22 Recent Books You Shouldn’t Miss

As the contributing editor in charge of Edutopia’s book beat, I get to read a wide selection of the latest education books—bestsellers everyone’s talking about as well as under-the-radar gems. We then publish excerpts of the very best ones with an eye toward curating a robust range of topics, grade levels, and educator perspectives. If you’ve missed this series, a few that resonated with readers this year included a passage from Natalie Wexler’s latest on the science of learning and a quick dip into mastery checks from Robert Barnett’s critically acclaimed Meet Every Learner’s Needs. 

For this lineup of must-reads, I chose books that helped me understand the complicated landscape of education in the United States right now. As an editor for Edutopia, a mom of three school-aged kids, and a recently elected member of my local school board, I think about education pretty much all the time, and it’s easy to get bogged down in small details and debates. These books zoom out to provide a broader perspective on the day-to-day education discourse. They all have sticking power, while feeling like they speak to the current moment. Finally, these writers are great company—they made me laugh and want to know more about their own stories. 

HOW LEARNING HAPPENS 

Addressing the foundational question for educators of how learning happens, these books translate learning science into classroom practice. 

Beyond the Science of Reading: Connecting Literacy Instruction to the Science of Learning, by Natalie Wexler 
How do students learn, and what does that mean for how we teach? In her latest book, Wexler takes a new look at what the research can tell us about literacy and emphasizes the importance of using writing as a retrieval practice to connect prior knowledge with new information. For teachers, coaches, and administrators working to integrate science of reading into their curricula, this is a must-read.

Hacking Student Motivation: 5 Assessment Strategies That Boost Learning Progression and Build Student Confidence, by Tyler Rablin
We hear from educators all the time about how tough it is to motivate students in the classroom. Rablin’s approach is novel: He takes a look at how assessment and feedback systems contribute to a student’s willingness to learn and makes a case for rethinking tools like rubrics and student conferences to build student confidence and self-efficacy—efforts that fundamentally build their motivation to learn. 

To Read Stuff You Have to Know Stuff: Helping Students Build and Use Prior Knowledge, by Kelly Gallagher 
Literacy expert Kelly Gallagher draws on his many years as a high school English teacher to argue that, rather than being poor readers, many students simply lack foundational knowledge. In an age where students question why they need to learn facts when they can just look things up, Gallagher walks us through how knowledge building can help students gain richer vocabularies, unpack meaning in complex texts, and ultimately read entire books. Reading books, he argues, gives students access to “a depth not found in click-and-go reading. A deeper drilling down into areas where we previously possessed surface-level thinking.” 

The Metacognitive Preschooler: How to Teach Academic, Social, and Emotional Intelligence to Your Youngest Students, by Michele A. Herold, Emily R. Peluso, Katie Upshaw, Kelsee G. Young, Richard K. Cohen
This book offers a fascinating take on how teachers can help students develop emotional regulation and self-expression from a young age. A structured questioning model guides preschoolers through a five-step process: brainstorm, evaluate, plan, act, and reflect. The process helps young learners become more capable problem-solvers and more in control of their own emotions.  

Intentional Neuroplasticity: Moving Our Nervous Systems and Educational System Toward Post-Traumatic Growth, by Lori Desautels 
Desautels, a frequent Edutopia contributor and professor focused on educational neuroscience, examines recent advances in neuroscience to show how teachers can help students reframe their perspective on learning, which can actually rewire their brain. For a deep dive into how teachers can use advances in the science of learning to enrich their pedagogy, check out her lushly illustrated “neuro-educational manual,” Brain and Body Brilliance.

I’m Not Getting Them Ready for Kindergarten: Breaking Tradition in Early Childhood Education, by Kristen Day
Butterfly Hill Nature Preschool founder Kristin Day reminds teachers that for small children, play is learning—and that kids can organize their own learning experiences. Her main takeaway: Preschool teachers should be more like hummingbirds, less like helicopters. Educators can facilitate independent exploration and free play, and let kids get a little dirty.

A PEEK INSIDE THE CLASSROOM 

Offering a window into the exceptional instructional practices of teachers across the country, these books deliver inspiration and guidance if you’re ready to try out new things. 

Small But Mighty: How Everyday Habits Add Up to More Manageable and Confident Teaching, by Miriam Plotinsky
This is one of the best books I read this year. Instructional coach and frequent Edutopia contributor Miriam Plotinsky suggests that educators start thinking small to counteract the overwhelm they feel about adopting big new curricular initiatives to improve instruction. Instead, she argues, micro-level changes can make a bigger impact on how students learn. Using the three ingredients of habit stacking, brevity, and a less-is-more philosophy, Plotinsky offers ways that teachers can reflect on what feels unsustainable about their practice, and then do less—but with more time, care, and attention. 

Meet Every Learner’s Needs, by Robert Barnett
Barnett, the founder of the Modern Classrooms Project, explores how a blended learning model allows teachers to focus on direct instruction and mastery. Students access teacher-created content videos that deliver instruction and then move through the content at their own pace. Classroom time is reserved for applications and individualized instruction. Barnett has a lot of exciting ideas—like replacing classwide tests with “just in time” mastery checks, and he provides a wealth of resources to help teachers implement them. 

Verified: How to Think Straight, Get Duped Less, and Make Better Decisions about What to Believe Online, by Mike Caulfield and Sam Wineberg
If you’ve spent time lately trying to determine the truth behind something you read online, this book is for you. Verified provides a valuable set of tools to help students (and teachers) evaluate online information, including what to steer clear of and which resources can help students conduct quality research. One takeaway—Wikipedia isn’t the bad guy anymore.

