Essential books from independent authors that we recommend for educators of all levels. From UDL to working with students who may have learning disabilities, there's something for every teacher on this list.

Humanizing Classroom Management: Restorative Practices and Universal Design for Learning

by Elizabeth Stein

Educator and author Elizabeth Stein offers a thoughtful, useful book on how to integrate restorative practices into the classroom experience to both streamline student behavior and improve engagement and learning. When teachers recognize the "in between spaces" during the day-to-day, those quieter moments of transitions between tasks, they offer students safe, inviting ways to own their learning and participate in an engaged community of learners. By highlighting the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework, Stein's book is both insightful and practical, offering busy educators easy-to-implement strategies to humanize classroom management and improve student learning.

As Elizabeth points out,

"Restorative practices live up to their name: They restore a sense of community and encourage learning together through specific techniques meant to support a sense of belonging, healing, and healthy relationships within the classroom community. Universal Design for Learning also lives up to its name, because it's all-inclusive: It gives every learner the opportunity to feel successful and valued as a member of the classroom community."

Humanizing Classroom Management offers educators inspiring and insightful guidance on how to address challenges of student behavior while also supporting their learning outcomes.

Upskill, Reskill, Thrive: Optimizing Learning and Development in the Workplace

by James McKenna - Kendra Grant

Upskill, Reskill, Thrive: Optimizing Learning and Development in the Workplace offers readers an accessible guide to understanding and applying Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to the workplace. Using exemplars from across sectors and industries, James McKenna highlights how learning and development professionals can redefine the goals of learning in the corporate environment - not only for the benefit of the organization but also, and perhaps more importantly, for the individual.

Upskill, Reskill, Thrive illustrates how to create and sustain learning and work environments that honor and empower individuals in ways that promote knowledge generation and sharing. This book will help L&D educators and corporate leaders motivate their teams from the inside to improve performance and become part of an inclusive culture across an organization.

Embrace, Empower, Educate, and Include

by Salandra Grice

True or false? The continued presence of the racial achievement gap is not merely an indication of how poorly individual students perform but more of an indication of a school's lack of effectiveness in teaching certain students. Depending on how one answers the previous question ultimately depends on one's understanding of the importance of equity-based and culturally responsive practices in the classroom.

As K-12 schools continue to grow increasingly diverse, many teachers and schools struggle with supporting the academic, social, and emotional needs of the culturally and linguistically diverse students they serve. Much of this struggle comes from a lack of understanding of the goals and aims of equity in education. As misinformation mounts about the causes and implications of the continued inequities experienced by historically marginalized students, teachers and school leaders need sound, research-based, and practical knowledge about concepts and principles which reverse these trends and best support the academic and social needs of every learner.

Embrace, Empower, Educate, and Include provides educators with ready-to-implement and transformative principles grounded in culturally responsive and equity-focused pedagogies and practices. Full of resources and real-life examples of equitable practices that work, this book is a must-have for every educator in today's classrooms and schools! These four principles: embrace, empower, educate, and include, which are foundational in supporting equitable and culturally responsive teaching practices are what every educator needs to create learning environments that elevate the learning experiences of every student, every day!

Power Cards: Using Interests and Enthusiasms to Teach Social Problem Solving and Emotional Regulation Skills to Autistic Students

by Elisa Gagnon - Lou Wisniewski

Unlock the potential of your autistic students with "Power Cards: Using Interests and Enthusiasms to Teach Social Problem Solving and Emotional Regulation Skills."

This invaluable resource is designed for dedicated teachers and caring parents seeking effective strategies to empower children and adolescents who grapple with social misunderstandings and emotional regulation challenges. The Power Card Strategy is a game-changer, harnessing the magic of a child's interests and passions to inspire them to tackle the complexities of social interaction and problem-solving with newfound confidence.

In "Power Cards," you'll discover a motivational strategy that speaks to the heart of kids who may be struggling with behavioral issues, socialization difficulties, or self-regulation. We introduce a compelling storytelling approach that weaves your child's favorite character into a journey of growth and triumph. Imagine Mickey, that beloved character, facing and conquering the very challenges your child encounters daily. Through the art of bibliotherapy, we use relatable stories to help children navigate the complex terrain of social and emotional development.

Why "Power Cards" Works: Regardless of the unique needs of your child or student, this book offers a transformative approach to social and emotional growth. Perfectly suited for special education settings and for those on the autism spectrum, "Power Cards" instills essential skills such as emotional regulation, self-management, relaxation techniques, and co-regulation. Join us on a journey where your child's interests become the catalyst for building lifelong social and emotional intelligence. Equip yourself with this powerful tool today and watch as your child or student gains the confidence to overcome challenges and flourish in a world of endless possibilities.

Empower your child's journey to social success with "Power Cards" - the key to unlocking their full potential.

