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EdWeek's Back-to-School 69传媒 List

40+ Must Reads to Help You Start the 2024-25 Year Right

Update date: July 19, 2024

As the much-deserved summer break comes to a close, it鈥檚 a great time to start thinking about the best ways to prepare for a successful and low-stress school year.

As always, EdWeek is here to help you stay inspired with an annual back-to-school reading list filled with everything from what teachers can quit doing this year to how to use student curiosity to deepen learning to how to vet AI tools for the classroom, and so much more.

Please let us know what else would help you be successful this year in your classroom. We want to hear from you!

Enjoy, and get empowered throughout the school year with a subscription to Education Week.

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Inspiration

Illustration of empty teacher desk.
Nadezhda Deineka/Getty
Teaching Opinion 10 Non-Standard Ideas About Going Back to School
One teacher spent days preparing for the first day. Her husband wouldn't prepare at all. It's hard to say who was the better teacher.
Nancy Flanagan, August 6, 2016
5 min read
Danna Thomas, a kindergarten teacher at Windsor Hills Elementary School in Baltimore, and the founder of Happy Teacher Revolution, smiles and snaps her fingers while a fellow teacher shares a good moment from earlier in the day.
Danna Thomas, a kindergarten teacher at Windsor Hills Elementary School in Baltimore, and the founder of Happy Teacher Revolution, smiles and snaps her fingers while a fellow teacher shares a good moment from earlier in the day.
Erin Irwin/Education Week
Teaching 7 Things Teachers Can Quit Doing This Year
Want to shake up your teaching mindset this year? Here are seven habits teachers have cast off in the spirit of becoming a better educator.
Stacey Decker, August 9, 2018
2 min read
Conceptual Illustration
Handini_Atmodiwiryo/iStock/Getty
Teaching Profession Opinion I Don't Have to Love My 69传媒 to Be a Good Teacher
Treat teachers like the professionals we are rather than expecting endless and selfless sacrifice, writes one educator.
Jherine Wilkerson, March 4, 2022
3 min read
Teaching Profession Video What Educators Have to Say About the Teachers Who Inspired Them
From kindergarten class to high school chemistry, these educators share stories about the teachers who inspired them.
Kaylee Domzalski, May 5, 2023
2:13
Kambar BS
Sam Mallon/Education Week
School & District Management Opinion Watch: Two Generations of Educators Reflect on Their Careers
This principal followed his father into education. Together, they reflect on the job.
1 min read
Digital Illustration style image with textured overlay of a young person standing during the day reaching out to grab a star in a night dimension appearing in a circle in front of them.
iStock/Getty Images
Teaching Opinion What Makes a Teacher Memorable? It鈥檚 All About Awe
Here鈥檚 how to make wonder a cornerstone of your teaching philosophy鈥攁nd why you should.
Jonathan Scolnick, August 4, 2023
4 min read

Tips for Setting Up Your Classroom

Image of an empty classroom.
Burak S眉r/iStock/Getty
Teaching Video: Setting Up the Classroom for the First Day of School
Education Week filmed teachers setting up their classrooms for the first day of school, capturing the whirlwind of excitement and nerves.
Madeline Will, September 1, 2017
1 min read
Opinion 23Henig planning future 1206435418
Anastasia Usenko/iStock/Getty<br/>
Teaching Opinion Looking for Ways to Organize Your Classroom? Try Out These Tips
Be sure to set up your classroom so that it helps students learn and you save time.
Larry Ferlazzo, September 9, 2022
3 min read
Two students read together in teacher Justin Minkel's classroom at Jones Elementary School in Springdale, Ark.
Two students read together in teacher Justin Minkel's classroom at Jones Elementary School in Springdale, Ark.
All photos provided by the author
69传媒 & Literacy Opinion 4 Steps to a Magnificent Classroom Library
Teachers need to look closely at the range of reading levels, experiences, and genres represented in their classroom libraries.
Justin Minkel , June 13, 2018
6 min read
Brittany Hagan, an eighth year English-language arts teacher near Philadelphia, sets up her classroom each year to provide a calming environment for her middle school students.
Brittany Hagan, an eighth year English-language arts teacher near Philadelphia, sets up her classroom each year to provide a calming environment for her middle school students.
Courtesy of Brittany Hagan
Teaching Older 69传媒 Deserve Colorful Classrooms, Too
Three teachers share how they set up their classrooms to welcome, soothe, and engage their older students.
Caitlyn Meisner, August 15, 2023
6 min read
An empty classroom of desks with plants along the window sills.
E+
Student Well-Being Plants in the Classroom: Why You Should Consider It
Plants boost well-being. Education Week asked teachers for recommendations on what varieties of plants can thrive in a K-12 classroom.
Arianna Prothero, October 27, 2023
3 min read

