Recommendations From Readers For The Best Education Books Of The Year – 2021

 

I’ve annually encouraged readers to share recommendations for the best books on education they’ve read during the previous year (you can see past lists here).

I did it a little differently this year by asking on social media.  Here’s what people said (add your recommendations in the comments section!):

Time 4 my 12th annual list of favorite Ed books of yr. Reply w/title of your favorite education-related book that u read this yr, name of author, why u liked it!

— Larry Ferlazzo (@Larryferlazzo) December 28, 2021

Here's one more – maybe not quite what you're asking for, but it was extremely helpful as both a parent and high school advisor. https://t.co/4p1mYoFITr

— Sarah Cooper (@sarahjcooper01) December 28, 2021

“Just Schools. Building Equitable Collaborations with Families and Communities “ by @prof_ishimaru . Lays out why and how for transforming power, building reciprocity and creating meaningful partnerships between schools and all families. Want equitable collaboration? Begin here.

— With Equal Step (@WithEqualStep) December 28, 2021

I second what @WithEqualStep stated about #JustSchools by @prof_ishimaru . I would add #NaturalAlliesBook by @soortle to your list. These books complement each other, and provide steps to systemic change (in partnering with families) at the district, school, and classroom level. pic.twitter.com/gWpOgiFZfH

— Ekuwah Mends Moses 🇬🇭🇺🇸 (@ekuwah) December 28, 2021

This is a hard task @Larryferlazzo Loved, loved, LOVED Cultivating Genius @GholdyM.. also @ValentinaESL Reading and Writing for ELs… so practical! AND @DStaehrFenner @SydneySupportEd Culturally Responsive Teaching for MLs Tools for Equity. pic.twitter.com/WoSUU6fu7c

— Loa Richardson (@11Loa) December 28, 2021

#DIYpd4MLs @KatieToppel @TanKHuynh @MsSalvac I 💗 this book because it put value on all of the self-directed pro-d I do. pic.twitter.com/a0XryJAhOV

— 𝕊𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕣𝕪 𝕋𝕖𝕒𝕔𝕙𝕖𝕣 (she/hers) (@SherryTeacher) December 28, 2021

1. @ValentinaESL & Dr.@DrMelindaMiller book on reading & writing workshop for ML

2. @Jo_Napolitano’s The School I Deserve

— Tan K Huynh (he/his) 🇱🇦🇺🇸🇹🇭🏳️‍🌈 (@TanKHuynh) December 29, 2021

Cultivating Genius by @GholdyM was a 2021 book study. Lots of appreciation from educators, with several teacher contributions/responses here –> https://t.co/9lygf0jGmN

— Matt Renwick (@ReadByExample) December 29, 2021

https://t.co/vdF4u0UeIg So many wonderful suggestions here. Also, I've used the optimal time for rotating classroom seating this year, and it has infused new life into partner work!

— Sarah Cooper (@sarahjcooper01) December 28, 2021

Highly recommend:

Street Data – @ShaneSafir and @JamilaDugan

Ratchedemic- @chrisemdin

Cutting School – @nrookie

Textured Teaching – @nenagerman

Although not completely education related, I’d also recommend Right Within – @MindaHarts

— Crystal M. Watson (@_CrystalMWatson) December 28, 2021

Annie Murphy Paul's The Extended Mind — explores research about learning and validates what many good teachers know intuitively.
Barbara Oakley's Uncommon Sense Teaching — takes research from her learning how to learn series and flips it to teaching.

— Polly Mayer (@ClinicPolly) December 28, 2021

And @wendi322 because #SketchNoting4MLs is POWERFUL and NECESSARY ^_^ I want to create a district pro-d offering around this book… maybe a book study/ collab group, too… #POTENTIAL pic.twitter.com/wxhQGjLs9R

— 𝕊𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕣𝕪 𝕋𝕖𝕒𝕔𝕙𝕖𝕣 (she/hers) (@SherryTeacher) December 28, 2021

I highly recommend “But Does This Work with ELs” by @GenovaHollyAnn & @DrMandyStewart

Great book with doable strategies & lessons to help MG & HS ELs. https://t.co/p9waw0pp0a

— Emily Fɾαɳƈιʂ 💫 (@emilyfranESL) December 28, 2021

On my road to #ungrading: @SarahMZerwin 'Point-Less,' @rickwormeli2 'Fair Isn't Always Equal,' and @JoeCFeldman 'Grading for Equity' (in progress, but so so good)

— Megan Balduf, NBCT (@MBalduf) December 29, 2021

Chasing Rabbits – @Mathgarden
Building Thinking Classrooms – @pgliljedahl
Ratchetdemic – @chrisemdin
Mathematics for Human Flourishing (read for a second time in 2021) @mathyawp
Policing Black Lives (read in 2021) – @policingblack

— Jordan Rappaport (@JRappaport27) December 29, 2021

Street Data – @ShaneSafir and @JamilaDugan

— Jordan Rappaport (@JRappaport27) December 29, 2021

Melanie Link Taylor:

The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain, by Annie Murphy Paul

Modifying your Thinking Classroom by @pgliljedahl because it’s a great way to get students thinking.

Street Data by @JamilaDugan and @ShaneSafir because we need more of this and less satellite data.

Choosing to See by @kyndallab and @pamseda1 because they tie it all together.

— Nate Moore (@nmnatemoore) December 29, 2021