books for education majors

Suggestions

5 Must-Read Books for Every Education Major

If you’re an education major, teaching becomes a central part of your life. Getting into the classroom is one of the best ways to learn about teaching, and there are many insightful books that can help you along the way.

As teaching is a field that is constantly changing, staying up to date is important. Many college programs stress the importance of reading trade books, listening to education podcasts, taking teacher’s aide courses and keeping up with the political side of education, but it is just as important to hear first-hand stories from real teachers.

The five titles below are must-reads and can inspire young teachers to learn more about the field of education. Although these books are based in education, they are great reads for everyone, especially those who attended public schools.

1. “Educating Esmé: Diary of a Teacher’s First Year” by Esmé Raji Codell

Every education major has their student-teaching experience and the image of their first classroom in the back of their mind. At times, the idea of being alone in the classroom with 25 students might seem daunting.

“Educating Esmé: Diary of a Teacher’s First Year” offers an amazing glimpse into the first year of Esmé Codell, a fiery and independent teacher. Even when her principal and administrators wouldn’t cooperate, Codell approaches her job with excitement and ambition.

Her hard work pays off, as readers get to see her students grow tremendously throughout the book. Told in a diary format, readers get a behind-the-scenes look at how Esmé handles the highs and lows of her first year. With no shortage of touching as well as hair-pulling moments, the work is a great first dive into books about teaching. Codell provides great ideas to include in your own classroom and lessons on how to be yourself in front of a class.

2. “The Children in Room E4” by Susan Eaton

I believe “The Children in Room E4” should be required reading for not only every education major, but everyone who has ever attended a public school. Eaton tackles the issues of urban education and school segregation by highlighting the Sheff vs. O’Neill legal case in Hartford, Connecticut. Readers get to see the case from its struggling start, getting to know each of the players that work to make this de facto segregation case a reality.

Eaton also follows Ms. Luddy, an incredible urban educator in Hartford and her student, Jeremy. Readers are able to see Jeremy’s home life , Ms. Luddy’s teaching strategies and the entire class’s performance, which makes this book a true winner.

By combining both the legal and historical elements of segregation in schools with real classroom experiences of teachers and students, the book offers insight to urban education from all angles. Whether or not you intend on teaching in an urban area, this book shows readers how our school system promotes inequality , and what we can do to change it.

3. “Because of Mr. Terupt” by Rob Buyea

“Because of Mr. Terupt” is a work of fiction and should be read by every elementary education major. It is also a great addition to a classroom library for older elementary and middle school students. Written from the perspective of seven students at Snow Hill School, the book demonstrates how the energy and love of one teacher can profoundly impact students.

By highlighting the difficulties that each student faces in their personal lives while still focusing on the classroom, Buyea portrays the heart of every teacher’s mission — to help  students succeed in and out of the classroom. This book will make you cry for the students’ pain, revel in their successes and smile with hope for each of the amazing characters.

Although the work is fictional, it is just as impactful as the non-fiction stories on this list. The characters might not be real, but the struggles of the characters mirror those of real students that might be in your classroom.

4. “And Still We Rise: The Trials and Triumphs of Twelve Gifted Inner-Students” by Miles Corwin

Following 12 high school seniors in south-central Los Angeles, “And Still We Rise: The Trials and Triumphs of Twelve Gifted Inner-Students” has no shortage of show-stopping moments. With two English teachers at odds and a line of students doing their best to simply eat and sleep, this book shows the challenges of both teaching and learning.

The students in the book are unique, each with a backstory more harrowing and traumatic than the last. Seeing how different teachers and administrators deal with the students’ difficult home lives informs education majors of both good and bad teaching practices. Readers will undoubtedly find themselves crying for and caring for these amazing students by the end of the book.

With a background in reporting, Corwin presents the story as is, with little dramatic flair, because these stories don’t need any exaggeration. With California’s banning of Affirmative Action acting as the backdrop for the stories, the struggles of college acceptance and scholarship searches are at the forefront of the book.

