be filled with joy as their learning and soft skills skyrocket, writes Laura Von Staden.

Using Guided Practice with Hesitant Readers

Literacy experts Laura Robb and David Harrison draw directly from their current middle grades teaching practice to identify the causes of reading hesitancy in grades 4-8. Their tested lessons focus on improving student reading and vocabulary using videos and high-interest texts included in the book, writes reviewer Jennifer Wirtz.

Trauma-Informed Schools to Support All Students

In Equity-Centered Trauma-Informed Education , Alex Shevrin Venet has written not only to inform us but also to call us to reflect and take action, writes middle school leader Bill Ivey, who anticipates readers will evaluate their practices to find areas for improvement.

Look at Student Work to See Student Thinking

With formative assessment experts Susan Brookhart and Alice Oakley as guides, teachers can uncover the clues in student work, offer effective feedback, improve lessons and plan next steps, says reviewer and ELA/ELL teacher Josefine Carrion-Dreyer.

Keys to Using Text Sets across Content Areas

Text Sets in Action provides expert guidance for any teacher interested in using this engaging strategy to deepen learning. Authors Cappiello and Dawes define “texts” broadly and provide advice and examples across the core content areas, writes teacher educator Dr. Sarah Pennington.

Knowing WHEN to Use Technology in Class

Suzanne Kelly and Elizabeth Dobler help us understand that technology, when used with intention, can help teachers augment instruction without letting it dictate what we do.They offer many tools and ideas to guide decision making as we integrate tech into our lesson plans, writes Kathleen Palmieri.

12 Characteristics of Deliberate Homework

The consistent structure of Erik Youngman’s book, its examples of implementation, and its actionable strategies will support educators as they explore the 12 characteristics of quality homework. Excellent for teams and discussion groups, says Head of Middle School Michael McLaughlin.

A Deep Look into the Middle Grades Mindset

In The Middle Grades Mindset: A Lesson Plan from A–Z , Dru Tomlin draws on his success as a principal and teacher leader to share an insightful, easy-to-read reference guide to adolescent learning. Middle level master teacher Cheryl Mizerny feels renewed after reading it. Published by AMLE.

Develop Independent and Inter-Dependent Learners

Discover the why, what and how of collective student efficacy in this research-grounded book from John Hattie, Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey and Shirley Clarke. Middle school teacher leader Sarah Cooper was inspired by the rich descriptions of “I” and “we” skills needed for higher-level learning.

A Game Plan to Include SEL in Every Lesson

Jeffrey Benson’s Improve Every Lesson Plan with SEL shows us how – through intentional, deliberate and embedded instruction including differentiation and choice – teachers can assure all students gain the explicit and implicit SEL skills they need, writes middle level leader Todd Brist.

Writing Activities That Build Math Learning

Using informative, argumentative, personal and metacognitive writing activities, Linda S. Dacey shows how all learners can build skills and understanding in math through the writing process. Math and literacy coach Helene Alalouf highly recommends “this gem of a book.”

Sentences to Get Kids Reading and Writing

Rebecca Crockett values the work Geraldine Woods has done in creating Sentence. A Period-to-Period Guide to Building Better Readers and Writers and the expertise she shares with teachers less experienced with this method of teaching. Destined to be an oft-referenced book, says middle grades ELA teacher Crockett.

Math Curriculum for Gifted Sixth Graders

Math Curriculum for Gifted Students (Grade 6): Lessons, Activities and Extensions is a great resource for pull-out math and afterschool enrichment, differentiation in the regular or gifted classroom and more, writes middle school exceptional students educator Dr. Laura Von Staden.

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Leadership Books That’ll Up Your Game

There’s a book for every skill you need to work on.

Being a school leader means constantly being in improvement mode. It also means having an ever-running loop of new ideas about how to make your school the best it can be for your students, staff, and community. And though there is a seemingly endless supply of valuable advice, time is precious, and you can’t read every leadership book on the market. That’s why we put together this list of thought-provoking school leadership books.

Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!

Start strong.

The Making of a Manager: What to Do When Everyone Looks to You by Julie Zhuo

In a personal, approachable style, Julie Zhuo, a VP of design at Facebook, writes, “Your job, as a manager, is to get better outcomes from a group of people working together.” This is an essential read for anyone just starting out as an administrator.

Lead boldly.

Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts by Brené Brown

Brené Brown is the leadership guru that we’ve been waiting for. With her approachable style and her honest storytelling, Brown has the unique ability to inspire with the truth. In Dare to Lead, she lays out four skill sets that are, in her words, “100 percent teachable, observable, and measurable.”

Seek balance.

The Principal’s Survival Guide: Where Do I Start? How Do I Succeed? When Do I Sleep? by Susan Stone Kessler, April Snodgrass and Andrew Davis

Most school leadership books focus on how to juggle the many aspects of the job from a performance perspective. This one has a refreshing focus on not only meeting the needs of your students and teachers, but doing so in a way that ensures you also take care of yourself. A great for newbies and veterans alike.

Challenge conventional thinking.

Relentless: Changing Lives by Disrupting the Educational Norm by Hamish Brewer

Brewer, a National Distinguished Principal®, is on a mission of “total passion and purpose.” His no-holds-barred approach to placing love at the center of the practice will empower children to overcome adversity and create a better future for themselves.

Fine-tune your vision.

Good to Great : Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t by Jim Collins

As an administrator, it’s common to lose your way at times. Collins’ classic book can help an administrator get to the heart of what’s important. Best of all, he addresses how to get even your grumpiest faculty member on board.

Be a better coach.

The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More and Change the Way You Lead Forever by Michael Bungay Stanier

This book provides a fascinating framework for helping your colleagues reach their full potential. Rather than doling out advice and suggestions, Stanier’s method is to ask simple yet strategic questions which can have transformational results. The questions that Stainer has designed clearly communicate and prompt the people you are trying to support, even in moments when communication is difficult.

Master the art of giving essential feedback.

Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity by Kim Scott

If you are an introvert and a naturally empathetic person, total candor can be a challenge. However, if you have found yourself struggling to deliver important feedback to members of your team, this book has exactly what you need. This former Google manager lays out real solutions for communicating essential feedback with positivity.

Think about your staff in a new way.

