As teachers, we are always looking for ways to improve our teaching skillset. Over the summer, I try to read at least one professional and personal development book. My goal is to incorporate some of what I've learned in the classroom when I return in the fall. I've read at least 10 books that have helped shape me both as a teacher and also as a person, but these three books are the ones that I've referred back to and reread countless times. I suggest choosing one of these books to read this summer and trying out some of the strategies in your classroom. Here are my top professional and personal development books for teachers.
A Fresh Look at Phonics by Wiley Blevins
If you want to learn more about teaching phonics, I highly suggest to start with this book. It covers all of the phonics basics in easy to understand terms. I love how he gives tangible ideas to implement in your own classroom in each section after you learn a new strategy. My copy looks pretty worn out, because I have highlighted, reread it twice, and continually refer back to it. If I am looking for an answer to a specific question or need help with a certain skill, I know I can find something to try in this book.
If you are looking for more phonics book suggestions, I have a post here with my favorite phonics books.
The Morning Meeting Book by Roxann Kriete and Carol Davis
My favorite way to build community in my classroom is with a daily morning meeting. I remember hearing about Morning Meeting from Instagram a few years ago, but I had no clue how to implement it. One summer, I read this book and developed a plan on how I would implement Morning Meeting in my classroom. Morning Meeting became my students favorite time of the day. I learned so much about my students and really built a classroom on respect and friendship. This year I had the least amount of behavior issues, because my students were really able to communicate with each other. This book has strategies for Kindergarten through 8th Grade students.
Atomic Habits by James Clear
This book is not written for teachers, but for truly anyone! It has been my favorite personal development book I've ever read and has really changed my life with building habits. It is easy to read, I think it only took me a week to get through it. The basis of the book is to create habits to help live your best life. So many of these strategies can help teachers become more productive, form a better work-life balance, and create personal habits that will improve both your physical and mental health. If you are a teacher who is struggling with staying too late at school, feeling like your to-do list is never ending, or your personal health is suffering, I highly recommend to read this book!
I hope these 3 professional and personal development books for teachers will help you become a better teacher! Let me know if you have any book suggestions you would add to this list!