Looking for the best classroom management books to read? You’ve come to the right place!
As a new teacher, stepping into the classroom for the first time can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. One of the biggest challenges that new educators face is classroom management. You’ll likely catch yourself thinking “They didn’t teach me THIS in college”
Establishing a well-managed and positive learning environment is crucial for student success and overall teacher satisfaction. Although I do believe classroom management gets easier with time and experience, there are some helpful books to read that can expedite this process.
I’ve compiled a list of the top 19 classroom management books that offer valuable insights, practical strategies, and real-life examples.
Classroom Management Books to add to your list
You are of course not expected to read all of the following classroom management books. That would be extremely time-consuming and likely very overwhelming. I have provided a brief synopsis of each book as well as who the book may be helpful for. This way, you can focus on one book each year depending on where you see the most need.
For actual proceures to teach your students, this blog post will give you ideas for classroom management systems to put in place.
The First Six Weeks of School
by Paula Denton and Roxann Kriete
This book was one of the very first books I read and was truly game-changing for me. It focuses on setting a strong foundation during the first six weeks of school. It provides step-by-step guidance to help new teachers create a positive classroom culture and establish clear expectations for behavior and learning.
Who it will help: This book is particularly beneficial for new teachers aiming to set a strong foundation for their WHOLE class at the beginning of the academic year. It’s great for teachers who are willing to put in the work before the school year starts with the ultimate goal of autonomy for their students.
Lost at School
by Ross W. Greene
“Lost at School” explores how to address challenging behaviors and foster positive relationships with students. The book offers collaborative problem-solving techniques to better understand and support students who struggle with behavioral issues.
Who it will help: If you’ve ever questioned the effectiveness of suspensions, detentions, and principal’s office visits, this will be a great read! It’s helpful for first-year and veteran teachers who are feeling frustrated, defeated, or at a loss when helping students who display challenging behaviors. The author does a great job “why” behind certain behaviors and explaining a concrete strategy to implement.
Better than Carrots or Sticks
by Dominique Smith, Douglas Fisher, and Nancy Frey
This book advocates for a more compassionate and proactive approach to discipline. It provides alternatives to traditional punishment methods and emphasizes the importance of building strong connections with students.Who it will help: Teachers looking for alternative approaches to traditional disciplinary methods (beyond rewards and punishments) will find this book valuable. It is particularly helpful for educators who wish to build positive teacher-student relationships and foster intrinsic motivation in students.
What Great Teachers Do Differently
by Todd Whitaker
While not solely focused on classroom management, this book provides valuable insights into what effective teachers do to create an engaging and orderly classroom environment. As we all know, when students are engaged, challenging and disruptive behaviors decrease.
Who it will help: This book is great for any teachers who want to revamp their teaching strategies, lesson planning, and overall classroom management. It’s a quick and easy read and can provide some encouragement and reaffirm why you became a teacher in the first place.
The Miracle Morning
by Hal Elrod, Honoree Corder, and Natalie Janji
I LOVE a good structured morning routine. This book introduces a morning routine that empowers teachers to start their day positively and efficiently, which can positively impact classroom management. Who doesn’t like to start their morning on a high note?
Who it will help: This book is perfect for teachers who struggle with time management and want to start their days positively and productively. If you (or your students) have been struggling with growth mindset or negativity, the routine discussed in the book can be life-changing!
Teach Like a Champion
by Doug Lemov“Teach Like a Champion” offers practical techniques and strategies for engaging students and maintaining a productive learning atmosphere.Who it will help: This book is a valuable resource for new teachers who want practical, actionable strategies to engage students and maintain a well-managed classroom. However, it can be a bit overwhelming as there are 63 different strategies throughout the book. It’s best for a teacher who is completely invested and has some extra time to devote to learning.
Buy “Teach Like a Champion” on Amazon
Running the Room
by Tom DeMar and Timothy Waters
This classroom management book presents effective strategies to manage and prevent disruptive behavior, ensuring a focused and cooperative learning environment. It views behavior as a curriculum and gives actionable steps setting up a classroom management system that works.
Who it will help: “Running in the Room” will help new teachers who face challenges in managing student behavior and preventing disruptions. It offers specific tactics and techniques to maintain a focused and cooperative learning environment. It’s great for teachers who struggle in classroom management as a whole.
Teach Like a Pirate
by Dave Burgess
With a focus on creativity and passion, this book offers unconventional yet effective methods to capture students’ attention and maintain their engagement.
Who it will help: Although it could be helpful for a first-year teacher, I believe it’s especially helpful for a teacher who is on the verge of burnout and is looking for a positive change. This book is perfect for teachers who want to infuse creativity, enthusiasm, and passion into their teaching style.