Move Your Bus: An Extraordinary New Approach to Accelerating Success in Work and Life by Ron Clark

For fans of Ron Clark’s hard-nosed, no-nonsense approach to school leadership, Move Your Bus identifies the many types of workers that make up any organization. From drivers and runners to joggers, walkers, and riders, it’s the school leader’s job to recognize where their team members fall and encourage them to keep the “bus” moving by working together.

Manage change more smoothly.

Swimming in the Deep End: Four Foundational Skills for Leading Successful School Initiatives by Jennifer Abrams

Change is difficult for everyone, especially in education, where it seems like something new is coming down the pike at every turn. Enact strategic change in your school by following Abrams’ four basic principles: think before speaking, preempt resistance, respond to resistance, and manage oneself through change and resistance.

Run better meetings.

Making Every Meeting Matter by the Harvard Business Review

Who among us can say that every single meeting they’ve run has been an amazing and efficient use of time? How many of us can say we’ve walked away from every meeting inspired and with a clear directive? I can do better, and so can you. Reading this book is the first step toward making meetings productive. Now let’s design better faculty meetings !

Rally your crew.

Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t by Simon Sinek

Thought leader Simon Sinek’s hypothesis in Leaders Eat Last is a simple one: Behind every great team is an awesome leader. Here’s what an awesome leader does: They protect their team, and they help teams manage internal threats that could keep them from performing their best. Your job as leader, Sinek suggests, is to keep your team healthy and whole. If you want to make your team stronger and more nimble, this book should be at the top of your list.

Learn to speak your staff’s language.

The Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace: Empowering Organizations by Encouraging People by Gary Chapman and Paul White

Have you ever wondered how some colleagues get very excited about donuts in the breakroom, while others complain about them? How can it be that some people love icebreakers , while others roll their eyes? This excellent book will help you meet more needs and differentiate your approach to team building.

Build a stronger team.

The New One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard And Spencer Johnson

An easy read that breaks down three of the most practical tent poles of good leadership—setting goals, praising your team, and redirecting when things go awry. You’ll develop ways to do so quickly, concisely, and of course, effectively!

Discover what motivates your people.

Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink

If you can’t motivate, you can’t lead—and this book is packed with the secrets of motivation. Hint? Rewards and punishment actually don’t bring out the best in others!

Improve your communication.

Everyone Communicates, Few Connect: What the Most Effective People Do Differently by John C. Maxwell

“Connecting is everything when it comes to communication,” counsels John Maxwell. This book, told in an engaging anecdotal style, pins down the principles and practices that will help you connect with your staff as a school leader.

Pare down your tasks.

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown

The idea is if you can discipline yourself to take on only the tasks that are absolutely essential—your level of productivity will soar, opening up more time and energy in your life to focus on the things that really matter—and really make you happy.

Play to your strengths.

Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell

The big question asked in this book is: What makes high achievers different? The answers may surprise you, as Gladwell looks at success from an unconventional perspective—including what made the Beatles the greatest rock band.

Boost your confidence.

The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance—What Women Should Know by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman

A 2018 Pew study polled over 4,000 Americans to explore what personal characteristics we value in people. Would you be surprised to know that strength and ambition were more highly valued in men, while compassion and responsibility were more valued in women? The Confidence Code addresses this disconnect head on. With a truthful analysis of how gender dynamics can play out in the workplace, this book is a must-read for women interested in strengthening their self-confidence .

Change how you start your day.

The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (Before 8 AM) by Hal Elrod

Change your morning routine, change your life is the message of this best seller. You’ll learn how to wake up each day with more energy, motivation, and focus so you can take your personal and professional life to the next level.

Write your way into leadership.

The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron

Creative thinkers have been following Cameron’s 12-week program for years, crediting it for the ability to finish novels, write songs, or reignite a passion for the arts. So, what can you learn here about leadership? Well, if you’re feeling creatively fulfilled, it becomes contagious to those around you.

Listen to your heart.

The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream by Paulo Coelho

This classic fable about a traveling shepherd boy who meets several spiritual messengers on his quest for treasure may not seem like a leadership guide. But this boy’s encounters are great lessons about listening to your heart and following your dreams—two qualities every great leader adheres to.

Reframe your thinking.

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

This book is about reframing your mental outlook to create affluence. But at the core, it’s about changing your mindset to achieve anything you desire. And it’s a nice reminder that positivity is the best motivator in the workplace!

Create a leadership plan.

True North: Discover Your Authentic Leadership by Bill George

True North teaches you how to create your own Personal Leadership Development Plan. It’s centered on knowing your authentic self, defining your values and leadership principles, understanding your motivations, building your support team, and staying grounded by integrating all aspects of your life.

Master your core principles.

The Truth About Leadership by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner

Trust, credibility, and ethics are the core principles discussed in this book. The authors say these are crucial for every good leader who wants to succeed!

See what other leaders have done.

Winners by Alastair Campbell

From Michael Phelps to Barack Obama, this collection features real, raw, and in-depth interviews with some of the most successful people on the planet. They don’t hold back about their drive and how they achieved goals beyond their wildest dreams.

What are your favorite books on leadership? Share with us in our Principal Life Facebook group .

Plus, leadership videos you don’t want to miss.

10 Books to Read Together as a Staff to Strengthen School Culture

Every single one is school staff tested! Continue Reading

Peter DeWitt's

Finding common ground.

A former K-5 public school principal turned author, presenter, and leadership coach, DeWitt provides insights and advice for education leaders. He can be found at www.petermdewitt.com . Read more from this blog .

12 Books You Need on Your Leadership Bookshelf

Every so often I love when I get into a space of learning where I can sit down, read a book, and take multiple notes because the book inspires me to read, reflect, and write. Sometimes it’s due to writing a new book or blog, so it’s a part of the research that I’m doing. Other times it may be that I want to give a presentation a makeover, and I’m looking for fresh perspectives to cite during a workshop or keynote.

Recently, I have become acquainted with some books that have not been out for long, and reacquainted with a few that I have read several times before. To be honest, I started this list with six books and then it quickly doubled. The books in the list are meant for anyone in a leadership position who is looking to put a focus on learning, build on collective ideas within their school, or are new to leadership and they’re worried or insecure about their decisions.

