Inspirational Teacher Books

[Reginald Hanfy]

Characters like Miss Stretchberry are some of my favorite, so I started building a list of books with inspirational teacher characters. I wish I had more book titles, but here is my first draft. I probably could expand the list into movie titles like Dead Poets Society or Stand and Deliver because movies with inspirational teachers get me too.

Teachers make a profound difference in the lives of children. Not only do they educate, often in challenging environments, but they inspire kids to reach their potential and help them build self-esteem and confidence inside and outside of the classroom. In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, we're highlighting fiction titles for kids and teens that feature memorable and inspirational teachers.

When Lila, a worrier, moves to a new town, the what ifs only grow, and she feels alone and invisible until her teacher finds a creative and kind way to make Lila feel welcome and open to new experiences, a lesson that will stay with her long after second grade.

When Olivia starts to feel overwhelmed by her big feelings, she sprouts vines. They are thorny and twisty and make it impossible for Olivia to do the things she loves to do. Plus, no one wants to come near a giant ball of thorns. Luckily, Olivia has a very special teacher who sees past the prickly and the pokey to the upset little girl and helps Olivia learn to manage the vines.

Loving their gifted teacher, who makes them feel like the indignity of school is somehow worthwhile, three boys are dismayed when the teacher falls ill and leaves for the rest of the school year, a situation that compels them to share their stories while cutting class and journeying across town together on a fateful day.

Possessing an artistic spirit that makes her feel different from other children, young Gina bonds with a mysterious neighbor who becomes her classmate in a new school year where she seeks advice from an inspiring teacher on how to channel her imagination to discover her true self.

Four students, with their own individual stories, develop a special bond and attract the attention of their teacher, a paraplegic, who chooses them to represent their sixth-grade class in the Academic Bowl competition.

Thirteen-year-old Maleeka, uncomfortable because her skin is extremely dark, meets a new teacher with a birthmark on her face and makes some discoveries about how to love who she is and what she looks like.

Precious Jones, a 16-year-old girl who is pregnant with her second child by her father, is pushed by her courageous African-American teacher to learn to read, and discovers the truth about herself and her life.

Teacher Misery is full of stories that classroom teachers will recognize and commiserate with as they read. Stories cover everything from the everyday absurd to disruptive behaviors in the class to more serious issues. Let this book be a reminder that you are not alone in the day-to-day crazy.

Managing negative behavior in the classroom can be one of the most draining responsibilities of an educator. This award-winning teaching book will provide you with strategies to calm your classroom so that you can be the most effective educator you can be.

Ervin argues effective classroom management starts with relationships. These classroom management strategies start with changing inputs rather than controlling outputs. Learn how to tailor environments and consistent classroom procedures to promote a healthy classroom.

The burnout educators experience in public education is real. In this book, Cleeves helps education professionals bring work and life into balance to be effective educators. The book also includes practical tips and tricks.

Unfortunately, antiquated school discipline practices are still being used daily. Read to learn how to reduce negative behaviors, implement restorative justice in education and encourage empathetic student engagement. Be part of the change in public education with these strategies.

Encourage the cognitive development of students in the classroom with these 50 strategies. Rebecca Stobaugh clearly explains the difference between critical thinking and cognitive engagement for better student outcomes. Additionally, she explains how to seamlessly include these strategies in your lesson plans!

Mike Roberts will teach you how to renew your passion for teaching using strategies learned from the inspiring teacher movies we know and love. These cinema classroom examples highlight the importance of parent engagement, building relationships with students, and classroom management. Bring the fun back into your teaching with this title.

Unfortunately, trauma is a reality when working in public education. Written by a middle school counselor, this book is easy to understand and provides effective strategies for responding to student trauma. This book is helpful in helping teachers create safe environments for students to start to heal.

Diversity in education is not just about who is teaching but also about what is being read and discussed in classrooms. The authors highlight quality literature from a pantheon of races, backgrounds, and experiences in this book. They purport that reexamining the canon is critical in our path forward.

Mainstream society is polarized regarding so many issues, including education. In this unique book, two educators thoughtfully engage over some of the trickiest issues in American classrooms and beyond. This book is a wonderful model for schools puzzling out the best way forward for their students and schools.

Authors of Happy Teachers believe change begins from the inside out. Throughout the book, they explore how teachers establishing a classroom mindfulness program for themselves and their students can change a classroom. They also provide examples from around the world to illustrate the practical application.

Social justice and education reform meet in This is Not a Test. This book is a collection of class, race, and education essays. Throughout, Vilson explores the current systemic problems and how they might be transformed through careful examination.

Vander Ark shows how the increase in technology has revolutionized how we acquire and retain information. Consequently, how students learn must change, too. Getting Smart makes a case for blending online and onsite learning, the implications of the new workplace, and personal digital learning communities.

A renowned psychologist explores the two paths along which we think. Kahneman also explains the pros and pitfalls of each system. While not specifically geared toward the classroom, it provides implications for problem-solving, long-range school planning, and student development.

Reading is the gateway or roadblock to student success. Miller introduces new strategies to cultivate a love of books in your students. She also provides practical advice for improving the school library and more.

This updated edition of a classic book includes new material and example videos. This book will examine everything from teacher decision-making models to how to increase student engagement. Additionally, the book provides online support and 10 new techniques.

This timely new edition includes updated references and inspirational quotes throughout, as well as chapter reflection questions to help you make the most of what you read. In addition, several of the questionnaires and reflection tools from the book are also available on our website as free eResources, so that you can easily print and use them in your own classroom.

Lonnie Moore is a former award-winning middle school and high school math teacher. Lonnie now works with FranklinCovey as a training consultant. He has facilitated more than 1,400 workshops, keynotes, and seminars. As a part of the FranklinCovey Education Practice, he contributed to the creation of The Leader in Me school improvement process. This powerful process is being implemented in more than 2,000 schools globally.

"Inspirational teachers are transition people. By following the process in this book, teachers will be equipped with the skill-set required to help young people transition to greater levels of personal effectiveness."

"This book is a blueprint for inspiring students and changing lives. From the classroom to the athletic field, the four steps outlined in this book will help you become the inspirational teacher every student deserves."

You likely already know the key to making a reading-commitment: finding something you genuinely want to read. But, hunting through a book retailer can be overwhelming. And, how do you know if the books are any good? Well, I can tell you what I do when I am hunting for new books to add fuel to my teaching fire.

I look at the reviews, much like I look at the review of a restaurant. I take advantage of the previews provided and read a few pages. And, perhaps most importantly, I seek out the advice of my teacher-friends. What are they reading? What are they loving?

I read this book during my own credential program, and I have my pre-service teachers read this book as well. It is a favorite of theirs, which means they all actually read it. In the book, Fried invites teachers to develop a stance, what they believe about students, learning, and teaching, and then advises teachers on how to live and teach by this stance. Fried cuts to the heart of teaching, in all its idealism, and he presents realistic strategies to bring a bit of that idealism into the classroom.

As Watson explains, this is a lie. It is a lie. Period. If we want to stay in the teaching field long-term, we must learn how to expend our energy and time wisely. This book helps you figure out what you can do to become more sustainable as a teacher.

With that said, any book by Bren Brown is a winner. This book, though, speaks to my heart because I read it during one of the toughest years of teaching, and it spoke to me. Brown talks about the hard parts of life and how to recover, how to, as the title says, rise strong. Please, do yourself a favor and read it, and then make everyone in your life read it too.

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