Celebrate Self-Improvement Month: 8 Books for Teachers

For teachers, professional development is an ongoing process and effort, but during Self-Improvement Month--conveniently scheduled for September--take time to think about how you can improve your outlooks on the profession and your impact in your classroom.

In celebration of Self-Improvement Month, EducationWorld has curated a list of eight books for teachers:

1. Unlikely Teachers: Finding the Hidden Gifts in Daily Conflict by Judy Ringer: This book contains inspiring stories, practices, conflicts (and resolutions) and methods to effectively communicate and form relationships in the classroom. With this book, teachers can reflect on other teachers' stories and connect them to their classroom and find ways to carry out these practices in their own lives. 
2. Crash Course: The Life Lessons My Students Taught Me by Kim Bearden: Follow Kim Bearden as she reflects on important life lessons and other inspirational instances she encountered as a teacher. This book can serve as a good resource to turn to when it comes to particular classroom situations, or for a pick-me-up. 
3. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin: This popular book tells the year-long story of Rubin's efforts to be happy. Teachers can be inspired by Rubin to create their own happiness project, either reflecting on their profession or their personal lives. 
4. Self-Care for Teachers by Dr. Matthew Allen: Self-Care for Teachers encourages teachers to "regain your balance, reclaim your time, and renew your practice." Dr. Matthew Allen gives teachers tips on how to improve their lives in and out of the classroom. Mainly, the text serves as a self-help book for teachers, coming from a veteran teacher. 
5. Reflective Practice to Improve Schools: An Action Guide for Educators by Jennifer York-Barr: In this book, the author provides insights on designing and developing successful practices for teachers as individual, groups, and in the classroom. 
6. Lucky to Be A Teacher: Life-Changing Affirmations for Positive Classrooms by Louise A. Chickie-Wolf: This workbook offers teachers 33 affirmations and reflection questions to help teachers set goals, maintain a positive attitude, and work on their profession. 
7. Teaching That Changes Lives: 12 Mindset Tools for Igniting the Love of Learning by Marilee Adams: With this book, teachers can learn how to avoid burnout as they follow the story of a teacher who feels close to the breaking point. Adams helps teachers realize that they have a large impact on the mindsets of students, colleagues, and themselves. Teachers can read the book as well as complete a workbook aimed towards self-improvement. 
8. School Discipline, Classroom Management, and Student Self-Management by Howard M. Knoff: This book provides teachers with a resource for following Positive Behavior Support Systems (PBSS), that integrates academics, instruction, and achievement in and out of the classroom. Included in the book are charts to post in classrooms, worksheets, and action items. 

Article by Kassondra Granata, EducationWorld Contributor