Strategies to Transform Your Teaching

Image of a teacher in a classroom full of kids.
Getty
Teaching Teacher Leaders Network Teaching Secrets: Get to Know 69传媒 Through Seating Challenges
Sandy Merz writes that engaging his students in seat-selection activities sets a positive collaborative tone from the first day of school.
Sandy Merz, June 27, 2012
5 min read
Image of a goal.
z_wei/iStock/Getty
Teaching What the Research Says 3 Counterintuitive Findings About Motivation That Teachers Can Use
New research suggests small changes teachers can make to get students more engaged.
Sarah D. Sparks, April 24, 2022
4 min read
Fourth graders work together to plan life for their 鈥渃olony鈥 during a class activity focused on colonial America at Capital City Public Charter School in Washington, D.C., on April 4, 2017.
Fourth graders work together to plan life for their 鈥渃olony鈥 during a class activity focused on colonial America at Capital City Public Charter School in Washington, D.C., on April 4, 2017.
Allison Shelley/The Verbatim Agency for EDUimages
Teaching How to Give 69传媒 More Agency in Class Without Losing Control
Six takeaways for teachers who want to give students more control over their learning without inviting disaster.
Arianna Prothero, June 29, 2023
4 min read
Teaching Video Teachers, Try This: Use a 'Classroom Economy' to Teach Financial Literacy
Rent, inflation, and savings are all elements of this 3rd grade teacher鈥檚 plan to expand her students鈥 financial literacy.
Kaylee Domzalski, April 27, 2023
5:13
Young boy using laptop
Courtney Hale/E+/Getty
Teaching Teaching Tips for Reaching Introverts and Extroverts
Teachers can look to technology for help in reaching big talkers and their quieter peers.
Alyson Klein, June 29, 2022
4 min read
Female teacher helps young boy to do his school work.
iStock/Getty
Teaching What the Research Says Here's How to Give Feedback That 69传媒 Will Actually Use
New research offers clues for teachers on crafting effective feedback.
Sarah D. Sparks, April 16, 2023
4 min read
A surreal image of a small child inside a book on the back of an elephant flying over a blooming meadow of flowers.
Jorm Sangsorn/iStock
69传媒 & Literacy Opinion 5 Tips to Help Teachers Put the Joy Back in 69传媒
When we think of reading in the classroom, we often think of phonics or vocabulary. But what about teaching students how to love reading?
Hannah Schultz, October 3, 2023
4 min read
Kid Characters Observe Sky with Moon, Milky Way and Reach for the stars!
iStock/Getty Images
Teaching Opinion 4 Ways to Use Student Curiosity to Deepen Learning
These intentional shifts in the classroom can help teachers foster engagement and inquiry, writes a learning specialist.
Ben Talsma, May 1, 2024
4 min read

