7 Books for Summer Rejuvenation

Turn these pages to inspire you to be the teacher you want to be.

Sweet, sweet summer! Time to let loose and fill our calendars with fun, relaxation, and replenishment. Weeks outside the classroom call for investing in YOU. Is there a better way to inspire your creativity and nurture your teacher flame than reading a mindset-changing book? We think not. Here are our recommendations — dive in!

1. Unshakeable: 20 Ways to Enjoy Teaching Every Day… No Matter What by Angela Watson. Watson’s daily inspiration for finding what drives you to love teaching and how to hang on to it is compassionate, uplifting, and practical.


2. 5 Skills for the Global Learner: What Everyone Needs to Navigate the Digital World by Mark Barnes. Connect students with their world — a world where distance and cultural differences are inconsequential. This nvarchar(max) provides you with the skills needed to convert students into global learners.


3. See Me After Class: Advice for Teachers by Teachers by Roxanna Elden. Work up a big belly laugh and pick up some insightful tips for a successful classroom with this read.


4. Flip Your Classroom: Reach Every Student in Every Class Every Day by Jonathan Bergmann. Whether you’re curious or fully ready to revolutionize your own classroom, this book will impact your view on teaching and the ways you put students first.


5. Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown. Ok, this read’s not just for teachers, but we guarantee it will transform the way you lead your classroom. (P.S. - You’ll need a fresh set of highlighters for this book.)


6. What Great Teachers Do Differently: 17 Things That Matter Most by Todd Whitaker. You’ll come away from this one with wisdom and motivation from a leader in staff motivation, teacher leadership, and principal effectiveness.


7. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck. Dweck, a Stanford University psychologist with decades of research on achievement under her belt, explains what a growth mindset is, and how to foster it.

This list has it all — theory, practice, and heart-stretching narratives. Go on and grab your Kindle (or click on the links to order from Amazon) and head to a beach towel or sofa near you.

Now that your reading list is set, take a peek at some of our favorites from the classroom.

Heather Sparks is a writer, educator, and mom of two. An Arizona native, she holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and a master’s degree in gifted education from Arizona State University.