One year down, one year to go.

Although this school year did not end as planned due to COVID-19, I was exposed to a lot over the past eight months that has helped me become a better teacher and student. A handful of books proved particularly instructive. So, having now completed my first year of Teacher Ed, I present to you my top teacher book picks. Some are teacher-specific, dealing with curriculum and assessment, while others might be interesting to anyone. I have chosen books primarily with the following people in mind:

I have organized the books into two main categories: required reading for my B.Ed. program; and, books recommended by teachers or other professionals. I have included one bonus and one wish list item each.

Required reading:

Chelsea Vowel, Indigenous Writes: A Guide to First Nations, Métis, & Inuit Issues in Canada

I learned more new information reading this book than any other on the list. Chelsea Vowel is a Métis writer and intellectual with degrees in education and law. Her informal, personal writing style draws the reader into a conversation on a wide range of topics. In 31 essays, Indigenous Writes explores issues like Métis identity, cultural appropriation, taxation, and First Nations reserves. Anyone interested in learning more about issues facing Indigenous peoples in Canada should read this book – prior understanding of these issues is not a prerequisite.

Damian Cooper, Redefining Fair: How to Plan, Assess, and Grade for Excellence in Mixed-Ability Classrooms

This book is far-and-away the most practical teaching book I read during my first year. It is written by a teacher, for teachers. I used it frequently when creating lesson plans, unit plans, and assessments. Cooper believes that, as educators, it is our job to require excellence from students, and not to be satisfied with anything less. He provides both anecdotal and researched evidence to support his methods. He convincingly urges educators to re-think how we assess students so that every student can experience success.

Özlem Sensoy and Robin DiAngelo, Is everyone really equal? An Introduction to Key Concepts in Social Justice Education

Two leading social justice education scholars, Özlem Sensoy and Robin DiAngelo present an excellent introduction to the field. I would highly recommend Is everyone really equal? to high school teachers and students; this type of book would be an excellent addition to any World Issues course. It is quite accessible, providing simple, concrete analyses of complex ideas. A must-read for anyone interested in social justice.

William Ayers, About Becoming a Teacher

Pocket-sized and portable, this book is, according to the author, meant to be taken anywhere. At 85 pages, it is not a long read but packs a punch. This is the kind of book that will likely leave you with more questions than answers. If you like to philosophize about what it means to be an educator today, this book for you. It provides some practical tips related to classroom organization and building relationships, but its goal is more to encourage the reader to think about their own pedagogical practices.

Recommended reading:

Susan Cain, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking

This is one of those books that changed how I see the world. It helped me understand more about my expectations for myself and others’ expectations of me. Although Quiet was not written for educators per se, I found many of the insights helpful as they could be applied to student learning. In it, Susan Cain argues that contemporary North American society (and to a large degree, the whole world) has developed to promote the Extrovert Ideal: people are expected to be gregarious, outgoing, and full of confidence to succeed. If they don’t meet this ideal, it is their job to “fix” their personalities. She argues that we miss out on many of the positive aspects of introverted behaviour, including thoughtfulness, reflection, and attention to detail when we orient society too far to the extroverted end of the introvert-extrovert spectrum. If you have “shy” students or kids that prefer to do things on their own, give this book a read.

Harry K. Wong & Rosemary T. Wong, The Classroom Management Book

Disciples of Harry Wong will be familiar with this enormously successful handbook on classroom management. While I do not completely agree with Wong’s ideological approach to classroom management, namely using routines and procedures to control student behaviour, there are many hands-on suggestions. These include tips on improving classroom transitions, implementing procedures, and ultimately making the learning experience smoother and more productive.

Bonus:

Alfie Kohn, www.alfiekohn.org

Renowned education, behaviour, and parenting specialist Alfie Kohn provides TONS of articles (for free!) on his website. I recommend browsing the extensive list and reading anything that piques your interest. Topics range from why not to say things like, “Good Job!” to young kids, the rage expressed by opponents of participation trophies, teaching students with autism, and standardized testing. Kohn strongly opposes trying to “control” children and students to get them to do what we want them to do, focusing rather on helping them find what they are interested in and assisting them in every way possible to explore those interests.

On my wish list:

John Mighton, All Things Being Equal: Why Math is the Key to a Better World

Best-selling author and founder of JUMP Math, John Mighton argues that through math we can break down social inequality while empowering students to build a more equitable world. I’m most interested in reading his argument that anyone can become good at math, a claim that I rejected throughout high school and my undergraduate studies. I’m looking forward to receiving my copy in a few weeks (thanks, online bookstores!).

So, when you inevitably find yourself online searching for hand sanitizer and face masks, consider googling one or two of these books. It just might be what you need to beef up your summer reading list.