Why These Books? Books are meant to teach us, inspire us, and sometimes bring us together as a group because they challenge our thinking and we have to find commonalities together. The authors in the list do just that, and I believe if readers want to try something new in their position, they could find fresh ideas in one of these books, even though some of them are several years old.

This is a list of books that I believe would be helpful for any school leader or someone in a leadership position. If you have a book that you believe would be equally as helpful, please feel free to add it to the comment section. I believe we should all be able to share our opinions about books. Especially those books that will help us in our position.

The twelve I’ve been diving into lately are:

Leading Collaborative Learning (Corwin Press) by Lyn Sharratt and Beate Planche . Collaboration is a word we hear so much about in leadership circles, but so often it’s much more complicated than just bringing people together. Systems experts Sharratt and Planche offer a strategic path for leaders and teachers to follow which will help them improve student learning.

Coherence: The Right Drivers in Action for Schools, Districts, and Systems (Corwin Press) by Michael Fullan and Joanne Quinn. Fullan and Quinn have laid a foundational leadership book. So often, leaders get sidetracked by opportunites that may not provide them with the best impact. Fullan and Quinn provide leaders with a road map that will help leaders decide what might be the best course of action for their schools. I have long admired Fullan, and he has been one of my favorite leadership experts since before I was a leader. Although he is the author or co-author of many, many books, he delivers powerful leadership resources for leaders over and over again. Coherence is a book not to be missed.

From Teacher to Leader: Finding Your Way As a First Time Leader Without Losing Your Mind (Dave Burgess Consulting) by Starr Sackstein . I have been a big fan of Starr’s for a while because she has a very raw and unapologetic look at teaching, leading, and learning, and I find that to be refreshing. She has no issue writing about her mistakes and successes, and we can all learn from those. I especially like this book because it’s been many years since I started my leadership position, and Sackstein helped me go back to those beginning days to remember what it was like to be a new leader.

Visible Learning and the Science Of How We Learn (Routledge) by John Hattie and Gregory Yates . I have been working with Hattie for the last five years and I’ve read this book twice already, but I wanted to give it another read due to their focus on surface-, deep-, and transfer-level learning. Regardless of how someone feels about Hattie’s research, this book offers us so much when it comes to how students learn. Each chapter offers research, practice, and challenges our thinking when it comes to how students learn. This is the first book in a long time that I actually answered the questions at the end of each chapter and was inspired to look at the authors’ citations and read some of those as well. Truth be told, it is my favorite book by Hattie.

Conceptual Understanding: Harnessing Natural Curiosity for Learning That Transfers (Corwin Press) by Julie Stern with Natalie Lauriault and Kristin Ferraro . Like Visible Learning and the Science Of How We Learn, this is a book that has inspired me to take copious notes. I sat in the barstool at the island in my kitchen and wrote note after note. The authors have helped refresh my memory around surface, deep, and transfer learning, and inspired new thinking on my part when it comes to both student and adult learners. If you care about student learning, or want to be inspired to think of new ways to offer professional learning to adults, this is the book for you. I know I will be referencing it for many, many years.

What we know about grading: What works, what doesn’t, and what’s next? (ASCD) Edited by Tom Guskey and Susan Brookhart . Guskey has written multiple guest blogs for Finding Common Ground, and to be perfectly honest, he is one of my favorite presenters/researchers to learn from, and I consider myself fortunate to call Tom a friend. He has helped me behind the scenes more times than I can count because of his extensive knowledge and his patience with all of the questions I send to him, and you can find that knowledge in this book around the topic of grading. Guskey and Brookhart have edited a book filled with practical ideas that will help any school leader focus on this never-ending important topic of grading. If leaders are going to call themselves “instructional leaders,” they shouldn’t do it without reading this book.

Hacking Leadership (Times 10 Publications) by Joe Sanfelippo and Tony Sinanis . This is part of a larger series of Hacking books, and it’s written by two people I respect very much. Not only are Sinanis and Sanfelippo practioners but they are two of the most energized guys in educational leadership that I have met. This book is filled with practical suggestions that are proven to give school districts the positive shot in the arm that they need.

Collaborative Professionalism: When Teaching Together Means Learning For All (Corwin Press) by Andy Hargreaves and Michael T. O’ Connor . For full disclosure, I am the series editor for this particular book. What I loved is not only working with Hargreaves and O’Connor on the topic of collaborative professionalism, but what I learned through the editing and final stages of it as well. This book helps guide leaders into the collaborative process by highlighting some great leaders and school teams from around the globe, some of whom I was able to spend time with at a conference in Norway when I facilitated the panel. Hargreaves has long been one of my leadership gurus, but more important than that, he and O’Connor have a no-nonsense way to get to the heart of the issue of collaboration. If leaders really want to build a democratic school that fosters the voices of the community, this is the book for them.

Collective Efficacy: How Educators’ Beliefs Impact Student Learning (Corwin Press) by Jenni Donohoo . Donohoo is a colleague and a friend, but more importantly, she is someone who challenges my thinking more than anyone I know. She has deep knowledge around research and learning, and only has to look at me and say, “But I am wondering ...” and I know I need to be prepared to be challenged. Additionally, Jenni has extensive knowledge around building collective efficacy, and in this book, she offers protocols to help leaders do it effectively. This will help leaders focus on growth with a team, and get to the heart of how to do it through the collective efficacy process.

The Superintendent’s Rule Book: A Guide to District Level Leadership (Routledge) by Patrick Sweeney . Books just for Superintendents seem to be few and far between, and this is a new book by a new author. I reviewed the book before it came out, and Sweeney has a good way to approach difficult subjects by using humor and his extensive knowledge as a superintendent. For full disclosure, Sweeney was my high school X-country coach and one of my first mentors, but that’s not why the book made the list. The book made the list because Sweeney took those impactful mentorship qualities and put them in a book.

Digital Leadership: Changing Paradigms for Changing Times (Corwin Press) by Eric Sheninger. Sheninger is my technology guru, and has been for a long time. So often schools buy devices but do not implement them well, and this book focuses on how to do a better job of that. I’m excited because Eric has written a 2nd edition for this book which will come out in the next few months.