Beyond Discipline
by Alfie Kohn
“Beyond Discipline” challenges traditional approaches to discipline and offers alternatives that prioritize intrinsic motivation and student autonomy.
Who it will help: Teachers seeking an alternative to traditional discipline methods will benefit from this book. It emphasizes fostering intrinsic motivation in students and promoting responsible decision-making. It is a formal read that has been around since 1996!
Lost and Found
by Ross W. GreeneAnother excellent book by Ross W. Greene, “Lost and Found” emphasizes the importance of identifying and addressing the underlying causes of students’ challenging behavior. It includes more technical tips than “Lost at School” as well as true stories from teachers implementing the strategies.
Who it will help: If you found Greene’s first book, “Lost at School” helpful, this book will help solidify the strategies. It’s particularly helpful for teachers dealing with students who exhibit chronic challenging behaviors
The First Days of School
by Harry K. Wong and Rosemary T. Wong
A classic read for new teachers, this book offers comprehensive advice on creating an organized, efficient, and respectful classroom from the very beginning. I found this one to be an extremely beneficial read the summer before my first year of teaching. I entered my first day of school feeling much more confident having read it.
Who it will help: This classroom management book is a must-read for new teachers who want to establish a well-managed, efficient, and respectful classroom from day one of the school year. It’s great for setting up a whole-group management system BEFORE the school year begins.
The Power of Our Words
by Paula DentonAlthough we are all, of course, aware that our words hold a lot of power, the book, “The Power of Our Words” is truly eye-opening. It explores how language and communication impact classroom management and student behavior.Who it will help: Teachers who recognize the importance of effective communication in classroom management and wish to create a positive and supportive learning environment will benefit from this book.
The Classroom Management Book
by Harry K. Wong and Rosemary T. Wong
Another gem by the Wongs, this book provides practical strategies and techniques to establish a well-managed classroom.
Who it will help: New and seasoned teachers seeking additional help with whole-group management. This book is great for anyone looking for a more black-and-white approach as it gives 50 procedures that can be applied immediately.
Buy “The Classroom Management Book” on Amazon
Take Control of the Noisy Class
by Rob Plevin
This book offers specific tactics to manage noise and disruptions in the classroom effectively. Isn’t it every teacher’s dream to have a calm and on-task class?
Who it will help: New teachers struggling with managing noise and disruptions in the classroom will find this book helpful. It offers specific approaches to create a calmer and more focused learning environment.
Hacking Classroom Management
by Mike RobertsFilled with innovative ideas, this book offers “hacks” to improve classroom management and increase student engagement.Who it will help: “Hacking Classroom Management” is great for teachers looking for quick and not overwhelming read. Roberts delivers just 10 hacks throughout the book in a fun and creative way that can be implemented immediately.
Buy “Hacking Classroom Management” on Amazon
From Behaving to Belonging
by Dr. Luis Hernandez Jr.This book explores strategies to create a classroom culture where students feel a sense of belonging and ownership which will then lead to a reduction of behavior problems.
Who it will help: This book is particularly beneficial for teachers who are looking for an alternative (and very positive) way to manage behavior. The book does a great job of giving practical tips as well as diving into the “whys” of certain behaviors.
Buy “From Behaving to Belonging” on Amazon
Real Talk (About Classroom Management)
by Serena Pariser
As the name suggests, this book provides honest and practical advice on handling real-life classroom management challenges.
Who it will help: Teachers seeking candid and practical tips on handling real-life classroom management challenges will love this book. Pariser does a great job at writing in a relatable and inspirational way while mixing traditional and alternative practices.
Morning Meeting and Closing Circles
by Leah KuyperFocused on building community and connections, this book offers guidance on using morning meetings and closing circles for effective classroom management.
Who it will help: This book will help teachers who find the beginning or end of the day to be a bit hectic. It’s great for teachers who want to start making classroom management changes a little at a time.
Whole Brain Teaching for Challenging Kids
by Chris Biffle
And last but certainly not least, “Whole Brain Teaching for Challenge Kids” employs a whole-brain approach to engage challenging students and improve their behavior and learning outcomes.Who it will help: ANY teacher looking to incorporate more Whole Brain Teaching Strategies throughout their day. Especially those with students with challenging behaviors.
By reading and implementing the strategies from these books, new teachers can gain the confidence and skills needed to manage their classrooms successfully. As always, give yourself grace (it will get better with time) and never be afraid to reach out for help!
Do you have a favorite classroom management book that I missed? Let me know in the comments below!
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