Books for teachers: Top picks for 2024

1. Uncommon Sense Teaching: Practical Insights in Brain Science to Help Students Learn by Barbara Oakley, Beth Rogowsky, et al.

This book, grounded in the latest neuroscience research, explores how the brain learns. It provides invaluable insights into student motivation, engagement, and long-term retention of curriculum knowledge. It also addresses inclusive teaching in diverse classrooms.

2. Retrieval Practice: Research & Resources for every classroom by Kate Jones

Jones, a seasoned teacher, presents a practical guide to retrieval practice. This strategy promotes deep learning and long-term information retention. The book is filled with evidence-based ideas suitable for both primary and secondary practitioners.

3. Sticky Teaching and Learning: How to make your students remember what you teach them by Caroline Bentley-Davies

This book is a toolkit of 50 practical ideas to make learning 'sticky'—ensuring it endures in students' minds. Bentley-Davies shares pedagogic methods that foster information retention, independence, and improved exam performance.

4. The Teaching and Learning Playbook by Michael Feely and Ben Karlin

This playbook offers 100 techniques for teachers and leaders to enhance their school environment. Each method includes a summary, explanation of its importance, and a four-step guide for implementation.

5. The Science of Learning: 99 Studies That Every Teacher Needs to Know by Edward Watson and Bradley Busch

Watson and Busch's book helps teachers understand the psychological research behind teaching and learning. The studies touch on cognitive-load theory, wellbeing, and exam pressure relief, with practical strategies for classroom implementation.

6. Giving Students a Say: Smarter Assessment Practices to Empower and Engage by Myron Dueck 

Dueck provides transformative ideas around assessment methods that engage and inspire students. The book offers detailed guidance on topics such as developing student-friendly rubrics and involving students in ongoing assessment processes.

7. After The Adults Change: Achievable Behaviour Nirvana by Paul Dix

Dix outlines a range of tools to improve behaviour and develop a school culture rooted in relational practice. The book promotes a behaviour management approach where expectations are clearly explained by adults, fostering a transparent environment.

8. The Action Hero Teacher: Classroom Management Made Simple by Karl C. Pupé

Pupé provides guidance on how to set rules that students follow and how to earn their respect. This book is useful for all practitioners, regardless of their career stage.

9. Power Up Your Pedagogy: The Illustrated Handbook of Teaching by Bruce Robertson

Robertson’s comprehensive handbook covers everything from professional learning and coaching to cognitive science and educational research. The book is filled with images and graphics that illustrate best practices and includes reflective tasks to encourage review and development in practice.

10. Fast Feedback by Lesley Hill, Gemma Whitby, et al.

This book narrates how Lavender Primary School in North London replaced written marking with a more effective system, reducing teacher workload and improving learning processes for children.

1. A Little Guide for Teachers: Diversity in Schools by Bennie Kara

This is an excellent starting point for schools aiming to build a diverse and inclusive curriculum. It provides interactive activities, vivid illustrations, and easy-to-understand information.

2. Celebrating Difference: A whole-school approach to LGBT+ inclusion by Shaun Dellenty

This handbook is a comprehensive guide to LGBT+ inclusion. It contains practical advice and ideas to foster organisational change, enhancing the overall wellbeing of students and staff.

3. Pride and Progress: Making Schools LGBT+ Inclusive Spaces by Adam Brett and Jo Brassington

This book was born from a podcast and shares insights from LGBT+ educators, offering practical tips for creating an inclusive environment.

4. Representation Matters: Becoming an anti-racist educator by Aisha Thomas

This crucial text provides strategies to promote diversity and inclusion, along with methods to foster an anti-racist landscape in schools.

5. How to Build Your Antiracist Classroom by Orlene Badu

Badu offers a straightforward guide to creating an anti-racist ethos within schools, covering everything from teacher bias to developing a diverse curriculum.

1. How to Survive Your First Year in Teaching by Sue Cowley

This updated guide is packed with advice on managing workload and tips for wellbeing, making it an excellent support for early-career teachers.

2. The Teacher Journal by Naomi Barker

Ideal for new teachers, this book offers guidance on professional development, teaching reviews and career management.

3. Top Tips for New Teachers by Ed Watson

Ed Watson covers a range of topics, from professional development and behaviour management to strategies for rapid progression and student achievement.

4. Getting the Buggers to Behave: The must-have behaviour management bible by Sue Cowley

Cowley shares unique and humorous approaches to classroom behaviour management, helping teachers of all levels to view student behaviour from a new perspective.

5. The (Un)official Teacher's Manual: What They Don't Teach You in Training by Omar Akbar

Akbar's book provides actionable advice to deal with the additional responsibilities teachers face daily, from lesson observations and emails to meetings and parent interactions.

1. A Little Guide for Teachers: Teacher Wellbeing and Self-Care by Adrian Bethune and Emma Kell

This book explains why wellbeing is essential for everyone in education, offering tools to maintain classroom control and personal wellbeing.

2. The Teacher’s Guide to Self‑Care by Sarah Forst

Forst's book emphasises the importance of self-care in building resilience and maintaining an enjoyable teaching career.

3. Love Teaching, Keep Teaching: The essential guide to improving well-being at all levels in schools by Peter Radford

Radford's guide offers practical advice and tools to safeguard your wellbeing in the high-pressure world of education.

4. The Big Book of Whole School Wellbeing by Kimberley Evans, Thérèse Hoyle et al.

This book provides tools and strategies to navigate changes in education and create future schools, focusing on the importance of relationships in shaping wellbeing policies.

5. Well-being Wins for Teachers by Tracey Leese and Charlotte Rowley

Each chapter of this book showcases ten inspirational figures from various backgrounds who have enacted positive change in education, offering simple yet effective strategies to improve teacher wellbeing.