Student Centered Leadership (Wiley) by Viviane Robinson . Leaders looking for a practical guide to helping have an impact on student learning will love this book. Robinson is out of the University of Auckland and I been a fan for years. This book has a great mix of practical suggestions based in research.

In the End There are many times I pick up books and put them back down rather quickly. Perhaps it’s due to the topic or the timing of when I pick them up, but I do not always feel engaged when I’m reading. I need something that will pull at me from a moral standpoint or inspire me to think at a deeper level. For me, the best sign that I am reading a book is when I wake up in the morning thinking about it. These twelve books have done that for me lately.

If you are thinking about what book you should read next, consider picking up one of the books from my list. If you have been deeply inspired by a book lately, consider adding the book in the comment section. And not that popular books don’t need to be highlighted, but consider adding a book you read that is not making all of the rounds on social media. Thanks for reading about my list.

Peter DeWitt, Ed.D., is the author of several books including Coach It Further: Using the Art of Coaching to Improve School Leadership (Corwin Press. 2018). Connect with him on Twitter .

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

The opinions expressed in Peter DeWitt’s Finding Common Ground are strictly those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinions or endorsement of Editorial Projects in Education, or any of its publications.

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6 Must-read leadership books of 2022

6 must-read leadership books of 2022.

Looking to expand your leadership skills in 2022?

Have you made the New Years resolution to invest more in your own development?

Here at PT books are our weakness. The expansion of ideas, the latest research and the challenge of possibility that great books offer is something we can’t get enough of.

We’ve scoured the latest leadership books that have hit the shelves* recently and found what we believe to be the 6 must-read leadership books for 2022 (plus a bonus one) .

The great leaders of 2022 prioritise their own development, seek growth through change, and are hungry for what’s next. If this sounds like you then read on.

* okay, online outlets because seriously who’s finding books on shelves anymore?

Think Again: The power of knowing what you don’t know

By Adam Grant

We’ve been a fan of Adam Grant’s work as an organisational psychologist for a while, and his thinking in this book delivers yet again The way we think shouldn’t be taken for granted – and as we step into 2022, the skill of leaders to be more conscious of how they think and how to think again is a key skill. Grant unpacks how to be ‘thinking like a scientist’ (how could we not be aligned with that) and how to find the ‘joy in being wrong’. Intrigued?

For your leadership, it’s time to think again.

Atlas of the Heart: Mapping meaningful connection and the language of human experience

By Brene Brown

Anything Brene does we’re fans of. Language matters. At it’s core, leadership is about navigating emotional exposure and experiences of both yourself and others. Throw into the mix the role of leaders to make meaningful connections with their teams in a hybrid world of work – and it gets tricky.

This book is not strictly a leadership book; but it’s our belief that leaders who embrace the language of emotions will be better able to navigate meaningful connections in a rapidly changing world.

This book is not your typical text-based book – it’s beautifully designed. But don’t let the structure distract you from the difficult work this book calls all of us to do.

The Gap and The Gain: The High Achievers Guide to Happiness, Confidence and Success

By Dan Sullivan and Dr Benjamin Hardy

It’s clear to say this book had us at ‘the high achievers guide’. It’s been a doozy of a couple of years for aspirational, difference-makers who are being left feeling deflated, defeated and down-right ???.

The concept behind this book is simple – but not to be assumed that it’s application is easy. The concept being when we concentrate on what’s still left to do we sit in the Gap – feeling de-motivated and lost. When we look at where we are based on where we started we sit in the Gain – feeling encouraged and excited about what’s next.

As mentioned it won’t take you long to understand the concept, the application of this in the way we lead, communicate with others is the hard part. Dan and Dr Benjamin provide a playbook to help.

Stolen Focus: Why you can’t pay attention and how to think deeply again

By Johann Hari

On average, people in your workplace are only focusing on a task for 3 minutes. This is the challenge that Johann Hari has sought to tackle in this book.

His research suggests that a lack of focus is not a personal downfall, but instead it’s a product of external forces – focus has been stolen.

How to get attention and focus back will surprise you.

But only if you focus long enough to read the book.

How to Begin: Start doing something that matters

By Michael Bungay-Steiner

This is one of the only books we’ve come across where the book actually starts on the front cover. Filled with practical activities and tools this book is a guide to launching that idea, that project you’ve been contemplating (but have never gotten off the ground).

Leaders who immerse themselves in Michael’s process will not only have the tools to get things done, they’ll be able to apply this approach to momentum creation with their teams (which when you think about it isn’t that what every leader craves?!).

In fact you might just want to buy a copy of this book for each of your team members.

Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals

By Oliver Burkeman

There’s not a single leader or executive who’s not currently wallowing in the pit of ‘busyness’ quagmire wondering how they can utilise their time better.

This book is written with ‘the belief that time management as we know it has failed miserably’. Burkeman challenges the time management tools that try to make things more efficient without challenging the fact they may just be the wrong things to be doing all together.

Four thousand weeks is approximately how many weeks each of us have if we are to live to around 80 years old. This book left us feeling insignificant and truly significant at the same time. Beautifully written, and a call to action for any leader to quit believing there’ll be time later and to craft a life that maximising every week for what matters.

The Power of Regret: How looking backwards moves us forward

By Dan Pink

When we saw Dan Pink had a new book launching this year we knew it would be filled with research, insights and practical tools. Known for his book ‘Drive’, which examines what motivates people, Dan Pink has embarked on an exploration of one of the biggest human emotions that drives both personal and professional lives; regret.

Leading with a mantra of ‘no regrets’ is nonsense, and each of us should be using this important emotion to make better decisions, improve performance and find greater meaning.

Dan aims to do to regret what Brene Brown has done to vulnerability; allow us to use it for our greatest strength.

_________________________________

We’d love to hear any leadership book recommendations you have for 2022.

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College Minor: Everything You Need to Know

14 fascinating teacher interview questions for principals, tips for success if you have a master’s degree and can’t find a job, 14 ways young teachers can get that professional look, which teacher supplies are worth the splurge, 8 business books every teacher should read, conditional admission: everything you need to know, college majors: everything you need to know, 7 things principals can do to make a teacher observation valuable, 3 easy teacher outfits to tackle parent-teacher conferences, 8 of the best books for education administrators.

