10 Reviews: Best Motivational Books for Teachers (Apr 2024)

Since its release more than 50 years ago, Up the Down Staircase has impacted the lives of countless teachers. This creative, humorous, and complicated tale is about a new teacher at Calvin Coolidge High in New York City. Up the Down Staircase demonstrates what it takes to be a teacher and how they may improve students’ lives through care and learning. This heartbreaking and humorous tale will remind you what teaching may be like.

"I read this when I was in junior high, and again recently. It’s a classic. It’s timeless."

by Maggie Thompson

If you’ve been stuck in a rut lately, The Book of Awesome is ready to help you get back on your feet and memorize some of life’s simple pleasures.  This laugh-out-loud hilarious international best-seller is based on the award-winning blog 1000awesomethings.com, which has had more than 10 million page views. It is full of sharp observations that will make you think. This is a fantastic book to have in the classroom when you need a laugh or a little pick-me-up.

"I could relate to over 90% of the moments of Awesome in this book. A fun read! A reminder of how great life is."

by Jeff - Denver

Daniel Pink’s New York Times bestseller Drive reimagines how humans might find satisfaction and high performance. Pink says that rewarding students and workers are a mistake. Instead, he proposes giving people the means to self-direct their life, study and create, and improve themselves. Pink lays down “real motivation” into three pieces autonomy, mastery, and purpose to change how you think and behave.

"It's a quick read with great insight on motivation. There are other resources noted in the book that cay also be helpful."

by Moe

Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D., dissolves the evolution of the human mindset in this pioneering book. Dweck has established that success in practically any human endeavor correlates to whether someone has a “fixed mindset” (trusting their skills are fixed at whatever level they begin) or a “growth mindset” (trusting their skills can grow through effort). Dweck outlines how teachers, coaches, parents, and others may develop pupils’ “growth mindset.”

"The book opened my mind to my mind and gave me a more positive approach and perspective to challenges and people. I wish I’d read this book before I became a coach and a parent. Well, onward and upward."

by jdf

See Me After Class is meant to make up for what you didn’t learn in your teacher training. Elden collects the often funny stories of teachers from all over the country. He uses these anecdotes to give advice, strategies, and tips for getting through the hardest parts of teaching. See Me After Class gives an honest look at the front lines of teaching. It’s a great book for teachers who need some real talk, a little understanding, and a lot of help from their peers.

"I am soon to be a first year teacher and loved the honesty in this book. I am considering purchasing it for a reference next year."

by Amazon Customer

There are so many good things about being a teacher, but working in a job that is often undervalued can often cause low self-esteem over time. Make sure to check out The Confidence Code if you’ve lost faith in your talents. Reading this book, written by two best-selling writers, can help readers feel more confident in the workplace. You may boost your self-esteem and confidence in school and in your personal life by making a few simple changes to your daily routine.

"I really liked this book. It helped me understand the meaning if confidence and how important confidence is."

by Karla Jean Moore

Other People’s Children, winner of an AESA Critics’ Choice Award and Choice Magazine’s Outstanding Academic Book Award, breaks down the school setting. Delpit argues that modern school power relations are multifaceted. Bias, experience, and family factors affect every educational engagement. Therefore, this Other People’s Children is an absolute classic and a must-read for teachers on the point of burnout.

"Amazing read. I teach Native American students and the content was very relevent. Brings to light the systemized racial and economic disparities in the classroom. Highly recommended."

by Hannah

The Element looks at the lives of a number of well-known cultural figures to help people figure out how to find their passion at work. Robinson’s book is very helpful, both as an employee and as a teacher, because it gives you concrete ways to help your students do well in their environment. The Element is a book about creativity written by one of the world’s most influential thinkers on creativity. It can help you understand passion, determination, and how to encourage them in the classroom.

"This book is so well written and has very interesting facts. Definitely a great insight to how educational purposed have changed."

by CGA NC

One of the best ways to remember why you became a teacher is to find out what kept other teachers going. That’s exactly what you’ll find in Today I Made a Difference, a book with stories, advice, and thoughts from 28 teachers who were nominated for “Teacher of the Year.” It’s not all motivational quotes and rose-colored glasses, either. This book is full of heartwarming advice and ideas that will make you think of some of the best teachers in the country.

"I loved this book. After finishing my first year of teaching, this was the refresher that I needed. It brought me back to why I wanted to teach in the first place and inspired me to be better next year."

by Nicole Whitehair

This book will urge you to make improvements for your students’ inside play, more assignments, and lack of outside space. In addition, Last Child in the Woods explores how school and homes limit kids’ natural time. We can aid the next population by restoring green space, says Louv. Based on studies and tales from youngsters, parents, teachers, child-development professionals, and environmentalists.

"All teachers need to be reading this book."

by Falcon Hunter