5. “Losing My Faculties: A Teacher’s Story” by Brendan Halpin

Halpin shows readers his journey beyond the first year of teaching. The author gives an in-depth look at a variety of schools and administrators that challenge his teaching. Although not every situation is a good fit for Halpin, readers get to see him figure out what he wants for both himself and his students.

There is no sugarcoating in Halpin’s style, and he is unafraid to show times where he might not have been at his best. Education majors need to pick up this book to remind themselves that teachers are still people who make mistakes and sometimes lose their control.

Most books about teaching feature amazing teachers that beat the odds and overcome huge challenges, which romanticizes what teachers do every day. Halpin brings readers back to reality, portraying a teacher at his strongest and weakest moments.

• And Still We Rise: The Trials and Triumphs of Twelve Gifted Inner-Students
• Because of Mr. Terupt
• Brendan Halpin
• Educating Esmé: Diary of a Teacher’s First Year
• education majors
• Esmé Raji Codell
• Losing My Faculties: A Teacher’s Story
• Miles Corwin
• Susan Eaton
• The Children in Room E4

Kathryn Milschewski, Carthage College

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School's out

A critical take on education and schooling

The 50 great books on education

Professor of Education, University of Derby

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I have often argued that I would not let any teacher into a school unless – as a minimum – they had read, carefully and well, the three great books on education: Plato’s Republic, Rousseau’s Émile and Dewey’s Democracy and Education. There would be no instrumental purpose in this, but the struggle to understand these books and the thinking involved in understanding them would change teachers and ultimately teaching.

These are the three great books because each is sociologically whole. They each present a description and arguments for an education for a particular and better society. You do not have to agree with these authors. Plato’s tripartite education for a just society ruled over by philosopher kings; Rousseau’s education through nature to establish the social contract and Dewey’s relevant, problem-solving democratic education for a democratic society can all be criticised. That is not the point. The point is to understand these great works. They constitute the intellectual background to any informed discussion of education.

What of more modern works? I used to recommend the “blistering indictment” of the flight from traditional liberal education that is Melanie Phillips’s All Must Have Prizes, to be read alongside Tom Bentley’s Learning Beyond the Classroom: Education for a Changing World, which is a defence of a wider view of learning for the “learning age”. These two books defined the debate in the 1990s between traditional education by authoritative teachers and its rejection in favour of a new learning in partnership with students.

Much time and money is spent on teacher training and continuing professional development and much of it is wasted. A cheaper and better way of giving student teachers and in-service teachers an understanding of education would be to get them to read the 50 great works on education.

The books I have identified, with the help of members of the Institute of Ideas’ Education Forum, teachers and colleagues at several universities, constitute an attempt at an education “canon”.

What are “out” of my list are textbooks and guides to classroom practice. What are also “out” are novels and plays. But there are some great literary works that should be read by every teacher: Charles Dicken’s Hard Times – for Gradgrind’s now much-needed celebration of facts; D. H. Lawrence’s The Rainbow – for Ursula Brangwen’s struggle against her early child-centred idealism in the reality of St Philips School; and Alan Bennett’s The History Boys – for Hector’s role as the subversive teacher committed to knowledge.

I hope I have produced a list of books, displayed here in alphabetical order, that are held to be important by today’s teachers. I make no apology for including the book I wrote with Kathryn Ecclestone, The Dangerous Rise of Therapeutic Education because it is an influential critical work that has produced considerable controversy. If you disagree with this, or any other of my choices, please add your alternative “canonical” books on education.