I have spent 18 years in the field of education, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I started out as a teacher, then I became a professor, then a department chair and finally, I spent 3 years as a dean of education. Of all of these experiences, my time as an educational administrator was the most challenging and rewarding period of my career, thus far.

I must admit, I had a cheat code of sorts. What do I mean? I read some of the most transformative books on education leadership, many of which were recommended to me by colleagues. Thanks, guys! Also, I was also fortunate enough to author a book on school leadership theories, which was a highly rewarding task.

In this article, I would like to share with you, the 8 best books for education administrators.

A Guide to Effective School Leadership Theories

In this iconic book, Matthew Lynch discusses the ten leadership styles that have applications to the field of education. He contends that for a person to be an excellent educational administrator, they need each of these leadership styles in their repertoire, and must be able to use them at the right time. A must read.

Being a Successful Principal: Riding the Wave of Change Without Drowning

A collection of anecdotes, strategies, and tips written by education administrators, for education administrators.

If You Don’t Feed the Teachers They Eat the Students!: Guide to Success for Administrators and Teachers

This book explains how principals have to take the lead in building a healthy school climate, for teachers and students alike.

Motivating & Inspiring Teachers: The Educational Leader’s Guide for Building Staff Morale

A handbook on how educational leaders can motivate and inspire their teachers to be their best, who in turn, will help their students to be their best.

Results Fieldbook: Practical Strategies from Dramatically Improved Schools

A must read for principals looking to turnaround failing schools. By using the strategies in this book, education leaders will see results in no time.

School Leadership That Works: From Research to Results

This book uses research and data to suggest evidence-based practices and strategies for education leaders.

The Schools Our Children Deserve: Moving Beyond Traditional Classrooms and “Tougher Standards”

A case-based look at what’s really going on in today’s classroom, and how we can use data to improve the U.S. education system. The author offers some personal insights into how we can take our schools from good to great.

What They Don’t Tell You in Schools of Education About School Administration

This book endeavors to walk us through the in and outs of being an education administrator, and it certainly delivers.

Did I miss any? If so, comment below.

10 TED Talks for Student Empowerment

Switch your high school classroom to flexible ....

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How to Implement the Stick Figure Quotes Teaching Strategy in Your Classroom

Why School Cops Won’t Fix School Shootings

Effective Education Leaders are Good Listeners

How to Become an Education Administrator in Arkansas

How Effective School Leaders Create a Leadership Pipeline

Effective education leaders are brave.

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The 22 Best Leadership Books You Need to Read in 2022

In the midst of a complicated and challenging time, leadership books are a vital tool for learning to navigate difficult situations, better manage your people, and get the best out of your teams to support organizational success.

As 2022 gets underway, the best leadership books aren’t just an opportunity to sharpen your skills anymore. They’re roadmaps that can help you to navigate a rapidly evolving professional landscape.

And that’s why the savviest leaders are tapping into these resources as a way to learn, plan for the future, and ensure the success of their teams and organizations.

But with so many options on the market these days, it can be hard to decide which books are most deserving of your time and attention.

So, we’ve taken the guesswork out of it and rounded up the 22 best leadership books you need to read in 2022.

1. Leadership in Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin

2. how to talk to your boss about race: speaking up without getting shut down by y-vonne hutchison, 3. leaders eat last by simon sinek, 4. how to win friends & influence people by dale carnegie, 5. a new way to think: your guide to superior management effectiveness by roger martin, 6. jerks at work: toxic coworkers and what to do about them by tessa west, 7. dare to lead: brave work. tough conversations. by brené brown.

8. Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

9. Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on What Matters Most by Cassie Holmes

10. the making of a leader by tom young, 11. how to lead: wisdom from the world’s greatest ceos, founders, and game changers by david m. rubenstein, 12. lean in: women, work, and the will to lead by sheryl sanderson, 13. extreme ownership: how u.s. navy seals lead and win by jocko willink and leif babin, 14. anti-racist leadership: how to transform corporate culture in a race-conscious world by james d. white, 15. the 21 irrefutable laws of leadership: follow them and people will follow you by john c. maxwell, 16. lead like a woman by deborah smith pegues, 17. primal leadership: unleashing the power of emotional intelligence by daniel goleman, richard e. boyatzis, and annie mckee, 18. measure what matters most by john doerr, 19. start with why by simon sinek, 20. blind spot: hidden biases of good people by mahzarin r banaji and anthony g. greenland, 21. the dichotomy of leadership by jocko willink and leif bain, 22. the mentor leader: secrets to building people and teams that win consistently by tony dungy.

Leadership in Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Even in the best of times, leaders face a ton of pressure. But this has seldom been truer than it is today, as the professional world undergoes a massive transformation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But even despite today’s turbulence, it’s important for leaders to remember that their predecessors have also experienced—and overcome—challenges. And, in this book, Doris Kearns Goodwin analyzes the obstacles faced by four American presidents—Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson—to examine how their experiences connect to modern leadership.

This leadership book is a must-read for those looking to better understand crisis management and transformational leadership .

How to Talk to Your Boss About Race Speaking Up Without Getting Shut Down by Y Vonne Hutchison

A former international human rights lawyer who now acts as a diversity and inclusion consultant, Y-Vonne Hutchinson wrote this book for employees who recognize that changing systemic racism is everyone’s job. Described as a “handbook to moving beyond fear to push for change,” Hutchinson’s book, in one sense, is about power—and a reminder that employees have the ability to make change happen, too. During times when DEI is a forefront priority for organizations around the world, this book is timely and insightful.

There are two kinds of threats or dangers that people face when working within an organization:

Outside Dangers: Direct competition, alternative solutions, and market conditions
Inside Dangers: Personal conflict, intimidation, or even humiliation

And in his book, Leaders Eat Last, Simon Sinek addresses how great leaders build a strong culture by establishing a circle of safety within their organization, minimizing internal dangers so that individuals and teams can direct more of their energy towards external dangers.

If this is a topic that interests you, you might also enjoy our online guide: 4 Impactful Strategies for Conflict Resolution in the Workplace .

How to Win Friends Influence People by Dale Carnegie

This book may be more than 80 years old, but it’s still astonishingly relevant today. Dale Carnegie’s classic time-tested work explains six ways to make people like you, twelve ways to win people over to your way of thinking, and nine ways to get others to change without breeding resentment. Having sold 15 million copies, it should be a must-read leadership book on everyone’s list.

