Professional books reviewed by educators
STEM by Design maintains a sharp focus on developing a genuine STEM program. Topics include diverse recruitment, developing STEM challenges, engineering design, life skills, tech integration and more. For all grades 4-8 STEM educators, says teacher educator Michelle Schwartze.
Understanding multilingual students, their languages, histories, and cultures, is foundational to making content comprehensible and meaningful. Equity, says Valentina Gonzalez, lives at the intersection of curriculum, instruction, assessment, and students’ seeing themselves valued.
In “Intentional Moves” Elisa B. MacDonald lays out ready-to-use strategies for team leaders, insightfully describing to readers how her 10 moves will play out within different team dynamics. After four years as a team leader, reviewer Katie Dunkin still keeps the book handy.
With authentic scenarios, well-sequenced tasks, and teacher supports, Real World Math is a classroom-ready resource. Whether your goal is to deepen engagement, build understanding, or spark curiosity, the book brings math to life in a way students and teachers will appreciate.
Rather than treating writing as a sequence of isolated assignments, in “Goal Setting in the Writing Classroom” Valerie Bolling shares a structure for a continuous, student-driven process shaped by clear goals, routines, and informed choices, writes reviewer Melinda Stewart.
Artful AI in Writing Instruction models productive and reflective approaches to using AI where student voices are centered and human thinking trumps artificial intelligence. The book is a roadmap for teachers with examples, lessons, and moments of reflection, writes Michele Haiken.
In “Prepared Classroom” Gail Boushey and Allison Behne illustrate why a well-planned classroom is a powerful tool for teachers to foster positive environments and support student learning. Stacy Haynes-Moore appreciated the detailed descriptions of routines and procedures.
Using personal anecdotes, educational research, and practical strategies, Kelly Gallagher offers both a call to action and a guide for educators invested in students’ literacy development as he explores the connection between background knowledge and reading comprehension.
Teaching Storytelling in Classrooms and Communities calls on educators to trust in the power of student narratives and to create learning environments where stories become a launching pad for critical reflection, social change, and community-building, writes Melinda Stewart.
Mona Iehl provides a practical framework to ignite math learning for elementary students, says fifth grade teacher Kathie Palmieri. Iehl’s book offers a structured, daily routine that makes word problems less scary and builds confidence, connections, and wonder in each session.