Universal Design for Learning in English Language Arts: Improving Literacy Instruction Through Inclusive Practices

by Katie Novak - Ryan Hinkle - Brianne Parker

In this latest addition to Katie Novak's UDL Now! series, Novak has teamed up with literacy experts Ryan Hinkle, Brianne Parker, Jina Poirier, and Anne Wolff to offer educators an insightful, practical resource that shows how to integrate Universal Design for Learning in the ELA classroom to build rich, collaborative, engaging literacy environments.

By focusing on the established domains of literacy, including reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language and vocabulary development, this book shows K-12 teachers how to engage students of diverse needs and backgrounds and explore the connections between social emotional learning, character education, and deeper understanding of literacy.

Educators will learn how ELA classrooms provide a unique opportunity to explore the human experience through literature, writing, and communication and discover strategies for selecting texts that appeal to all learners; developing inclusive writing prompts; and offering authentic assessment opportunities. The practices can be used in classrooms preK-12, in college and careers, and in professional learning.

Katie Novak, EdD, is an internationally renowned educational consultant, adjunct instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, best-selling author, and founder of Novak Educational Consulting. Ryan Hinkle, MA, Brianne Parker, MEd, Jina Poirier, MEd, and Anne Wolff, MEd, are educators in the Orange County Department of Education in California.

Incredible 5-Point Scale

by Kari Dunn Buron - Mitzi Curtis

The Incredible 5-Point Scale has sold hundreds of thousands of copies worldwide and has been used by educators, psychologists, therapists and parents to teach the social and emotional concepts needed for successful social interaction and emotional regulation.

In this revised edition, readers will benefit from work done with the scales over the past 20 years. These refinements now include new scales specifically designed for two groups of individuals: young children and those with more classic presentations of autism, including expanded use of the Anxiety Curve.

This much-awaited, revised edition includes:

A new section expanding on the usage of the Anxiety Curve Model
Supplemental information for its use with special educational teams
Expanded information about diverse student populations
Examples of scales are included showing usage with young children and those with limited communication skills
Examples illustrate scales used with elementary school age children, adolescents and young adults
Goals and objectives for using the scale in an IEP

As in their other writings, the authors emphasize the importance of self-management and self-regulation, two evidence-based practices. Free online downloadable content from the author's website includes blank scales, small portable scales and worksheets for easy duplication.

Buy now to start implementing the 5-Point Scale in your classroom or home today!

Hacking School Discipline: 9 Ways to Create a Culture of Empathy and Responsibility Using Restorative Justice

by Nathan Maynard - Brad Weinstein

Eliminate old-school punishments and create a community of responsible, productive learners

Are you or your teachers frustrated with carrots and sticks, detention rooms, and suspension--antiquated school discipline practices that simply do not work with the students entering our classrooms today? Our kids have complex needs, and we must empower and embrace them with restorative practices that not only change behaviors but transform students into productive citizens, accountable for their own actions.

Replace traditional school discipline with a proven system, founded on restorative justice

In a book that should become your new blueprint for school discipline, teachers, presenters, and school leaders Nathan Maynard and Brad Weinstein demonstrate how to eliminate punishment and build a culture of responsible students and independent learners. In Hack Learning Series Book 22, you learn to:

Reduce repeated negative behaviors
Build student self-regulation and empathy
Enhance communication and collaboration
Identify the true cause of negative behaviors
Use restorative circles to reflect on behaviors and discuss impactful change

"Maynard and Weinstein provide practical tips and strategies in the context of real-world examples, guided by the imperatives of changing the behavior and preserving the relationship. An important read for teachers and administrators." -Danny Steele, award-winning principal and co-author of Essential Truths for Principals and Essential Truths for Teachers

Before you suspend another student ...

read Hacking School Discipline, and build a school environment that promotes responsible learners, who never need to be punished. Then watch learning soar, teachers smile, and your entire community rejoice.

Ruthless Equity: Disrupt the Status Quo and Ensure Learning for All Students

by Ken Williams

CAN YOU IMAGINE:

working with super-charged confidence because you have clarity about how to ensure equity for EVERY student?
leveraging equitable practices that will make student achievement both measurable and predictable?
never again wondering if you make a difference, because you now understand you are the difference?

IF YOU ANSWERED "YES" TO ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS, THEN YOU NEED...

RUTHLESS EQUITY

In this powerful, unvarnished examination of the internal obstacles to providing genuine equal opportunities for every student, bestselling author Ken Williams shows readers how to identify and defeat the enemy of equity by unlocking these barriers.

RUTHLESS EQUITY is a provocative, empowering coach and guide guaranteed to galvanize every educator who dreams of being an equity warrior who delivers learning, excellence and achievement for ALL students, regardless of background.

Hacking Leadership: 10 Ways Great Leaders Inspire Learning That Teachers, Students, and Parents Love

by Joe Sanfelippo - Tony Sinanis

The best leaders lead from the middle

When school leaders join teachers, students, and parents in a collaborative effort to improve teaching and learning, achievement soars and schools turn into vibrant communities, filled with enthusiastic members.