A New Way to Think Your Guide to Superior Management Effectiveness by Roger Martin

A collection of Harvard Business Review articles from Roger Martin, the former Dean of the University of Toronto’s business school, this book includes memos he wrote to CEOs and their teams in his role as the world’s top management thinker. In his career, Martin advised the CEOs of Procter & Gamble, Lego, and Ford, and is known for his research on strategy, design, and innovation.

Jerks at Work Toxic Coworkers and What to Do About Them by Tessa West

One of the most challenging aspects of leadership is managing toxic employees and their detrimental impacts on team morale. And in this hilarious and insightful book, Tessa West takes a unique approach to the different kinds of toxic coworkers and describes how best to engage with them all.

Dare to Lead Brave Work Tough Conversations by Brene Brown

In her book Dare to Lead, Brené Brown shares lessons on the power of vulnerability and empathy in leadership, arguing that leadership is not about status or control, but rather recognizing the potential in individuals and ideas.

8. Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Thinking, Fast and Slow explores the human mind and the two systems that power everything—one fast, one slow. In this book, Daniel Kahneman, a psychologist and the winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics, argues that these two systems are responsible for everything from overconfidence in the workplace to cognitive bias to how we make decisions. This is a great leadership book for those wanting to decipher between when to trust your intuitions, when not to, and how to avoid common pitfalls when making decisions.

Happier Hour How to Beat Distraction Expand Your Time and Focus on What Matters Most by Cassie Holmes

All too often, people think of money as our most scarce and valuable resource. But it’s not, according to Cassie Holmes, a professor of marketing and behavioral decision making at the UCLA Anderson School of Management. Our most valuable resource is actually time. And this book offers insights for how to use your time in a way that’s most meaningful and satisfying.

In The Making of a Leader: What Elite Sport Can Teach Us About Leadership, Management and Performance, Tom Young unpacks the leadership qualities of those who have achieved excellence in their respective sports. He profiles prominent sports figures, including Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn or Stuart Lancaster, the former head coach of the England national rugby team. Young examines these principles and explains how they can be applied to business leadership.

How to Lead Wisdom from the Worlds Greatest CEOs Founders and Game Changers by David M. Rubenstein

This book has long been touted as the essential leadership playbook, profiling the principles and guiding philosophies of some of the world’s greatest leaders, including Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Warren Buffet, Oprah Winfrey, and many more. How to Lead is a collection of illuminating conversations about these people’s remarkable lives and careers, including who they are and how they became successful.

Lean In Women Work and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sanderson

Sheryl Sanderson, an executive with Facebook, wrote this book based on a combination of her personal experience and the insights she shared at her TED Talk in 2010 . Lean In focuses on the ways in which women often hold back and miss career opportunities by being passive and polite. To counteract these challenges and empower women in business, Sanderson encourages women to seek strong mentors, advocate for themselves, and assert their place in the professional world.

Extreme Ownership How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin

If you’re not familiar with Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, they’re two former U.S. Navy SEALs. And during their time with the Navy, they learned the value of overcoming ego, facing reality head-on, admitting mistakes, and owing failures. And now, they share those values and explain how they apply in the business world, employing military discipline and combat strategy to break down traits and approaches that are necessary in great leaders.

Anti Racist Leadership How to Transform Corporate Culture in a Race Conscious World by James D. White

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (commonly referred to as DEI) are prominent topics in 2022. And while many leadership books discuss the topic, very few are written by a CEO who’s been in charge of making real change on that front. James D. White, the former CEO of Jamba Juice, penned this book taking a stance that’s not apolitical but explicitly anti-racist, arguing that capitalism is built on a foundation of systemic racism and telling business leaders that they hold an important position in the power structure.

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership Follow Them and People Will Follow You by John C. Maxwell

Another timeless leadership book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is all about teaching leaders how they can maximize their influence and create a common vision among employees, in no uncertain terms.

To get you kickstarted onto this topic, access our article: 5 Ways to Help Connect Your Employees’ Work to Your Company’s Mission .

Lead Like a Woman by Deborah Smith Pegues

Fortune 500 executive Deborah Smith Pegues’ Lead Like a Woman takes the old rhetoric surrounding women and their leadership abilities and turns it on its head. She argues that the very qualities women have been criticized for can actually help them in becoming effective and successful leaders. Pegues focuses on 12 traits that can help propel women’s leadership skills forward, plus 12 to avoid.

Primal Leadership Unleashing the Power of Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman Richard E. Boyatzis and Annie McKee

Now more than ever, emotional intelligence is becoming one of the most vital skills amongst leaders. And Primal Leadership explains how to identify and navigate feelings, empathize with employees, and build emotionally intelligent organizations as a means to avoid misunderstandings and incorrect judgements, relate more closely to workers, and collaborate in true tandem with employees.

If you’d like to help your leaders develop this skill, a group training program like Emotional Intelligence can teach them to:

Increase self-awareness
Self-regulate behaviors
Develop better social skills for leadership
Use emotionally intelligent motivators
Develop a greater sense of empathy

As an organization grows, increased bureaucracy can make it cumbersome for leaders to establish and communicate strategic goals. And, as a result, progress can be slowed as teams struggle to identify and act on valuable opportunities. In his book Measure What Matters Most, John Doerr explains how the use of Objectives and Key Results, also known as OKRs, have helped organizations like Google, Slack, Disney, Spotify, and Intel, to become more aligned by boosting transparency, accountability, and collaboration.

When it comes to securing buy-in from their teams, one of the most common pitfalls experienced by leaders arises from focusing too closely on what the organization does rather than why it does it. He argues that, in order to inspire impactful action among employees, you need to create an emotional connection between them and the organization. And Star With Why teaches you how to do so.

Blind Spot Hidden Biases of Good People by Mahzarin R Banaji and Anthony G. Greenland

While the best leaders do everything they can to be fair and treat their people with respect, Mahzarin R. Banaji explains the hidden biases that all people have, due in part to our cultural influences surrounding age, gender, ethnicity, age, sexuality, and more. Most importantly, it explores the implications these biases have on leaders, teams, and organizations.