Michael W. Apple – Official Knowledge: Democratic Education in a Conservative Age (1993)

Hannah Arendt – Between Past and Future (1961), for the essay “The Crisis in Education” (1958)

Matthew Arnold – Culture and Anarchy (1867-9)

Robin Barrow – Giving Teaching Back to the Teachers (1984)

Tom Bentley – Learning Beyond The Classroom: Education for a Changing World (1998)

Allan Bloom – The Closing of the American Mind: How Higher Education Has Failed Democracy and Impoverished the Souls of Today’s Students (1987)

Pierre Bourdieu and Jean-Claude Passeron – Reproduction in Education, Society and Culture (1977)

Samuel Bowles and Herbert Gintis – Schooling in Capitalist America: Educational Reform and the Contradictions of Economic Life (1976)

Jerome Bruner – The Process of Education (1960)

John Dewey – Democracy and Education (1916)

Margaret Donaldson – Children’s Minds (1978)

JWB Douglas – The Home and the School (1964)

Kathryn Ecclestone and Dennis Hayes – The Dangerous Rise of Therapeutic Education (2008)

Harold Entwistle – Antonio Gramsci: Conservative Schooling for Radical Politics (1979).

Paulo Freire – Pedagogy of the Oppressed (1968/1970)

Frank Furedi – Wasted: Why Education Isn’t Educating (2009)

Helene Guldberg – Reclaiming Childhood (2009)

ED Hirsch Jnr. – The Schools We Need And Why We Don’t Have Them (1999)

Paul H Hirst – Knowledge and the Curriculum (1974) For the essay which appears as Chapter 3 ‘Liberal Education and the Nature of Knowledge’ (1965)

John Holt – How Children Fail (1964)

Eric Hoyle – The Role of the Teacher (1969)

James Davison Hunter – The Death of Character: Moral Education in an Age without Good or Evil (2000)

Ivan Illich – Deschooling Society (1971)

Nell Keddie (Ed.) – Tinker, Taylor: The Myth of Cultural Deprivation (1973)

John Locke – Some Thoughts Concerning Education (1692)

John Stuart Mill – Autobiography (1873)

Sybil Marshall – An Experiment in Education (1963)

Alexander Sutherland Neil – Summerhill: A Radical Approach to Child Rearing (1960)

John Henry Newman – The Idea of a University (1873)

Michael Oakeshott – The Voice of Liberal Learning (1989) In particular for the essay “Education: The Engagement and Its Frustration” (1972)

Anthony O’ Hear – Education, Society and Human Nature: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Education (1981)

Richard Stanley Peters – Ethics and Education (1966)

Melanie Phillips – All Must Have Prizes (1996)

Plato – The Republic (366BC?)

Plato – Protagoras (390BC?) and Meno (387BC?)

Neil Postman – The End of Education: Redefining the Value of School (1995)

Neil Postman and Charles Weingartner – Teaching as a Subversive Activity (1969)

Herbert Read – Education Through Art (1943)

Carl Rogers – Freedom to Learn: A View of What Education Might Become (1969)

Jean-Jacques Rousseau – Émile or “on education” (1762)

Bertrand Russell – On Education (1926)

Israel Scheffler – The Language of Education (1960)

Brian Simon – Does Education Matter? (1985) Particularly for the paper “Why No Pedagogy in England?” (1981)

JW Tibble (Ed.) – The Study of Education (1966)

Lev Vygotsky – Thought and Language (1934/1962)

Alfred North Whitehead – The Aims of Education and other essays (1929)

Paul E. Willis – Learning to Labour: How Working Class Kids Get Working Class Jobs (1977)

Alison Wolf – Does Education Matter? Myths about Education and Economic Growth (2002)

Michael FD Young (Ed) – Knowledge and Control: New Directions for the Sociology of Education (1971)

Michael FD Young – Bringing Knowledge Back In: From Social Constructivism to Social Realism in the Sociology of Education (2007)

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GRAINS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION CHAIRPERSON

Teaching is truly an art form that takes time and dedication to learn to do well, and as any experienced educator can tell you, the first few years are usually the most trying. While nothing can substitute for personal experience, there is much that new teachers can learn from the experiences of others who have walked the path before them. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the 50 best books for new teachers.

The books on the list cover a broad range of subjects and styles, from pedagogical theory to practical how-to, novels to autobiography, history to classroom discipline, politics to reading, writing, and arithmetic. What they all have in common is that they all come strongly recommended for new teachers by current and former teachers. If you’re a teacher looking for guidance and inspiration, you’re sure to find some here.