Advice on Building Strong Student-Teacher Relationships

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E+
Teaching Profession Opinion Calming Those Back-to-School Jitters
The first day of school can be scary. Nancy Barile shares five ways teachers can help alleviate their new students鈥 fears.
Nancy Barile, August 2, 2017
5 min read
teacher diverse classroom
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
Teaching Opinion Build Student Trust by Sharing Stories on the First Day
Se谩n Arthurs writes how sharing his background and values with students on the first day fosters connection.
Sean Arthurs, August 15, 2018
4 min read
African American Girl holding book and reading in an elementary school lesson
Getty
Teaching Profession Opinion Dear White Teachers: You Can't Love Your Black 69传媒 If You Don't Know Them
It isn't enough to "love all students," writes the University of Georgia's Bettina L. Love.
Bettina L. Love, March 18, 2019
4 min read
Blurred photograph of a green chalkboard with 5 hands raised.
iStock/Getty
Teaching A Teacher Asked and 69传媒 Answered: What Motivates You to Learn?
Motivation is a key part of learning. But what sparks students鈥 motivation can be elusive.
Arianna Prothero, June 13, 2024
3 min read
A young white school boy sits with his Black teacher in a one to one reading session. He reads to her and is smiling clearly enjoying the book. The teacher is smiling too. In the background a diverse group of kids sit around a classroom table.
Getty<br/>
Teaching Profession Opinion 4 Ways to Build Relationships With Your 69传媒 All Year Long
A teacher writes about how to cultivate strong relationships, not just during the first few weeks of school, but throughout the entire year.
Justin Minkel , November 13, 2019
5 min read
Girl runner in start position before sprint.
iStock/Getty Images Plus
Teaching Opinion The Difficult (and Satisfying) Run of Teaching Defiant 69传媒
The best way to work with students who struggle behaviorally is to build a trusting relationship, even when it is difficult.
Allison Riddle, September 26, 2016
3 min read
Arial view of people sitting on chairs in a circle with a listening ear in the center.
Collage by Gina Tomko/Education Week and Getty
Student Well-Being Really Listening to 69传媒 Has an Academic Payoff, New Research Finds
When students see their schools as "responsive" to their feedback, they are likely to have better grades and attendance, new research finds.
Evie Blad, June 16, 2022
5 min read
A grid of classroom elements with lines flowing in and out of the segments.
iStock/Getty Images + Education Week
Teaching Opinion Better Classroom Management Can't Wait. How to Make Changes Now
The three 鈥渢ruths鈥 about managing student behavior that every teacher should unlearn today.
Andrew Kwok, May 13, 2024
4 min read
Second grade teacher Kaylee Hutcheson greets her students as they enter their classroom to start their day at Hawthorne Elementary School in Mexico, Mo., on Feb. 14, 2024.
Second grade teacher Kaylee Hutcheson greets her students as they enter their classroom to start their day at Hawthorne Elementary School in Mexico, Mo., on Feb. 14, 2024.
Lisa Krantz for Education Week
Teaching This Teaching Routine Takes Just 5 Minutes. Its Impact Lasts Much Longer
It's no gimmick. Greeting students individually at the classroom door has been linked to benefits for both teachers and students.
Elizabeth Heubeck, February 23, 2024
5 min read

