Summer is just around the corner, and now is the perfect time to plan your reading list. Whether you’re looking to explore new teaching methods, work on your personal well-being, or take a break with a beach read, here are our top picks for this summer.

For the Classroom

1. The Growth Mindset Coach by Annie Brock and Heather Hundley: Focusing on the concept that students have limitless potential to learn and grow, this book was written by teachers, for teachers and is filled with lessons, activities, and programs to help educators foster a growth mindset classroom.
2. What Connected Educators Do Differently by Todd Whitaker, Jeffrey Zoul, and Jimmy Casas: The authors of this book share their best practices for being a connected educator, including using social media to create your own learning network.
3. Lead Like a PIRATE: Make School Amazing for Your Students and Staff by Shelley Burgess and Beth Houf: Burgess and Houf detail how to be a PIRATE leader in order to bring out the best in your students, fellow educators, and schools by having Passion, Immersing yourself in your work, creating a good Rapport, having the courage to Ask questions, seeking positive Transformation, and being Enthusiastic to get others excited about education.
4. The Big Book of Makerspace Projects by Colleen Graves and Aaron Graves: Turn your classroom into a makerspace with these low-cost DIY projects, which include simple step-by-step instructions as well as photos and illustrations.
5. Hacking Project Based Learning by Ross Cooper and Erin Murphy: Engage your students by establishing a culture of inquiry and creativity with project based learning—made easier with these 10 simple hacks.
6. Make It Stick by Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III, and Mark A. McDaniel: This book tackles the science of learning, offering concrete techniques to help you—and your students—become more productive learners.
7. The Genius Hour Guidebook by Denise Krebs and Gallit Zvi: Learn how to implement the Genius Hour into your classroom, giving students the time to develop their own inquiry-based projects on a topic of their interest, take ownership of their work, and present their finished project for assessment.
8. UnCommon Learning by Eric Sheninger: This book explores ways to transform your classroom through innovative initiatives—such as maskerspaces and blended learning—in order to engage students and build a culture of learning with pleasure.
9. The Innovator's Mindset by George Couros: In this book, author George Couros encourages educators to be more innovative in the way they teach, empowering students to explore ideas in order to become the forward-thinking leaders of tomorrow.
10. Rethinking Education in the Age of Technology by Allan Collins and Richard Halverson: The digital revolution has transformed our jobs, so it’s imperative that schools follow suit for the future of American education. Authors Collins and Halverson discuss how schools must make the most of new technologies in order for the next generation to keep pace with a globalized technological culture.
11. The Google Cardboard Book by Holly Clark, Sylvia Duckworth, Jeffery Heil, David Hotler, Donnie Piercey, and Lisa Thumann: Virtual reality can become a reality for your classroom with Google Cardboard, which offers endless possibilities to explore and engage with your students. This book offers step-by-step instructions for how to use this exciting technology across all subjects, helping learning come to life in any classroom.
12. See Me After Class by Roxanna Elden: Let’s face it: Nobody knows what it’s truly like to be a teacher except other teachers. Author Roxanna Elden, a National Board certified teacher, offers tips, advice, and strategies to tackle the challenges faced by teachers in order to help them become the kind of great educators who can inspire their students for years to come.
13. Innovate with iPad by Karen Lirenman and Kristen Wideen: Written by two primary teachers, this book offers a selection of engaging, open-ended lessons to help transform the way you use an iPad in the classroom.
14. Teaching and Learning STEM by Richard M. Felder and Rebecca Brent: This book offers an array of practical research-based teaching strategies to improve student learning, engagement, and retention in STEM courses.