General Inspiration and How-To

1. 1000 Best New Teacher Survival Secrets (Kathleen Brenny and Kandace Martin) 1000 Best New Teacher Survival Secrets , is a book by two experienced teachers aimed at other teachers with the purpose of helping them to more effectively and efficiently carry out the most important and often difficult duties required to successfully perform their jobs. This book makes a perfect addition to any teacher’s personal bookcase because while thorough, helpful, and detailed, it is also formatted in a way that makes for a very simple yet informative read.

2. The Courage To Teach (Parker Palmer) The Courage to Teach by Parker Palmer is a book designed for both new and seasoned teachers based on a spiritual perspective. Palmer covers topics such as what makes a successful teacher, what role fear plays in teaching, teaching paradoxes, and becoming a part of a teaching community. Palmer focuses on the inner life of a teacher, building connections, and finding one’s passion. This book would be helpful for new teachers wanting to reflect on what brought them to teaching, how to connect with students and colleagues, and on the often neglected emotional and spiritual sides of the teaching profession.

3. The Elements of Teaching (James M. Banner) Before entering into the wonderful world of education, The Elements of Teaching by James M. Banner is a must read work. It explains the qualities that a teacher must have in order to be a true champion of education and how those characteristics come into play in the classroom. Furthermore, Banner combines both teaching theory and practice in his analysis of the optimal classroom to show how they both have a role. It is through reading about the combination of these strategies in Banner’s work that many a proficient and prolific teacher are born into the classroom setting.

4. The First Days of School: How to Be An Effective Teacher (Harry K. Wong) The First Days of School is a must-read for all educators, but especially for those teachers who are just beginning their careers in education. The book offers the tools needed to develop a winning strategy for a successful school-year. Throughout you will find chapters covering everything from teacher/student introductions, classroom procedures and management, how to improve students’ mastery of the lessons and much more. This book gives new teachers the confidence and guidance needed to succeed far beyond the first days of school.

5. First Year Teacher’s Survival Kit (Julia G. Thompson) For Years, First Year Teacher’s Survival Kit by Julia G. Thompson has helped show new educators the methods they need to succeed. The book is often revised and updated to keep new teachers up to date on current topics and tips on how to handle changes in the educational system. Topics include connecting with students, helping struggling readers, and working on a team. The Second Edition includes information on the No Child Left Behind Act as well as crucial tips to help at-risk students increase their success. A Fully revised list of resources help teachers find additional websites, software, and more.

6. From Surviving to Thriving (Marcia Bromfield) From Surviving to Thriving is a guide for beginning teachers written by Marcia Bromfield. This guidebook shows new teachers how to create a solid foundation for their teaching career and outlines steps to take to ensure that teaching remains a rewarding and satisfying career choice. It stresses the importance of relationships with other teachers and fostering relationships with students and their families. This guidebook is a great resource for new teachers or anyone wishing to start a career path in education.

7. Learning to Teach (Linda Shalaway) When you are fresh out of teaching school, you have a lot of ideas in your mind about the way that things should be done, but you may not have a lot of concrete ways to put your ideas into practice. Learning to Teach by Linda Shalaway attempts to help you bridge the gap between ideas and process by offering you interviews and methods as related by experienced teachers. When you want to know how to engage the classroom, and when you are invested in getting a positive response from your students, this guide can show you how to get it.

8. Letters to a New Teacher (Jim Burke) In Letters To a New Teacher , people who are new to teaching are offered the opportunity to read an exchange of letters that occurred between the author and a new teacher that he was mentoring. Research has shown that new teachers benefit from the advice and experience they gain from a mentoring relationship. Now, through this book, any teacher can enjoy the advantages that come from learning through the experiences of a mentor teacher. This book can help new teachers to learn how to organize their classrooms, plan their instruction and remain flexible enough to meet the changing dynamics of their classroom.