School Leadership Must-Reads

Illustration of an optimistic looking principal smiling outside of a school with plus signs floating above the students.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week via Canva
School & District Management Opinion How Principals Can Start School With a Smile
Here are five ways to stay positive and focus on morale this year.
S. Kambar Khoshaba, August 29, 2023
4 min read
Image of an educator greeting students for the day with a special handshake.
E+
School & District Management 10 Bold Ideas Principals Can Embrace This School Year
Principals, want to change things up this school year? Here are 10 suggestions鈥攂ig and small鈥攆or rethinking what you do and how you lead.
Stacey Decker, August 10, 2018
3 min read
Natasha Harris, principal of Lynn Hale Elementary School in Arlington, Tex., is an alum of the Holdsworth program for school leaders.
In a photo taken July 8, 2021, Natasha Harris, principal of Lynn Hale Elementary School in Arlington, Texas, interacts with a student.
Allison V. Smith for Education Week
School & District Management 6 Tips for Principals to Survive鈥攁nd Thrive
We asked principals about their biggest challenges. Here are strategies for tackling six common issues, from school leaders and experts.
Lesli A. Maxwell, October 18, 2018
3 min read
Photo illustration of a leader effectively communicating with the community
Vanessa Solis/Education Week via Canva
School & District Management Opinion Principals, Here Are 4 Simple Tips to Communicate Better
To create a positive learning environment, school leaders must master various communication strategies.
Alex Sponheim , June 6, 2023
4 min read
Group of diverse people (aerial view) in a circle holding hands. Cooperation and teamwork. Community of friends, students, or volunteers committed to social issues for peace and the environment.
iStock/Getty Images Plus
School Climate & Safety Small Ways Leaders Can Build 69传媒 Where Everyone Feels Like They Belong
Principals can take small steps to ensure students and staff feel like they belong.
Denisa R. Superville, June 26, 2023
5 min read
Silhouette of a figure inside of which is reflected public school life, Self-reflection of career in education
Vanessa Solis/Education Week via Canva
School & District Management Opinion How to Let Your Values Guide You as a School Leader
Has your 鈥渨hy鈥 become fuzzy? Here are four steps to keep principals motivated and moving forward.
Damia C. Thomas, July 5, 2024
4 min read
Screenshot 2024 06 12 at 7.16.56鈥疉M
Canva
School & District Management Opinion 4 Things School Leaders Should Do Before Setting Priorities
Sweeping language doesn't offer a road map for the school community. Here's why.
Peter DeWitt & Michael Nelson, June 13, 2024
4 min read
School counselor facilitates a group discussion
E+ / Getty
School & District Management When Principals Listen to 69传媒, 69传媒 Can Change
Three school leaders weigh in on different ways they've channeled student voices help reimagine schools.
Olina Banerji, April 29, 2024
6 min read
Screen Shot 2024 02 18 at 4.01.50 PM
Canva
Professional Development Opinion Are Your Staff Meetings Unfocused and Disjointed? Try These 5 Strategies
Too often, staff meetings do not focus on learning, which is a lost opportunity. Here's how to make them more meaningful.
Michael Nelson & Peter DeWitt, February 25, 2024
6 min read
Image of a leader reflecting on past and future.
akindo/DigitalVision Vectors
School & District Management Sometimes Principals Need to Make Big Changes. Here鈥檚 How to Get Them to Stick
School leaders need their community to take a leap of faith with them. But how do they build trust and conviction?
Olina Banerji, December 5, 2023
8 min read

Technology Challenges and Opportunities

Photo of elementary school students using laptops in class.
iStock
Classroom Technology 3 Tips for Using Tech to Meet All 69传媒' Needs
Lauraine Langreo, June 25, 2024
2 min read
Image of digital safety against doxxing and privacy invasion.
Laura Baker/Education Week via Canva
Image shows a glowing futuristic background with lock on digital integrated circuit.
iStock/Getty Images Plus
Privacy & Security Explainer School Cyberattacks, Explained
Alyson Klein, February 11, 2022
12 min read
Sawyer Wendt, a student intern for the Altoona school district鈥檚 IT department, repairs a Chromebook.
Sawyer Wendt, who's been a student intern for the Altoona district's tech department since junior year, is now studying IT software development in college.
Courtesy of Jevin Stangel, IT technician for the Altoona school district
An illustration of a wallpaper of mobile phones, some off, some turned over with stickers on the back covers and some missing with just an outline where they once were.
iStock/Getty
Conceptual illustration of young character looking through the magnifying glass at open laptop Search bar
Nadia Bormotova/iStock + Education Week<br/>
Classroom Technology Opinion 69传媒 Are Easily Duped Online. We Can Teach Them Better
Sam Wineburg, October 17, 2023
4 min read
Illustration of woman teacher vetting artificial intelligence for classroom.
Weiyi Zhu/iStock/Getty
Elementary, Middle, and High-school age children interact with a giant artificial intelligence brain.
Kathleen Fu for Education Week
Artificial Intelligence Download AI Do's and Don'ts for Teachers (Downloadable)
Larry Ferlazzo & Katie Hull Sypnieski, April 25, 2024
1 min read