For Your Well-Being

15. Mindfulness for Teachers by Patricia A. Jennings: With over 40 years of experience as a mindfulness practitioner, teacher, and scientist, Jennings offers valuable information about how the practice can help educators manage stress and revitalize their teaching in order to improve their learning environment.
16. Inner Engineering: A Yogi's Guide to Joy by Sadhguru: Author and yogi Sadhguru, who is also the founder of the non-profit Isha Foundation, tells the story of his own awakening in this profound book, along with plenty of wisdom and time-tested tools to help you become the architect of your own joy through yoga.
17. The Elephant in the Staffroom by Chris Eyre: This survival guide for educators is filled with practical advice on a range of essential topics to help teachers cope with stress, focus on their work-life balance, and avoid getting burned out.
18. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius: Aurelius, who was a philosopher and emperor of Rome, is considered to be one of the most enlightened leaders in history. This influential book is filled with spiritual exercises, wisdom, and guidance that have inspired generations of readers.
19. Every Teacher Matters by Kathryn Lovewell: The author recognizes that teachers are a valuable resource and don’t always get the support they need, so this book combines humor, research, and anecdotes to guide teachers through their journey while reminding them to stay in the present and lead meaningful lives.
20. Joyful Living by Amy Leigh Mercree: This book includes over a hundred ways to bring more joy to your life every day, including affirmations, exercises, and inspirational stories.
21. The Zen Teacher by Dan Tricarico: Educator, blogger, and speaker Dan Tricarico believes that with a few moments of peace and a little focus, any teacher can thrive in the classroom. His easy-to-use techniques can help you slow down to create tranquility in your classroom—and your life—in order to be at your best.
22. Teacher's Field Guide by Kerry Hemms: While teachers generally begin their career with the intention of making a difference, most are quickly consumed by the demands and become exhausted—causing many to leave the profession within the first five years. This handy guide offers tips, tools, and strategies for managing the workload and stress while avoiding teacher burnout.
23. 365 Ways to Live Generously by Sharon Lipinski: The daily lessons in this inspiring book focus on generosity habits, such as mindfulness and gratitude, to help with self-improvement—and to make a difference in the world.
24. The Happy Teacher Habits by Michael Linsin: This book explores 11 habits of the happiest, most effective teachers, with simple strategies to help eliminate stress while empowering you to be happy and love your role as an educator.
25. The Well Life by Briana Borten and Dr. Peter Borten: Find balance in your life by focusing on the three simple principles discussed in this book: sweetness, structure, and space.

For the Beach

26. I’d Die For You: And Other Lost Stories by F. Scott Fitzgerald: Those who love—or teach—Fitzgerald’s iconic novel The Great Gatsby will be excited to dive into the author’s last remaining unpublished and uncollected short stories.
27. My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella: Kinsella is known for her wit and relatable characters—including Becky Bloomwood in her popular Shopaholic novels—and her new novel is a fresh, modern tale that’s part love story and part workplace drama in a social-media-obsessed world.
28. The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck: Set in Germany at the end of World War II, this enthralling novel explores the lives of three women trying to survive, love, and forgive in the wake of incredible hardship.
29. Who Thought This Was a Good Idea? by Alyssa Mastromonaco: This smart, funny, behind-the-scenes political memoir was written by Mastromonaco—who worked for President Barack Obama for almost a decade—and is filled with tales of her challenges, strategies for success, and even offers an intimate look at the president himself.
30. Into the Water by Paula Hawkins: Written by the same author who penned the popular thriller The Girl on the Train, this twisting psychological suspense novel hinges on the deceptiveness of emotion and memory, showcasing how secrets from the past can come back to haunt the present.
31. Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders: A must-read for American history buffs, this moving father-son story delves into familial love and loss, imagining the struggles faced by President Lincoln after his beloved eleven-year-old son dies while the nation is at war.
32. Confessions of a Domestic Failure by Bunmi Laditan: This razor-sharp novel delves into the pressures faced by women to be picture-perfect moms in a world ruled by social media, delivering a funny, realistic look at motherhood.
33. The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See: This novel explores the lives of two women separated by circumstances and culture: A young Chinese woman whose family has been following the ritual and routine of farming tea for generations, and her daughter, who is born out of wedlock and adopted by a privileged family in California.
34. Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly: This phenomenal true story, which was recently made into a successful movie, chronicles the careers of four African-American women whose work aided some of NASA’s greatest achievements in space.
35. Small Admissions by Amy Poeppel: After being ditched by her handsome French boyfriend, Kate Pearson lands a position in the admissions department at a competitive school in New York City—where she quickly learns that admissions season leaves her little time for anything, let alone self-pity.

What’s on your summer reading list? Let us know in the comments below. And to stay up to date on all things related to education and education technology during the summer break, be sure to subscribe to our blog!