9. Never Work Harder Than Your Students (Robyn Jackson) A must read by long time teacher Robyn Jackson, Never Work Harder Than Your Students is a practical and well thought out guide for teachers striving to connect with their students in a practiced and engrossing way. The book is filled with tips, trouble shooting advice, and tools that will help any teacher live up to the seven principles offered by the book and implement them immediately. Never Work Harder Than Your Students should be required reading for all teachers everywhere and will absolutely change the way educators think about their profession and the methods they use to teach.

10. The New Teacher Book (Rethinking Schools) The New Teacher Book is a true catch-all book for beginning educators, a crash coarse in the real world of teaching. Its a collection of essays by teachers both new and old, sharing their own hard earned lessons and guidance on surviving both the school system, their peers and how to connect with their students. Nectar for the soul of any new teacher scared to continue down that road, The New Teacher Book offers up anecdotes and stories alongside ideas and resources that can uplift and inspire. Its like a grand collection of old friends between the pages of an indispensable book.

11. The Passionate Teacher: A Practical Guide (Robert Fried) When you are a new teacher, the feeling that you likely experience the most is weariness. Teaching is hard, and staying passionate can feel like a losing battle. This is where The Passionate Teacher: A Practical Guide comes in. This book is a meditation on keeping your passion as you teach, and it is full of examples and interviews that will help you get where you need to be. Too many people think that passion is something that you lose over time. Instead, this book teaches you that it is something that needs to renewed. It tells you where to work and how to get your passion back!

12. Road to Teaching (Eric Hougan) The comprehensive text on teaching for teachers, Eric Hougan’s Road To Teaching supplies the blueprint for a new teacher to transition to a master educator. The book covers the many unique steps between the first day and the last, teaching teachers to go beyond the prescribed techniques and succeed for their students when the deck is stacked against them. It really focuses on the first time teacher, including information on developing a resume and searching for their first job as an educator. Along with the practical information for new teachers breaking in, it spells out the secrets of master teachers.

13. The Skillful Teacher (Stephen Brookfield) The Skillful Teacher is an award winning textbook for teachers that provides solid and proven advice for teachers, regardless of experience in the field. The author, Stephen Brookfield, draws on his expert knowledge as the host of hundreds of teacher workshops throughout the years and across many different schooling environments. The second edition of the text updates the work with more information on classroom diversity and the changes brought about through internet based education. Unlike many other textbooks, all of the material is presented in a readable and personal tone.

14. Teaching Content Outrageously (Stanley Pogrow) As a new teacher, there is nothing more disheartening than looking up and seeing boredom and apathy in your students’ eyes. The truth is that you are not a bad teacher; you just need some help in getting your students excited. This is what Teaching Content Outrageously by Stanley Pogrow sets out to do. There are several editions of this book that concentrate on different grade levels, and each book sets out to give examples and lesson plans on how to get students involved. It shows you how to make your lessons personal and exciting, and it gives you an opportunity to get your students engaged.

15. Teaching Outside the Box (LouAnne Johnson) Thinking Outside the Box by LouAnne Johnson will give a teacher of any skill level new ideas to keep their interested in what they are learning. If the students are kept interested by the teacher in the classroom, then they are naturally going to what to learn more on the subject. LouAnne Johnson is one of the most respected teaching authors in the world, and she does not disappoint with her latest book. The Q&A section with current teachers and the tips on how to effectively grade make this book a must-read for anyone that has just become a teacher.

16. Tools for Teaching (Fred Jones) In Tools for Teaching , the author offers up the skills needed for teachers to truly enjoy the classroom while bringing students along for the ride. Fred Jones shows his system of instruction, motivation and discipline to streamline the teaching process while avoiding the headaches brought on from disruptive students and weak educators. The book presents a proper structure for new teachers to follow with simple instructions and includes an overview on DVD with activity guides and workshops. The DVD also includes videos to share with parents. Tools for Teaching is a perfect title and should be in every teacher’s toolbox.

