10 Books That Can Help You Understand Effective Schooling for Children

As a parent or educator, taking time to read compelling books that synthesize educational research can greatly expand your knowledge and perspective on impactful learning approaches. evidence-based practice improves education results and allows you to be a stronger advocate for practices that help children thrive intellectually, socially, and emotionally.

Here are 10 excellent, accessible books to gain a deeper understanding of what constitutes effective, engaging, empowering schooling for kids today:

1. A Mind for Numbers by Dr. Barbara Oakley

This book provides a fascinating dive into the learning techniques and mental frameworks that can help students master math and technical topics, based on cognitive science and neurobiology research. It debunks myths about innate abilities and shows how perseverance and the right mental models can grow skills.

2. How Children Succeed by Paul Tough

Tough make the compelling case that qualities like grit, curiosity, self-control, and resilience are stronger predictors of long-term success than sheer intelligence alone. He highlights important research on the power of non-cognitive skills that allow students to flourish in academics and life.

3. Teaching with the Brain in Mind by Eric Jensen

Jensen clearly explains current brain research on memory, movement, motivation, engagement, and cognition and offers concrete strategies for how teachers can apply this knowledge of neuroscience to improve instruction and learning outcomes. Every application is grounded in the science of how students best acquire new skills and content.

4. Start Where You Are But Don’t Stay There by H. Richard Milner IV

This insightful book examines how diverse factors like race, culture, language, and place strongly influence education. It outlines productive strategies educators can implement to build cultural awareness and responsiveness to reach all learners. Provides an essential equity lens.

5. Math Fact Fluency: 60+ Games and Assessment Tools to Support Learning and Retention by Jennifer Bay-Williams and Gina Kling

The authors offer a wealth of methods and tools grounded in research to develop authentic math fact fluency through problem solving and conceptual understanding. This gives educators an alternative to ineffective rote memorization and stressful timed testing approaches.

6. Lost at School by Dr. Ross Greene

Greene, a psychologist, discusses how students’ behavioral challenges and acting out often reflect lagging cognitive and social-emotional skills, as well as unsolved problems. He advocates collaboratively solving issues with students rather than defaulting to punishment and suspension.

7. Mind in the Making: The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs by Ellen Galinsky

This book outlines the seven key life skills all children need – focus, self-control, perspective-taking, communicating, making connections, critical thinking, and taking on challenges. Galinsky shows how teachers and families can intentionally nurture these cognitive and social-emotional skills through guided play and interaction.

8. Fires in the Mind: What Kids Can Tell Us About Motivation and Mastery by Kathleen Cushman

Cushman interviewed and studied scores of creative, motivated students to closely identify specific practices their most inspiring, effective teachers and schools implemented right to ignite intellectual curiosity, participation, and engagement. Their perspectives inform better teaching.

9. Creative Schools: The Grassroots Revolution That’s Transforming Education by Ken Robinson and Lou Aronica

This inspiring book examines forward-thinking schools that nurture students’ natural curiosity through personalized, project-based learning. The authors showcase innovative models that resist outdated industrial-era schooling to unleash children’s creativity.

10. Other People’s Children: Cultural Conflict in the Classroom by Lisa Delpit

Delpit takes an insightful look at the role unconscious biases and cultural misunderstandings often play in teaching marginalized students and English learners. She offers thoughtful principles and strategies for more authentic, compassionate cross-cultural education.

Amid the busy life of parenting and teaching, making time to learn from scholars who study learning accelerates professional and personal growth.

Let these books spark fresh ideas to keep working toward more motivating, empowering schools where kids love exploring, creating, and making meaning.