EdWeek's Back-to-School Reading List
50+ Must Reads to Help You Start the 2026-27 Year Right
Update date: August 5, 2026
As the much-deserved summer break comes to a close, it’s 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 words of wisdom from a teacher for other teachers to how principals can make faculty meetings more valuable than an email to how to cut down on screen time in 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.
Browse by topic:
Teaching
Opinion
How I Revived My Classroom Culture for the Price of a Lobster Dinner
What began as a running joke injected real energy back into my classroom culture.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
I Don't Have to Love My Students to Be a Good Teacher
Treat teachers like the professionals we are rather than expecting endless and selfless sacrifice, writes one educator.
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.
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.
Teaching Profession
This Teacher Is in Her 64th Year in the Classroom. She Has No Plans to Quit
Martha Strever has, in some cases, taught three generations of students from the same family.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
What Makes an Inspiring and Passionate Teacher?
How one teacher inspired a young student to see himself as a reader, a learner, and a future educator.
Teaching Profession
Teaching Is Hard. Why Teachers Love It Anyway
Teachers share their favorite parts of the job.
Teaching
Opinion
6 Words of Wisdom From Teachers for Teachers
Teachers dish on what makes them better at their jobs.
School & District Management
Opinion
Embrace the Struggle: How I Find Joy as an Educator
Many of the most meaningful moments in my career started with a difficult conversation.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Inside a School Where Creative Writing Helps Teens Cope With Trauma
Students in a class taught by Emily Torres have significant trauma, mental health challenges, or both.
Teaching
What's the Ideal Classroom Seating Arrangement? Teachers Weigh In
Educators employ different seating strategies to optimize student learning.
Teaching
Video
Flexible Seating Without the Chaos. This Teacher Has Figured It Out
This 4th grade class utilizes 11 different types of flexible seating to keep them moving throughout the day.
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.
Teaching
Older Students Deserve Colorful Classrooms, Too
Three teachers share how they set up their classrooms to welcome, soothe, and engage their older students.
Student Well-Being & Movement
From Our Research Center
Many Classrooms Lack Natural Light. Teachers Say That’s a Problem
Natural light is vital to the mental and physical health of students and teachers.
Teaching
Opinion
Try These Teacher-Endorsed Strategies for Social-Emotional Learning
Social-emotional learning is the heart and soul of teaching and learning and of how we develop as humans.
Teaching
How to Give Students More Agency in Class Without Losing Control
Six takeaways for teachers who want to give students more control over their learning without inviting disaster.
Science
From Our Research Center
Want to Motivate Students in STEM? The Way You Explain Things Matters
How teachers explain tricky math and science concepts can affect students' motivation in their STEM classes.
Curriculum
Outdoor Learning: The Ultimate Student Engagement Hack?
Outdoor learning offers a host of evidence-based benefits for students. One Virginia school serves as an example how.
Teaching
Video
Make Learning ‘Binge-Worthy’: Immersive Adventures in the Classroom
This district leader explains how teachers can increase student engagement by incorporating immersive adventures into their lessons.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Download
Activate the Classroom: Tips for Incorporating Movement (DOWNLOADABLE)
Integrating movement into the classroom boosts learning, focus, and well being. Thry these strategies to get students active and engaged.
Mathematics
4 Research-Backed Tips for Mastering Math Facts
A new review of research offers evidence-based recommendations for classroom practice.
Reading & Literacy
Opinion
Yes, Small-Group Reading Instruction Works. But Use It Wisely
When is the best time to use the approach over whole-class literacy instruction?
Reading & Literacy
These Teachers Have Their Students Read Multiple Novels a Year. How They Do It
Making time for reading, checking for understanding, and presenting works in context are top priorities.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Want Students to Be Resilient? Try Asking Them to Fail
Educators hope exposing students to controlled failures can help them avoid perfectionism and tackle academic challenges.
Teaching
Opinion
I Changed What Differentiation Means in My Classroom. Here’s How
The strategies that I first introduced for multilingual students ended up helping all my students succeed.
Teaching
Opinion
How I Designed a Life-Skills Class at My School—And Why You Should, Too
Want to engage students? Teach them the skills they want to learn. Here’s how to get started.
Families & the Community
These Schools Let Students Lead Parent-Teacher Conferences—With Big Results
Conferences that put the student in the driver's seat can produce positive results.
Teaching
Opinion
Want to Up Your Teaching Game? Listen to These Students
Students explain what makes them feel connected to their teachers and learning.
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’ fears.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Download
The Power of Student-Teacher Relationships: A Downloadable Guide
Understanding student cues and responding appropriately can help teachers manage difficult student behavior.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
Dear White Teachers: You Can't Love Your Black Students If You Don't Know Them
It isn't enough to "love all students," writes the University of Georgia's Bettina L. Love.
Teaching
A Teacher Asked and Students Answered: What Motivates You to Learn?
Motivation is a key part of learning. But what sparks students’ motivation can be elusive.
Teaching
Opinion
Better Classroom Management Can't Wait. How to Make Changes Now
The three “truths” about managing student behavior that every teacher should unlearn today.
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.
Teaching
Download
Teachers, Here's How to Build Stronger Relationships With Boys (Downloadable)
Boys are relational learners, experts say. Here are eight key strategies for how to reach them.
School Climate & Safety
Video
VIDEO: How Schools Can Harness the Power of Relationships
A look at the benefits of building strong student relationships, and some ways to create those bonds.
School & District Management
Opinion
'When Are You Coming to Read to Our Class?': How a Principal Makes Time for Joy
When this elementary school leader began scheduling read-alouds, he noticed an immediate change.
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.
School & District Management
A Principal Publicly Thanked Each Staff Member. Here’s What Happened
Each November, this principal personally thanks every employee, from teachers to cafeteria workers.
School & District Management
Opinion
3 Simple Ways to Celebrate the Great Work Happening in Your School
This principal is trying to tap into intrinsic motivators rather than just bringing another box of donuts.
School & District Management
Opinion
How to Let Your Values Guide You as a School Leader
Has your “why” become fuzzy? Here are four steps to keep principals motivated and moving forward.
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.
School & District Management
When Principals Listen to Students, Schools Can Change
Three school leaders weigh in on different ways they've channeled student voices help reimagine schools.
Professional Development
Three Ways Principals Are Reinventing Professional Development
Give teachers more ownership over their learning, say principals.
Professional Development
Opinion
5 Ways to Make Your Faculty Meetings More Valuable Than an Email
As a principal, I've tried to improve the faculty meetings I once dreaded as a teacher.
School & District Management
What the Research Says
How These Schools Doubled Teacher Planning Time
A California pilot program adjusted school schedules to give teachers more time.
School & District Management
Opinion
If We Want Teachers to Stay, Principals Must Lead Differently
Here are three ways school leaders can make teaching feel more sustainable.