17. What Great Teachers Do Differently (Todd Whitaker) What Great Teachers Do Differently by Todd Whitaker is an inspiration book that will help anyone become a better teacher no matter their skill level. Whitaker knows that teaching is not easy, so he gives the reader 17 steps to improve their skills. This is the perfect book for new teachers to read because it will allow them to gain new tricks and learn from their mistakes to make them the best teacher possible. If you read this book, then you will know the proper beliefs and behaviors it takes to connect to your students and help them learn.

18. Why Didn’t I Learn This in College? (Paula Rutherford) When you’re a new teacher, you find yourself thinking more about the things that they didn’t teach you in school. Now, with Why Didn’t I Learn This in College by Paula Rutherford, you can get the insider’s scoop on what you need to know to survive. This book offers you an important perspective on the teaching prospect, and on top of this, you’ll also find some fantastic ways to motivate yourself as well as your students. The information is culled from interviews with experienced teachers, and the book itself is an excellent resource for any new teacher in need of some reassurance and guidance.

Fiction and Biography

19. Educating Esme (Esme Raji Codell) Educating Esme is a diary written Esme Raji Codell, a first year teacher in the Chicago public school system. Codell’s unconventional methods of teaching are lighthearted, such as encouraging movement and activity during learning, yet allow for comprehension and retention. The diary shows the day to day routine of a first year teacher learning the ropes. Educating Esme is a great read for new teachers and gives readers many examples of teaching methods that can be implemented in any classroom among a wide age range of students.

20. The Emergency Teacher (Christina Asquith) The Emergency Teacher by Christina Asquith tells the story of a young woman working as a teacher for the first time in one of the worst neighborhoods in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Asquith was able to overcome a corrupt school filled with crime from both the students and faculty to achieve something special. This is a great book for new teachers to read because it will inspire you to continue teaching no matter what you are facing.

21. Horace’s School (Theodore R. Sizer) With the sub-title “Redesigning the American High School,” in Horace’s School Theodore Sizer has done just that, converting over 30 years of research and study into his image of the perfect American high school. Sizer uses his knowledge and powerful understanding of what teachers and students face each day. He provides this information through the fictional school teacher Horace Smith, who searches for answers within the rigid structures imposed in the current system. An inspiring story that brings issues that all teachers face to light and offering solutions to those educators stuck behind bureaucratic red tape and outnumbered by the old guard.

22. Teacher Man (Frank McCourt) Teacher Man is a must read memoir for teachers. Frank McCourt examines his thirty years of teaching and the ways that it shaped his eventual conversion to a respected author. An honest, if heartbreaking, story of the challenges teachers face in public high schools. An English teacher in New York City he spent a lot of time convinced he was a fraud. Best known for his book Angela’s Ashes , a memoir of his childhood and upbringing, this book is a fantastic sequel of sorts and belongs on any teacher’s shelf among classics of literature as well as educational texts.

23. Up the Down Stair Case (Bel Kaufman) Up the Down Stair Case is a work of fiction by Bel Kaufman. It follows the first year of teaching for Miss Barrett, a new college graduate, at Calvin Coolidge High. When faced with a lack of supplies, inadequate conditions, and unmotivated teenagers, Miss Barrett uses the resources she has at her disposal to motivate and encourage her students. This book is an excellent read for new teachers as it introduces situations that many teachers will face, especially those working in lower socioeconomic areas.

Race, Poverty and Social Justice

24. A Framework for Understanding Poverty (Ruby Payne) A Framework for Understanding Poverty by Ruby Payne is an important book for all teachers to have in their collection, but especially those new to working with the underprivileged. This book contains a plethora of questionnaires, tables, charts, and graphs all aimed at informing the reader on the severe impact that poverty has on those who are subjected to it and how to counteract its effects in the classroom. Quickly becoming the standard guide on poverty and education.

25. Black Teachers on Teaching by Michele Foster Published in 1998, this timeless classic on the growth of African American education is a must-read for teachers who hope to learn of the history of America’s struggle for racial equality. Michele Foster discusses the history of the disturbing trials that teachers had to face as America’s era of white supremacy finally began to reach its end. In this book, you will be given firsthand accounts of the hardships that were experienced from the 1950s to the 1990s by teachers charged with the education of African American youth in both southern and urban areas.

