7 Books that EVERY Teacher Should Read (2025)

Are you an elementary teacher looking for some books to enrich your career? You’re in the right place.

These books are not the typical books that are recommended by the school administration or the board. They are not classroom management books, or about teaching specifically – rather, they’re books that will enrich and deepen your understanding of things you deal with each day.

These books will enhance your expertise as a teacher by:

• teach you some surprising facts about education
• deepening your understanding of child psychology, learning and potential
• strengthening your abilities as a leader and mentor
• (possibly) shift your values in terms of what you think is important

Having worked as a teacher for nearly 10 years, I’m also an avid reader and read 5-6 books every month.

These are so fascinating and enjoyable to read, that you will be inclined to take notes, even if you aren’t usually a note-taker. These books would also work well for a staff book club.

So, let’s jump in – books to put on your reading list if you’re a teacher!

Book that Every Elementary Teacher Should Read

1. Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things

By: Adam Grant
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.6)

Hidden Potential is one of the most fascinating books I’ve ever read. Psychologist Adam Grant talks about what we’ve been missing (as leaders, teachers, business owners) when it comes to assessing the potential in people that we teach, hire or lead.

Topics like growth mindset, failure, leadership and mediocracy are discussed – it’s so fascinating and mindblowing; a must for anyone working in education.

2. The Smartest Kids in the World: And How They Got That Way

By: Amanda Ripley
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5)

The Smartest Kids in the World is about an observation of three American exchange students who lived in Poland, Finland and South Korea for a year- three countries where students score significantly higher on the PISA.

The book discusses the reasons behind why are kids on the other side of the world (from North America) are harder working, more intrinsically motivated and cope with failure better.

3. What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing

By: Oprah Winfrey, Dr. Bruce Perry
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.7)

Hardly anyone will get out of life without going through some trauma. Many of us experience long-lasting scars in childhood What Happened to You? discusses trauma and how it impacts people for the rest of their lives.

It helped me understand my own trauma – but it was also very relevant in helping me understand how it impacted students that I’d taught in the past as well.

4. The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness

By: Johnathan Haidt
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.7)

The Anxious Generation will help you understand how technology access from a young age impacts young minds – specifically, pre-teens and teenagers.

The author, a psychologist, is highly against cellphones in classrooms and will explain why. I would say this is a must if you teach the older grades!

5. Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High

By: Joseph Grenny, and Kerry Patterson
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.7)

Crucial Conversations is a book that teaches you to have tough conversations.

It was a helpful book for me to read in admist of not having a great relationship with my admin at the time. It would also be beneficial for dealing with difficult parents or having any other conversations that have the potential to get heated.

6. There’s No Such Thing As Bad Weather

By: Linda Åkeson McGurk
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.7)

There’s No Such Thing As Bad Weather was written by a Swedish American mom who experiences culture shock about how the relationship between kids and the outdoors and how its handled in schools in North America.

She does a lot of research and presents fascinating findings about the benefits of spending time outside. It will make you think differently about ‘indoor recesses’ when it’s raining, and will make you want to take more of your education outside.

7. Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City

By: Matthews Desmond
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.6)

If you’re a US-based teacher, then Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City is a relevant read to understand poverty, how it impacts families – but also know the behind the scnes of the laws stacked against them.

It would be useful for understanding the workings behind ‘the system’ and how that may play into the lives of some of your students.