Teaching and learning feel too much like work

With constant emphasis on higher test scores and teacher accountability, it's easy for schools to become places filled with stress and despair, making teachers dread going to work and students disdain lessons and activities.

It's time to bring fun back to school

In Hacking Leadership, award-winning school administrators Joe Sanfelippo and Tony Sinanis demonstrate how to increase learning by leaving the office and engaging directly with all teachers and learners. They identify 10 problems with school leadership and provide dynamic, right-now solutions. During this exciting journey toward change, you learn how to:

Transform yourself from leader to Lead Learner
Amplify individual staff needs while maintaining a collaborative vision
Employ unique strategies to break down the walls between home and school
Empower students and staff to own their space
Create a culture where "Yes" and "Trust" are the default
Eliminate initiative overload while encouraging teachers to lead, as well
Broadcast student voice
Bring passion into your school
Embrace technology and social channels in ways rarely considered in education
Eradicate your deficit mindset

What makes Hacking Leadership different?

Sanfelippo and Sinanis present leadership strategies in ways few people have ever seen. These experienced, thoughtful, decisive leaders, share amazing, real anecdotes that make you feel like you're listening to trusted friends sitting in your living room. Then, they provide progressive, courageous, and practical solutions that you and all stakeholders will love, using the popular Hack Learning formula:

The Problem (a single leadership issue that needs a Hacker's mentality)
The Hack (a surprisingly easy solution that you've likely never considered)
What You Can Do Tomorrow (no waiting necessary; you can lead from the middle immediately)
Blueprint for Full Implementation (a step-by-step action plan for capacity building)
The Hack in Action (yes, people have actually done this)

Are you ready to Hack Leadership

Grab your copy today.

Language Lens for Content Classrooms (2nd Edition): A Guidebook for Teachers, Coaches & Leaders

by Sarah Ottow

Equity-based mindsets + language & literacy practices in ALL classrooms.

Sarah Bernadette Ottow has spent over 20 years supporting schools and organizations with her Language Lens(R) approach that improves the learning experience of every student.

The Language Lens for Content Classrooms: A Guidebook for Teachers, Coaches & Leaders (2nd ed.) is the starting point for any educator, including coaches and leaders, of Academic Language Learners (ALLs) and Multilingual Learners (MLLs) in today's diverse schools.

Ideas to invest in all students' identities
Strategies to boost the learning of all students through speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills across the curriculum
Tips to support student ownership in their academic success and, ultimately, their career, college, workplace, and life readiness!

This best-selling guidebook, originally published in 2019, has been updated with information for coaches and leaders plus how the Covid-19 pandemic has reshaped our schools.

This timely book provides a host of highly practical insights for addressing one of our most important challenges faced by educators striving to meet the academic and sociolinguistic needs of all students: cultivating the powerful symbiosis of language development and content learning.- Jeff Zwiers, Stanford University

As an ESL student who now sits in the superintendent's office, I appreciate the book's conscious effort to move practitioners to getting to know their students culturally and linguistically, while providing a very comprehensive set of competencies that support language learners in content classrooms. The stories of students' language learning journeys bring this work to life and the added bonuses of links to many other resources make this book a must have for anyone interested in building a multilingual community. - Victor F. Capellan, Former Superintendent

I highly recommend this book because it's so clearly written and absolutely full of useful information. I can sit down for ten minutes and come away with an understanding I can apply right away. When I'm working with a teacher, I can open up The Language Lens and easily find a tool, explanation, or diagram that applies to almost any situation or concern brought to my attention. This is what I need from professional development! Julia Jeffers, EL Coordinator

Through putting into practice Ottow's "Language Lens" for observing instruction, our building leaders have become stronger instructional leaders by not only being more in tune for what to look for but being able to provide impactful next steps to teachers. What started as learning new strategies to assist with English Language Learner instruction has morphed into providing all staff with key "all language learner" strategies that are extremely effective across all content areas and for teaching all students. We have been able to provide our staff with not only extremely clear instructional improvement points but also very clear support materials that are easily incorporated into their daily lesson plans. -Alex Naumann, Principal

UDL Now!: A Teacher's Guide to Applying Universal Design for Learning

by Katie Novak - George Couros

In the third edition of UDL Now!, Katie Novak provides practical insights and savvy strategies for helping all learners succeed in a post-pandemic world using the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL).

This powerful guide for educators covers timely topics including:

Supporting UDL within multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS)
UDL in the service of equity
Recruiting and engaging learners as UDL partners
How UDL and Differentiated Instruction (DI) work together
The role of student choice and voice
What learning expertise really means
Preparing for standardized assessments the UDL way

Novak presents examples throughout the book to make the content relevant and digestible. She concludes each chapter with reflection questions to help teachers apply key concepts to their work.UDL Now! is a fun and effective playbook for great teaching.

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