Top Best books for educators that are worth reading. As a school principal, you’re also the school leader, student disciplinarian, teacher evaluator, day-to-day administrator, and more. Being effective at what you do is demanding work.
It requires an equal balance between different roles while ensuring a good environment. For the community at large and the school itself.
Beyond disciplining students and evaluating teachers, you want your students to excel academically and your teachers to excel personally. It’s up to you to be a role model, an inspiration to your students as well as your staff.
Authors have put their thoughts and strategies on paper so others can benefit from their wisdom and experience. Below are the best books for educators.
Here are the top 10 back-to-school books that will help your job as a principal to be more effective. In addition, If you enjoy reading here are the most recommended books for startup owners.
1. If You Don’t Feed the Teachers They Eat the Students!
Guide to Success for Administrators and Teachers is a practical guide full of tips, for making a difference in students’ lives. It gives you tools on how to improve the school’s atmosphere. Establishes a healthy climate for teaching, student, and parents. It is a funny but sensible book, and well worth picking up.
Review 4.5/5
Price: $16.99
2. Being a Successful Principal
The book has several different short stories that are based on real events and situations. It’s very similar to “chicken soup for the soul” but just for educators. Each short story has a special mention that can help you guide as a principal.
Topics covered include communication, mediating conflict, trusting yourself and others, and standing your ground (even in quicksand). A truly enjoyable read!
Review 4.7/5
Price: $29.57
3. Bully-Free Classroom
The book’s full name is kind of a mouth full – “The New Bully Free Classroom: Proven Prevention and Intervention Strategies for Teachers K-8”, but the book itself is very comprehensive. Dealing with the topic has garnered much publicity in the past few years.
It has a unique take on the subject in that it doesn’t automatically condemn bullies or coddle victims, but rather displays a more comprehensive understanding of all sides of the issue.
The book includes chapters for empowering bystanders, helping targets, and helping those who bully with over 100 activities. Discussions, projects, and 40 reproducible handouts for students and teachers. It can be implemented immediately and can help make the classroom a place where all students are free to learn without fear.
The new edition also deals with cyber-bullying. A very important solution-based book
Review: 4.8/5
Price: $40.08
4. What They Don’t Tell You in Schools of Education about School Administration
One of the best books for educators, possibly the all-time best-selling book on school administration. It is an assigned text in many graduate education courses on school administration. Like no other book on this subject written before, it is about swimming with the sharks and surviving.
It’s one of the best-selling books of all time, and I’ll tell you why! This book gives practical advice that principals can incorporate into their daily jobs. It presents all sides of the story such as seasoned administrators, teachers, and school board members. It represents the administration as it is!
This book made the reading list for many graduate courses. It is a grounded book that gives the reader a real-life view of how it’s like to be the head of the school administration.
Review 3.6/5
Price $34.06
5. What Great Principals Do Differently
The book “What Great Principals Do Differently, Eighteen Things That Matter Most” describes the qualities and practices of great principals.
These include: developing an accurate sense of self, understanding the dynamics of change, and dealing with negative or ineffective staff members. All issues are essential to everyday management and well within a principal’s sphere of influence.
It’s a fine blend of theory and practice. This back-to-school book is research-based, practical, and doable.
Review: 4.6/5
Price: $16.95
6. School Leadership That Works
From Research to Results by Robert J. Marzano, Timothy Waters, and Brian A. McNulty
School Leadership That Works: From Research to Results is for the more academically inclined. It is based upon the meta-analysis of 69 studies conducted since 1970. That met the authors’ selection criteria, as well as on a recent survey of more than 650 principals.
The authors developed a list of 21 leadership responsibilities that had a significant effect on the student’s achievements. In order to have a significant effect on students, there must be specific behaviors associated with these responsibilities. By using a framework of 11 factors and 39 action steps.
This back-to-school book is a guide based on research to create strong school leadership.
Review: 4.6/5
Price: $17.98
7. The Principal’s Survival Guide
“The Principal’s Survival Guide: Where Do I Start? How Do I Succeed? When Do I Sleep?” by Susan Stone Kessler, April M. Snodgrass, and Andrew T. Davis is one of the best books for educators.
The Principal’s Survival Guide is a collaborative effort between three veteran principals who succeeded in helping students achieve success by connecting with their families and teachers.
It is a practical guide, with solutions geared to today’s technological reality. For example, they recommend texting students to gain honest input or sending short complimentary emails to teachers to make them feel appreciated and validated.
These experts show how to lead and make difficult decisions while guiding students and the school at large. The authors’ vast knowledge and passion really shine through.
Review: 4.9/5
Price: $23.99
8. The Mis-Education of the Negro
Before you rail against this book title, read about the book. The book Mis-Education of the Negro was originally published in the 1933’s by Carter G. Woodson.
This book is less of a guide and more of a storytelling book that everyone should read. Despite what you are told or have been thought you must do things for yourself. That message right there is important for all faculty members to understand.
Dr. Woodson bases his book on the black days, where culturally speaking colored skin was looked down upon. African Americans were not given the proper tools to succeed in school or in anything for that matter. Dr. Woodson enforced his community to change their mindset to “do for themselves” regardless of what they were taught. Great novel one of the best books for educators.
” In fact, if there is no back door, he will cut one for his special benefit. His education makes it necessary.”
Dr. Woodson
Reviews: 4.5/5
Price: $10.47
9. The Results Fieldbook
The Fieldbook explores how to measure school improvement and success. It points out tactics and strategies that are already in front of your fingertips.
This is definitely one of the best books for principals, the Fieldbook provides five school systems that overcame hardships and obstacles. All students in the system had an exceptional outcome by the strategies used in the book. Using teamwork, proper use of achievement data, and planning for measurable goals is what made the difference.
If you want to be a better teacher, professor, principal read this back-to-school book.
Review: 4/5
Price: $8.35 -$17.00
10. BRAVO Principal!
Building Relationships with Actions that Value Others is based on a cute acronym (BRAVO: Building Relationships with Actions that Value Others). This book is full of action-oriented suggestions accompanied by personal vignettes. Chapters include examples of actions that are: empowering, respectful, and making people feel important, upholding high standards, and being courageous.
This book reminds you that ultimately, your success is built on the positive impact you can make on the people you are involved with – students and teachers alike.
Review: 5/5
Price: $34.95
