I love books! Photo Cred

I have seen a few of those posts lately on Facebook where people list their top ten books of all time.  I am a total bibliophile so I’m surprised I haven’t been tagged to do it yet (but it is kinda chainletterish so I can see why my friends might skip it), however, I’m a big nerd so I wanted to post a book list anyway.  I decided to make it a list of books that have impacted my teaching because it is easier for me to make a more focused list.

1.//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=teachiwande01-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1571104186&asins=1571104186&linkId=D7WDS2XFFE6KXIZC&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true” target=”_blank”> Black Ants and Buddhists by Mary Cowhey

This is an inspiring book if you are a teacher who joined the profession because you wanted to change the world.  Instead of teaching a class with the test in mind, Mary Cowhey encourages to look at the world from the angle of social justice and to better understand the world.

2. //ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=teachiwande01-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1571103074&asins=1571103074&linkId=CC5ZE3JXGB4JNLZL&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true” target=”_blank”>Reading With Meaning by Debbie Miller

I read this book before I read The Daily 5 and //ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=teachiwande01-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0325010358&asins=0325010358&linkId=WFRA4ANTWX2EIXIL&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true” target=”_blank”>Mosaic of Thought, so it is always the first literacy book that comes to mind.  This book encourages teachers to set up a reading workshop approach which is a bit looser in style than those taught using Cafe/Daily 5.

3. //ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=teachiwande01-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=157110481X&asins=157110481X&linkId=W42ETNE7QAUCDI6S&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true” target=”_blank”>Strategies that Work by Stephanie Harvey and Anne Goudvis

Strategies that work is a great resource for lessons about comprehension strategies. My favorite section of the book is about strategies for science and social studies.

4. //ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=teachiwande01-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0932762417&asins=0932762417&linkId=N3IQHGJ36ZID3HIH&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true” target=”_blank”>Reaching All by Creating Tribes  by Jeanne Gibbs

I’m really passionate about books (and I’m about halfway through my Reading Endorsement as a result), so a lot of the books on this list are related to Literacy, but I always come back for this book when I am searching for ways to build community. Great ideas for classroom management and co-operative learning.

5.//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=teachiwande01-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0976423316&asins=0976423316&linkId=GXJODSHRIOB75JDD&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true” target=”_blank”> The First Days of School by Harry Wong

I have not met a teacher who hasn’t read this book. When you are just starting out or if you are moving to a new school and you need help thinking of all of the things you need to set up, this is a great place to look. Even as someone who has taught for a few years, I still find myself taking a peek at this book now and then.

6. //ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=teachiwande01-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1595580743&asins=1595580743&linkId=C2Q3QV2IANT3AEQU&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true” target=”_blank”>Other People’s Children: Cultural Conflict in the Classroom by Lisa Delpit

Maybe it is because I have spent so much time teaching overseas, but I think that we should all spend a little extra time thinking about the role that culture plays in the classroom.  This book helps us think about the power imbalance and racial stereotypes that come to play in most classrooms.

7. //ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=teachiwande01-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0770435688&asins=0770435688&linkId=XAG5BZZ3FCOULBBT&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true” target=”_blank”>Savage Inequalities by Jonathen Kozen

This is another book that focuses on the inequalities in the classrooms in the US.  While teaching at an international school has removed me from many of these inequalities, they are still very apparent when I compare the schools I work at and local schools a block away.  These are common themes I have encountered all around the world, so I still find it relevant, but any teacher in the US should read this book for sure.

8. //ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=teachiwande01-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1571104291&asins=1571104291&linkId=YDRSD5OVBYSYGSXU&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true” target=”_blank”>The Daily 5 and //ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=teachiwande01-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1571107282&asins=1571107282&linkId=F6JNK3P7UTVJP7LO&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true” target=”_blank”>Cafe by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser

These two books fit very well together and have greatly informed the way I teach Literacy in my classroom. The strategies from Cafe fit very well with any method of Literacy instruction.

9. //ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=teachiwande01-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1416611495&asins=1416611495&linkId=ZWYRSQ2HQA4VKNGH&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true” target=”_blank”>Understanding by Design by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe

I think I may have been required to read this book three times in various education classes over the years. On top of that, many of my other education courses required us to read several chapters from this book.  I think most teachers know about UbD and Backwards Design, but if you don’t, you should read this book.

10. //ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=teachiwande01-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1571103899&asins=1571103899&linkId=NLSQL4BB6YJDLSE2&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true” target=”_blank”>Choice Words by Peter Johnson

Maybe it is because I also studied Linguistics and ESOL, but I find that I really pay attention to the way people say things.   I find that I am the one who is oftentimes rephrasing what other people say so I can be sure that what I heard is really what they meant to say.  If you are like me, you will love this book, because in it you will find ways to affect learning simply by the words you choose to use in your classroom.

Note: There are Amazon affiliate links in this post.

Please comment! Do you agree with my choices? What is your favorite “teacher book”?  What is one book that you return to again and again, or that you always suggest that others read?