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Looking to start out 2019 with new techniques, ideas or a more refreshed teacher brain (and heart)? Me too!! Being a teacher can be emotionally and physically draining. Sometimes you need to be reminded why you became a teacher and need some new techniques to add to your teacher “toolbox” or “bag of tricks”.
We have compiled a list of eight general professional development books (not specific to teaching languages or being a bilingual teacher) but great general ideas to get your teacher mojo back and remember why you and your job as an educator is important.
1. Teach Like a Pirate By Dave Burgess
Offers practical techniques and tips that you can use in your classroom.
2.The Wild Card: 7 Steps to an Educator’s Creative Breakthrough By Wade King & Hope King
Ideas on how to deliver content creatively based on you and your experiences.
3. The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact By Chip Heath & Dan Heath
Talks about memorable moments in life and how to create more of them
4. Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life By Spencer Johnson
How to deal with change so that you can be or feel more successful at work and in life.
5. Better Than Carrots or Sticks: Restorative Practices for Positive Classroom Management By Dominique Smith
Ways to encourage students to practice self-regulatory behavior practices in the classroom- setting expectations and building rapport
6. The Innovator’s Mindset: Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity By George Couros
Ideas on how to encourage teachers and administrators to empower their students to wonder, to explore–and to become forward-thinking leaders.
7. Empower: What Happens When Students Own Their Learning By John Spencer and A.J. Juliani
Many ideas on ways to guide your students (or kids) education and unleash the creative potential of every student.
8. One Child: The True Story of a Tormented Six-Year-Old and the Brilliant Teacher Who Reached Out By Torey Hayden
Tale of trying to connect with an “abandoned” and “abused” child in an EBD classroom. About how one teacher did not give up forming a lasting relationship with this student.
Hopefully, one (or more) of these books sounds interesting to you. I’d love to hear if you have read one of these or another teacher professional development book that you think others will like. Let us know in the comments.