26. The Freedom Writers Diary (Erin Gruwell) A large portion of teachers leave the profession within their first three years on the job. The Freedom Writers Diary is an encouraging text for how to motivate students from even the roughest backgrounds, with minimal resources. Teachers often enter the profession with the desire to impact lives. This book contains writing from the students’ own journal entries throughout the year and how the class affected their lives. All of the students went on to graduate from high school and attend college.

27. Holler if you Hear Me (Gregory Michie) Holler If You Hear Me: The Education of a Teacher and His Students is an essential book for any teacher who cares about social justice. Drawing upon his experience as an inner-city teacher, author Gregory Michie explores the connection between personal and social transformation, helping teachers understand how change the lives of the current generation of students by themselves becoming the change they wish to see. Holler if You Hear Me is a must read for all professional educators who are truly interested in learning to teach with cultural sensitivity, justice, love, and imagination.

28. My Posse Don’t Do Homework (Louanne Johnson) Louanne Johnson’s book My Posse Don’t Do Homework is a wonderfully informative read that is aimed at teachers everywhere, but especially those whose students consist of troubled youth that lack structure and discipline outside of school. It explores the experiences of a former United States Marine in her first years teaching at an inner city California high school and delves into the ways in which she was able to overcome her students’ lack of seriousness in regard to learning.

29. There Are No Children Here (Alex Kotlowitz) The book follows two brothers, Pharoah and Lafayette Rivers, living in the Henry Horner Homes, a Chicago public housing complex. The author, Alex Kotlowitz, meets the boys first when they were ten and seven, and he documents the terror of young children living in the projects. An important text that will promptly educate any teacher on either side of the fence with the plight of poor children who are molded by their toxic environment. The author humanizes that environment, bringing the society that it creates to light and hopefully offers insight on the diverging paths the two brothers take.

30. Nothing’s Impossible (Lorraine Monroe) Lorraine Monroe founded Fredrick Douglass Academy, a public school built with the guiding belief that caring teachers and a creative environment could protect and guide the futures of the students of inner-city Harlem. Utilizing the “Monroe Doctrine,” developed over her many years as both principle and teacher in some of the most difficult schools in the nation, she shares the story of how she shaped Fredrick Douglass Academy into one of the best schools in the country. Another must read for teachers, She inspires hope and teaches her peers how to succeed against the toughest of challenges.

31. Pedagogy of the Oppressed (Paulo Freire) A seminal text, Pedagogy of the Oppressed was first published in Portuguese in 1968 and translated to English in 1970. It has been inspiring educators ever since. A handbook for empowerment among the poor and illiterate, it has found new meaning in otherwise well off countries, including the United States, where a seemingly permanent divide between the classes has left minorities under considerable stress with few of the promised opportunities really available. A powerful read for teachers and students, it shines light on many of the trials and tribulations of the underprivileged and point to a path of mutual liberation for teachers and their students.

32. The Shame of the Nation (Jonathan Kozol) The Shame of the Nation by Jonathan Kozol explores the contemporary education system and its effect on students. Modern education has caused a large segregation in many inner-city schools. As the schools adapt more techniques that are traditionally used in prisons, students, principals, and teachers are beginning to speak out. The Shame of the Nation is a must-read for new teachers who want to work with the system while bringing about change and avoid desegregation in urban schools.

33. Teaching Community: A Pedagogy of Hope (bell hooks) bell hooks writes about the challenge of ending racism and white supremacy. This compelling book discusses the importance of creating a critical educational atmosphere where oppression is dismantled and community is built. New teachers can read the autobiographical narratives and critical analysis. They can learn how individuals and groups can change the system and build a socially just society. hooks encourages educators to acknowledge and talk about race and racism openly.

