Favorite Books to Dive into this Summer
Summer reading for teachers is one of my very favorite activities to partake in. Whether you’re looking to be inspired to take the next step in your career or to escape the exhausting reality of being an educator, there are so many books that you can dive into.
Use this list of the best summer reads for teachers to get started and let me know what books I should add to my summer reading list! :)
Summer Reading for Teachers By Subject
Good Books for Teachers to Inspire You to Go After Your Dreams
What if this is the summer you start playing big? Think about your wildest dreams and desires. What’s stopping you from going after them? Add this book to your list of summer reading for teachers for great inspiration and practical tips. Learn how to make the biggest impact you can as you stop playing small and start playing big.
Arlan Hamilton built a venture capitalist firm committed to investing in companies founded by people of color, women, and/or members of the LGBTQ+ community. She started building her company, Backstage Capital, while homeless and has since been able to invest over $20 million dollars in mission-driven companies. In this book, Hamilton gives advice on how to learn anything, stay committed, and help others while expanding your impact. It’s one of the best summer reads for teachers who want to feel inspired.
Good Books for Teachers That Help You Grow as an Educator
How We Learn: The Surprising Truth About When, Where, and Why It Happens by Benedict Carey
Science reporter Benedict Carey analyzed tons of research around learning and shares what he discovered in this engaging book. This sometimes counterintuitive information about learning can be applied to both our classrooms and our lives. It’s a great addition to summer reading for teachers that could change the way you view your students and your role as a teacher.
In this inspiring book, Love argues that instead of trying to repair a flawed education system, we must focus on educational freedom with the determination and urgency of an abolitionist. This book will get you fired up and inspired to use your background in education to create change.
Good Books for Teachers that Encourage You to Take Care of YOU
Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself by Neda Glover
Strong boundaries are essential for living your life on your own terms. But they can be so hard to set! This book walks you through the importance of setting and asserting healthy boundaries and is fantastic for recovering people-pleasers. Taking care of yourself means prioritizing what you need and setting boundaries to protect your desires. This is one of the best summer reads for teachers who are ready to prioritize their own well-being.
Part poetry, part prose, part inspirational quotes, this book helps you harness your personal power to bring positive change to the world. Flip open a random page any time that you need to reset and focus on your desires. Use this book to guide you as you create a more sustainable, impactful life for yourself. This is a favorite on this list of summer reading for teachers because it provides simple, easy-to-follow practice that can significantly improve your self-care.
Good Books for Teachers That Offer a Great Escape
Many summers ago, I immersed myself in The Goldfinch and loved getting drawn into the engaging writing. As the description on Bookshop says, “The Goldfinch is a mesmerizing, stay-up-all-night and tell-all-your-friends triumph, an old-fashioned story of loss and obsession, survival and self-invention.”
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
This addicting novel follows a group of friends from the AIDS crisis of the 1980s to present-day Paris. It intertwines narratives beautifully and makes for an engrossing, powerful read about the impacts of a health crisis.
Go Beyond Summer Reading for Teachers
There are so many good books for teachers to read over the summer. But if you want to go beyond the bookshelf and incorporate professional development into your summer schedule, then Educator Forever can help.
Explore the Beyond the Classroom online course if you want to leave the classroom but stay in education - or if you’re interested in side hustles for teachers!
If you’ve been dreaming about starting your own education business, then learn more about the Grow Your Education Business Accelerator. In this program, you can learn the business and marketing foundations you need while being part of an inspiring community.