Teacher Summer Reading List
Congratulations! You made it through a very challenging and difficult school year! 2020 was one for the history books, but now summer is here!!!
As a teacher, you finally have time to read what you want to read. Do you have your summer reading list planned out?
Oh, where to start? Of course, starting with some light reading is a must. Go ahead. Pick up that recent book club novel and enjoy getting lost.
For light reading, here are some of my favorite books. They might not be hot off the press, but they are thought-provoking.
Light Reading
- The Host by Stephenie Meyer
- The Help by Kathryn Stockett
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
- Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and Other Lessons from the Crematorium by Caitlin Doughty
- Liar, Soldier, Temptress, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War by Karen Abbott
Now that you’ve relaxed with some light reading, you may be ready to dive into some personal growth and development books.
Professional Development
What are your interests? What do you want to learn?
When you are actively learning, you better understand the learning process. You are in a better place to connect with your students and help them to engage and excel.
Do you want to learn how to code? Explore different cultures? Learn the plants and animals in your region? The list can go on and on. With a few google searches or talks with your local librarian, you can find the right resources to learn anything that suits your fancy.
Maybe you want to polish your classroom management strategies. The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development has several suggestions. Real-Life Case Studies for Teachers and All New Real-Life Case Studies for Teachers both written by William Hays explore numerous conditions affecting the classroom. Technology, the No Child Left Behind law, Common Core, demanding parents, and more.
You might be interested in remolding and polishing your own teaching style by analyzing the development of education throughout the history of the United States. The American School, a Global Context by Joel H. Spring is a book that focuses on the development of American schools and gives interpretations for each historical period.
If you teach middle or high school, you might be looking for a practical guide to better understand the thought processes and development of the teenage brain. If you are, check out:
- The Teen Age Brain: A Neuroscientist’s Survival Guide to Raising Adolescents and Young Adults by Frances E. Jensen
- Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood by Lisa Damour
- Decoding Boys: A New Science Behind the Subtle Art of Raising Sons by Cara Familian Natterson
Non-Fiction
Though I enjoy fiction, my real interest lies in non-fiction. I recommend the following non-fiction books for summer reading.
- Parallel Journeys – documents Helen Waterford’s, a holocaust survivor, and Alfons Heck’s, a Hitler youth leader, experiences during World War II. This account helps us understand and have compassion for both sides of a difficult situation.
- Call the Midwives – by Jennifer Worth. This well-written gritty self-documentary helps us discover compassion is the heart of life.
- The Choice: Embrace the Possible – by Edith Eva Eger. As a Holocaust survivor, Dr. Eger spends the second half of this book chronicling her healing journey. She learns from her therapy patients the next step she needs to take to let go of her painful experiences as a sixteen-year-old Jew in Auschwitz. This book is about finding healing and hope.
Keep Pace with Your Students
To keep pace with the latest books aimed at your students, check with your local library or your state’s association of school librarians. The Maryland Association of School Librarians always puts out a list of Black Eyed Susan Nominees for student voting.
Teacher Power Powers Teachers
Thank you for teaching! Everyone here at Teacher Power wishes you a wonderful, relaxing summer. Have fun with your reading journey wherever it takes you. Don’t forget to check out Teacher Power’s blog for self-care and relaxation tips.
Article by Miss Jae
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