The Dichotomy of Leadership by Jocko Willink and Leif Bain

Jocko Willing and Leif Bain are making another appearance on our list for their book, The Dichotomy of Leadership, where they explain the many dichotomies of leadership and how it often involves striking a balance between two extremes. Using this information, it explores how you can identify the best course of action when both have pros and cons by following twelve principles broken into three categories: balancing your people, balancing the mission, and balancing yourself.

The Mentor Leader Secrets to Building People and Teams That Win Consistently by Tony Dungy

Celebrated retired NFL coach Tony Dungy uses this book to explain how you can elevate those around you towards success with one simple principle: “Your only job is to help your players be better.” To help you maximize your team’s potential and to drive individual employees towards being the best version of themselves, Dungy outlines the most important leadership fundamentals, including introspection, an altruistic mindset, and modeling values.

In a complicated and challenging time, leadership books are a vital tool for learning to navigate difficult situations, better manage your people, and get the best out of your teams to support organizational success.

Which leadership books are you reading right now? Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments section below!

Learn about skills training and development programs to help support stronger leaders in your organization.

If you’ve got questions about how group skills training and development programs can help your leaders be the best they can be, reach out to an Employee Engagement Consultant.

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I have read the book How to lead. This book is very good, giving clear evidence and how we manage and lead ourselves as well as the team.

Greater Good Science Center • Magazine • In Action • In Education

Education Articles & More

Our favorite books for educators in 2023, the ggsc's education team picks the most thought-provoking, practical, and inspirational education books of the year..

For this year’s collection of our favorite education books, we’ve included a little something for everyone—including kids!—and they all center on one theme: hope. Navigating an antiquated educational system in a world that seems to thrive on stress and turmoil can lead to a feeling of helplessness. But we all know that educators are anything but helpless!

Sometimes, though, we need a little shoring up of our sense of agency, and that’s what these books do. If you feel like your imagination has taken a permanent hiatus—you just can’t bring yourself to think of another creative way to teach long division or save the world—look no further. If your students are having a hard time imagining how they can change the world, presidential inaugural poet Amanda Gorman has written a book just for them. For students and teachers who don’t need help imagining a cleaner, healthier world, but need a little guidance on how to start tackling climate change, social-emotional learning (SEL) expert Tom Roderick offers some ideas. But, if in all this changing and saving the world, you feel like you and your students need to decompress and remember the joy of learning, we’ve got you covered. And, for school leaders who aspire to create the space for all this beautiful transformation to take place (but, really, on certain days, only want to crawl under your desks), there is a book just for you…finally.

We wish you a peaceful end to 2023—and hope you take time to breathe and imagine new possibilities!

The Polyvagal Path to Joyful Learning: Transforming Classrooms One Nervous System at a Time , by Debra Em Wilson

Why is everyone talking about the vagus nerve these days? This wandering bundle of fibers connects the brain and the body, sending safety-and-danger signals to us throughout the day. Because it plays a starring role in our bodies’ involuntary functions (like our heart rate, breath, and digestion), it’s worthy of our curiosity as educators.

Debra Em Wilson’s book, The Polyvagal Path to Joyful Learning , provides a biological framework for understanding, monitoring, and responding to the diverse array of individual nervous systems in your classroom—including your own. Wilson’s practical anecdotes, metaphors, diagrams, and accessible writing make her guide highly readable and relevant. If you strive to be a trauma-sensitive practitioner, and you believe in the power of relationships in the classroom, this book will reaffirm your vision and sense of agency.

Drawing on Stephen Porges’s groundbreaking polyvagal theory and Deb Dana’s theory-practice translation work for clinicians , Wilson represents the primary autonomic nervous system responses as a three-runged ladder: from the immobilizing dorsal vagal response (associated with helpless and hopeless feelings) to the mobilizing sympathetic state (linked to both fear and aggression) to the optimal sense of safety, calm, and eager engagement we experience at the top of the ladder through the ventral vagal response.

Three insights emerged for me while reading about nervous system function and our capacity for learning. First, polyvagal theory emphasizes co-regulation (regulating emotions with others) before self-regulation (or self-management), one of the core social-emotional learning capacities. Wilson highlights healthy, adaptive ways that we can “borrow and lend” our regulated nervous systems through structured academic play, movement, and stillness, for example.

Second, our capacity for resilience isn’t an all-or-nothing game largely dependent on the number of adverse childhood experiences we’ve had. It’s an open-ended, growth process of “befriending and retuning” the nervous system as we recognize our bodily states and draw on our ventral response resources through calming “safety rest stops” and ongoing repair of day-to-day “misses” or “ruptures” with one another.

Finally, this approach expands the notion of the mind-body connection to a dynamic “mind-body-world” exchange where things like tone of voice, a soft gaze, a friendly gesture, and an open posture can make us feel safer, more joyful, more motivated, and engaged in learning and growing together. —Amy L. Eva

Something, Someday , with words by Amanda Gorman and pictures by Christian Robinson

There is much that is hard in this world. An ever-worsening climate crisis , increased poverty and homelessness, violent wars …all problems that feel too big to fix, especially for young children. This beautifully illustrated picture book by presidential inaugural poet Amanda Gorman reminds children (and all of us, really) that we do have the ability to make a difference . It offers up hope that when we come together, and build upon small acts of kindness , we can find beauty and create change in the world.

This book touches on themes that Greater Good has focused on this year: having the courage to take action when things feel hard or scary; the experience of awe that comes from collective effervescence (the feeling that arises when we work with others toward a common goal); approaching the world with openness, wonder , and curiosity ; and, lastly, the importance of community, connection, and compassion for those around us. —Mariah Flynn

Teach for Climate Justice: A Vision for Transforming Education , by Tom Roderick

After leading the Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility for 36 years with a commitment to furthering research-based programs in SEL, restorative practices, and racial equity, progressive educator and trailblazer Tom Roderick turns his focus to the struggle for climate justice. He argues that the “primary purpose of education at this turning point in history must be to nurture a generation of courageous, intelligent, and wise non-violent fighters for climate justice.”

His vision incorporates the work of outstanding educators who are attuned to their students’ needs and the needs of humanity during this time of environmental crisis, with the wisdom of luminaries such as Martin Luther King Jr., Joanna Macy, Parker J. Palmer, and many others who have led the way toward peace and justice for all.

