7 books to improve your lesson planning
As a teacher educator, one of the questions I get asked most often is:
What books do you recommend?
One of the great things about my job is that I get to read and review lots of books. Not only that, but I get to talk to teachers about what they think about what they’ve read, and observe how the ideas encountered are being explored in the classroom. Over time, I’ve developed an appreciation of what it takes for a book to have a profound and enduring impact on lesson planning and practice.
If you’re serious about becoming a better teacher, then do what you need to do to get your hands on — and carve out some time to read — the following ‘big 7’ books for teachers:
1. Visible learning for teachers
Maximizing impact on learning, by John Hattie
Based on his mega-meta analysis of over 15 years of educational research, Hattie outlines a set of strategies and mindsets to help teachers optimize their impact in the classroom.
2. Teach like a champion 2.0
62 techniques that put students on the path to college, by Doug Lemov
The latest update to the now-famous ‘Lemov taxonomy’, TLAC2.0 breaks down effective classroom practice in a refreshingly replicable way.
3. Embedding formative assessment
Practical techniques for K-12 classrooms, by Dylan Wiliam
This latest instalment — by the most trusted voice in education of our time — outlines a set of strategies to ensure you make effective decisions in the classroom.
4. The teaching gap
Ideas from the world’s teachers for improving education in the classroom, by Hiebert & Stigler
Based on the TIMSS international comparisons study, this classic explores the variety and impact of various teaching approaches from around the world.
5. 7 myths about education
by Daisy Christodoulou
An incisive and thought-provoking critique of some of the most widely held assumptions underpinning our practice in the classroom.
6. What if everything you knew about education was wrong?
By David Didau
(At time of writing) still on pre-order, this is set to be an instant classic from when it hits the shelves. Get it, and let go of everything you thought was right.
7. Lean lesson planning
A practical approach to doing less and achieving more in the classroom, by Yours Truly!
A joy to write, this little contribution outlines a set of evidence-informed mindsets and habits to help identify the most impactful parts of your teaching, and put them centre stage.
Of course, none of these books are beyond critique, and I encourage to read with that in mind. At the very least, they’ll provide you with a gargantuan amount of food for thought. More likely — and you can increase the chances of this happening by reading them all together — they’ll lead to changes in your practice that will not only have a measurable impact on learning, but will ultimately make you a happier and more confident teacher.
Peps is deeply passionate about helping teachers get better. If you’ve got suggestions for how to improve this list, reach out to him on twitter. If you enjoyed it, hit the recommend button. And if you’re hungry for more, check out The 7 habits of highly effective lesson plan(er)s.