Prompting Deeper Discussions: A Teacher’s Guide to Crafting Great Questions, by Matthew R. Kay 
This is the best book I’ve read on planning and managing whole class discussions across subject areas, from social studies to biochemistry. If your goals for the year include more complex classroom discussions, this book provides a helpful structure to make that happen. This passage in particular from Kay’s introduction stuck with me: “From now until forever, our students will know that every book, time period, or theory can be broken down and analyzed for them, then processed into any artifact they want. So—wildly—if students don’t want to go through the productive struggle of creating something for our classes, they rarely have to. … Very soon, some of the only authentic evidence of what students know will be the words that, in real time, come out of their mouths.”

Children as Engineers: Teaching Science, Design Technology and Sustainability Through Engineering in the Primary Classroom, by Fay Lewis and Juliet Edmonds 
This book provides a fresh angle on teaching STEM to young children by integrating technology, design, and science through engineering challenges. Lewis and Edmonds provide students with challenges that ask them to engineer solutions to sustainability problems. It’s worth picking up this book both to see the engineering model applied to elementary science and for the hands-on examples the authors offer.

Teaching Beyond the Timeline: Engaging Students Through Thematic History, by China Harvey and Lisa Herzog 
What happens if we don’t teach history chronologically? These veteran history teachers make the case for moving away from surveys of history in favor of a thematic teaching of history, focused on topics like voting rights or women and the war. (Two classes I want to take!) 

THE JOB OF TEACHING IN CLASSROOMS TODAY

From some of the most thought-provoking educators in the profession, these new titles examine the teaching experience and offer great solutions—and empathy for how tough the job can be.

Humans Who Teach: A Guide for Centering Love, Justice, and Liberation in Schools, by Shamari Reid
In this affirming account of what teachers need, Reid begins by noting, “I wrote this book after realizing that too often teachers are dehumanized and not allowed the space to explore what it means to be a human who teaches and deserves to lead a life full of peace, love, and joy.” By sharing stories of his own education and teaching experience, Reid explores topics of burnout, self-care, and bias, offering a vision of education that places humanity—and love—at the center of learning.

The Teachers Black Students Need: A Guide to Help Students Thrive in School, by Zachary Scott Robbins 
As a parent, former classroom teacher, and now superintendent, Robbins shares a wealth of experience about creating the kind of environment where Black students thrive. Robbins interweaves stories and data to show how when school feels interesting, safe, and relevant, Black students feel affirmed, supported, and protected from harm. 

The Promises and Perils of AI in Education: Ethics and Equity Have Entered the Chat, by Ken Shelton and Dee Lanier 
By asking essential questions that educators can use to ponder the role of ethics and equity in the use of AI in schools, Shelton and Lanier, educators and cohosts of the podcast The Liberated Educator, examine how to use the new technology without widening the achievement gap. 

THOUGHTFUL READS FOR SCHOOL LEADERS

This selection of new leadership books considers the broad range of issues administrators are grappling with today in schools.

Teacher Induction That Works: A Lasting Impact From Day One, by Tara Link and Beth Whitaker 
One of the most pressing questions for administrators is how to lead so that teachers stay in the job, and thoughtful, well-planned teacher onboarding plays a big part. Link and Whitaker offer a comprehensive set of guidelines for how to make new teachers feel ready to hit the ground running, reminding administrators that induction is a process, not a onetime event, and finding appropriate mentors and providing classroom management support can make the difference in whether teachers stay or go.

Data Rules: Elevating Teaching With Objective Reflection, by Jim Knight and Michael Faggella-Luby 
What does it mean to use data to drive instruction in ways that are both human-centered and focused on student growth? The authors, both educational researchers, present 10 rules that administrators can follow to make sure that the assessment and engagement data they collect is clear and transparent, and interpreted so leaders can make clear decisions. 

Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools: Transforming Practices So All Students Feel Accepted and Supported, by Emily Kircher-Morris and Amanda Morin. 
In this new guidebook, Kircher-Morris and Morin explore behaviors commonly exhibited by neurodivergent students and provide commonsense advice for creating supportive school cultures. I really loved how this book shares a vision for how all kids can feel welcome and thrive in school—and gives administrators the tools to create that kind of environment.

The Resilient Rural Leader: Rising to the Challenges of Rural Education, by Melissa Sadorf 
Illustrating just how unique the leadership experience of rural administrators can be, Sadorf—superintendent of Arizona’s Stanfield Elementary School District as well as its business manager, federal grant programs director, and HR director—shares this anecdote to illustrate the many roles she juggles: “Right after I started, a very rainy monsoon season resulted in an explosion of mosquitoes on campus and an epidemic of mosquito-bitten students. The very supportive business owner [next door] was able to address the issue quickly with a weekend pesticide application at no cost to the district.” Sadorf’s book relates the challenges and opportunities that come with educating kids in rural America—and makes it clear why she loves her job.

Powerful Inquiry: Leading With Questions to Build Leadership Capacity in Your School and District, by Donna Micheaux and Jennifer Parvin 
This book introduces a coaching model—leading with questions—that administrators can use to help guide powerful staff development. Micheaux and Parvin, seasoned school leaders, examine how  principals can lead their teams by asking questions to learn, asking questions to focus on what matters, asking questions to empower, and asking questions to build personal accountability. 

What Can I Take Off Your Plate? A Structural—and Sustainable—Approach to Countering Teacher Burnout, by Jill Handley and Lara Donnelly
Veteran educational leaders Handley and Donnelly look at the systems and structures that can improve teacher satisfaction, motivation, and retention. Although some problems need immediate triage, others benefit from carefully constructed schoolwide solutions that create sustainable places for teachers to work.

If this has inspired you to start reading, check out Edutopia's suggestions for a yearlong book club!