ASCD—or the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development—has compiled a list of 25 books for educators to refer to when seeking professional development reading over the summer months.

"The 25 publications featured on this list provide leadership inspiration, assessment techniques, 21st century insights, and more, and they are packed with best practices for educators at all levels to rejuvenate their practice and ensure student success in the next school year," the organization said.

The list includes five topics for professional development over the summer: 21st Century Learning, Curriculum Design and Lesson Planning, Instructional Strategies and Student Engagement, Assessment and Grading, and Principal Leadership. 

In the 21st Century Learning topic, for example, ASCD provides books like Curriculum 21: Essential Education for a Changing World by curriculum designer Heidi Hayes Jacobs with the help of several other leading educators. The book gives ideas for designing curriculum to best suit a globalized and digital world.

For Assessment and Grading, the list recommends Grading Smarter, Not Harder: Assessment Strategies That Motivate Kids and Help Them Learn by vice principal and teacher Myron Dueck that shares experiences and research on the best ways for assessment to actually measure learning. With all of the debate over Common Core standards and mandatory standardized testing, this is sure to be a great read for educators everywhere.

Under Instructional Strategies and Student Engagement, the provocative title of 17,000 Classroom Visits Can’t Be Wrong: Strategies That Engage Students, Promote Active Learning, and Boost Achievement by John V. Antonetti and James R. Garver is one that is sure to catch your attention. The book shares experiences and lessons learned from 17,000 classroom visits and how you can apply what they've learned to yours.

To check out more professional development reads ASCD has compiled for personal summer reading, read here. Let us know what you read and if and how it's helped you grow professionally.

Article by Nicole Gorman, Education World Contributor

06/30/2015