A central theme of his book is that we must take the cares and concerns of our young people seriously. As climate activist Greta Thunberg has said, her generation is grieving over the threat to their future and is enraged at adults for “standing by while the house burns.” Teach for Climate Justice is a call to action—“an urgent plea for educators everywhere to rise up and demand the time and resources needed to express our caring by addressing our students’ true needs…[and] transform the dominant mind-set that sees our fragile environment as a field for unlimited exploitation into one based on humility and respectful reciprocity.”

What Roderick has learned in his long career advocating for racial equity and social responsibility provides a framework for this transformation. Each chapter describes one of eight dimensions for creating and sustaining environments where students understand the power of civil resistance, the ability to think intelligently about solutions to pressing needs, and the importance of caring for one another along the way. It is both an inspirational manifesto and a clear set of developmentally appropriate teaching strategies, examples of best practices, and links to resources for the classroom and school.

Although concern for the climate crisis may lead to anxiety, fear, and anger, Teach for Climate Justice describes a way forward where love, joy, and hope animate the work and provide inspiration and motivation to manifest a just and sustainable future for all. —Margaret Golden

Learning to Imagine: The Science of Discovering New Possibilities , by Andrew Shtulman

There is a misconception in popular culture that we become less imaginative as we get older, and that our capacity for imagination declines over our lifespan. In Learning to Imagine , cognitive scientist Andrew Shtulman argues the opposite: All that we learn through our lives serves to enhance our capacity to be imaginative. Knowledge actually powers imagination, and, as we live, learn, and reflect, we continue to grow our capacities to imagine throughout our lives.

Shtulman explores how, contrary to popular belief, children are not the most imaginative among us. Through a deep dive of research, the book illustrates how children’s capacities for imagination are actually fostered through education, not in spite of it; in fact, it takes care, learning, and support to nurture children’s imagination.

Replete with research across cognitive development, psychology, and education, the book is an inspiring and empowering nudge to nurture our knowledge banks to open up more possibilities, and affirms the importance of education in all its forms, from traditional pre-K–12 to Montessori, from unschooling to self-directed learning and higher education.

“Let’s stop thinking of imagination as a limited resource, found only in the minds of young children, and start thinking of it as it really is: a nascent capacity shared by all and expandable by all through learning and reflection.” —Lauren Lee

Emotional Intelligence for School Leaders , by Janet Patti and Robin Stern

When I left my position as a burned-out school leader, I embarked on a healing journey, determined to figure out what had happened. So much of what I’ve learned along the way—from my doctoral studies to my work at Greater Good—is encapsulated in Janet Patti and Robin Stern’s Emotional Intelligence for School Leaders . As school leaders, we can have the best of intentions to do right by our students and staff, but navigating the challenges of a flailing educational system and the unmet needs of so many people— without taking any of it personally —requires a skill set not taught in most principal training programs. Patti and Stern have done a great service to the field with this book. Not only do they acknowledge and empathize with the almost impossible job of a school leader (Patti herself tells some harrowing stories from her time as a leader), they also offer solace and hope and actual tools that leaders can start using today. Half the battle, they argue, is convincing policymakers and others that these skills are a vital necessity if schools are to succeed.

“Many believe that the purpose of school is to solely support and develop academic achievement,” they write, “Further, it’s not widely understood that an emotionally intelligent focus in a supportive environment begets high achievement. And the lack of time is always a culprit, especially in view of the ongoing pressure to achieve.” For school leaders who want to improve their emotional intelligence, growing one’s self-awareness is the first step. Patti and Stern urge leaders to do the inner work: School leaders need to develop the “capacity to tune into your feelings, sense inner signals, understand what you are feeling, and recognize how your emotions impact your ability to focus, make decisions, and maintain relationships.” From there, they offer concrete self-management and relationship skills, along with stories from the field and reflection questions for those who aren’t sure where to begin. Overall, this book should be required reading (and using!) for all pre- and in-service school leaders because “the practice of creating joy for yourself and others is uplifting for a school climate and serves as a protective factor for both self and others.” —Vicki Zakrzewski

New Course for Educators

Courage in Education: Facing Challenges with Strength, Determination, and Hope

About the Authors

Amy L. Eva, Ph.D. , is the associate education director at the Greater Good Science Center. As an educational psychologist and teacher educator with over 25 years in classrooms, she currently writes, presents, and leads online courses focused on student and educator well-being, mindfulness, and courage. Her new book, Surviving Teacher Burnout: A Weekly Guide To Build Resilience, Deal with Emotional Exhaustion, and Stay Inspired in the Classroom, features 52 simple, low-lift strategies for enhancing educators’ social and emotional well-being.

Mariah Flynn

Mariah Flynn is the Education Program Coordinator for the Greater Good Science Center.

Margaret Golden

Margaret Golden, Ed.D. , is the education community manager at the Greater Good Science Center. She is the coauthor of Teach Our Children Well: Essential Strategies for the Urban Classroom and editor of Teaching and Learning from the Inside Out: Revitalizing Ourselves and Our Institutions .

Lauren Lee is the education marketing and partnerships manager at the Greater Good Science Center. Passionate about character education and social-emotional learning, she supports the education team in promoting kinder, happier places to live and learn.

Vicki Zakrzewski

Vicki Zakrzewski, Ph.D. , is the education director of the Greater Good Science Center.

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Educational Leadership

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Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University , North Cyprus

Published 18 March 2020

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ISBN 978-1-83880-487-9

Print ISBN 978-1-83880-486-2

eBook (PDF) ISBN 978-1-83880-037-6

Number of pages 84

There is a growing realization that the role of educational leaders has been undergoing many changes in the era of globalization due to the diverse needs and expectations of the stakeholders of education. Schools have different specific needs due to their demographical structure, the academic achievement level of students, the experience of teachers and parental involvement and they need educational leaders who can transform and develop schools. This book intends to provide the reader with a comprehensive overview of the expected responsibilities and features of school leaders in the context of the different models of educational leadership. Scholars from different countries share their opinions about the challenges faced by the school leaders as principals, teachers, students, school committees, and boards in schools; the importance of leader preparation and the need for the professional development of educational leaders.

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