34. Why Are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? (Beverly Daniel Tatum) Beverly Tatum takes on a topic that is hard to discuss in any atmosphere and then applies it to one of the hardest, our schools. A celebrated authority on the psychological aspects of racism, Tatum not only brings this topic to the forefront but also answers many of the tough questions and then looks for solutions. For teachers, it is an enormous task to change the ingrained tendencies of people, and this book looks to aid those educators in promoting a healthy environment for students to learn about their differences and commonalities, hopefully lessening the dangerous impact of self-segregation.

Theory, Politics and History

35. Bad Students, Not Bad Schools by Robert Weissberg Robert Weissberg illustrates the shortcomings of a school system that continues to reward failing students. Weissberg refuses to mince words in his book, punching holes in established theory and practices. He points out the gross divide between pandering teachers who scream about self-esteem and those who are willing to recognize that, heaven forbid, some students are simply smarter than the rest and are actively being let down by a system that caters to the lowest common denominator. Step by step Weissberg debunks the political pet projects implemented by both sides and instead offers common sense solutions to the real problem.

36. City Schools and the American Dream (Pedro Noguera) Pedro Noguera’s City Schools and the American Dream: Reclaiming the Promise of Public Education is a fascinating read and one that would serve to be useful to any and all new teachers. The premise of the book is one that explores the concept that higher standards and more frequent testing of inner city students from low income families does and will not necessarily lead to more educated students. Noguera argues that the true problems and solutions lie within the communities in which these students live, and that bettering these communities is just as important as educating these students.

37. The Death and Life of the Great American School System (Diane Ravitch) The Death and Life of the Great American School System is Diane Ravitch’s plea to protect the future of public education. A former assistant secretary of education, She analyzes her forty years of experience to offer up an educated view of what is currently wrong with our crumbling school system and with extensive interviews among a broad range of professionals, Ravitch develops what she believes to be the conclusion. Throughout the work she discusses her long standing opinions and is not afraid to admit that even many of her own strong convictions have been wrong. Her insights are vitally important for teachers today.

38. Happiness and Education (Nel Noddings) Happiness and Education by Nel Noddings is a work of educational philosophy that investigates the role happiness plays or should play in education. Noddings criticizes education’s current focus on largely economic goals such as test scores, job placement, and earning potential. The book’s argument is that educators should place more focus on less quantifiable goals such as building interpersonal relationships, encouraging personal growth, and finding work that is personally satisfying, in other words: results related to the student’s happiness. This book would be especially helpful for new teachers considering what outcomes they hope to achieve in the classroom.

39. School: The Story of American Public Education (Sarah Mondale) School: The Story of American Public Education is an important text for teachers of all stations, including educators from outside the United States. Written by several historians of education, and edited seamlessly by Sarah Mondale, the book chronicles the history of American education from the beginning. Broken into four sections of history, the text explores all the important eras of education with a well written narrative and stunning photographs. A book that truly belongs in any educators study or library, it can be enjoyed by anyone with a curiosity about the history of education in America.

40. Teachers as Intellectuals (Henry A. Giroux) Henry A. Giroux’s book Teachers as Intellectuals explores the roles that educators and educational institutions play in society as well as the importance of teachers’ views of these roles. This book can be very useful to new teachers in that it explains how and why it is vital for them to view themselves not only as an expert on the particular subject or subjects that they teach, but also as intellectuals who are aware of and knowledgeable in academic subjects and disciplines other than their own and use their minds to contribute to the public good.

Motivation and Discipline

41. Discipline with Dignity (Richard Curwin) Discipline with Dignity addresses the most common discipline problems faced by new teachers. It offers a liberal approach to learning that may be useful when dealing with difficult students. The approaches encourage teachers to give students more freedom in choosing assignments. The recommendations allow the teacher to remain in control of the classroom while giving students some leeway, and it also gives tips on how to encourage students to be more accountable for their actions. This is a must-read for new teachers that are not accustomed to disciplining students. Older teachers could also benefit from the alternative discipline methods discussed.

42. Getting the Buggers to Behave (Sue Cowley) As the title implies, Getting the Buggers to Behave by Sue Cowley uses a sense of humor and some whimsical writing to explain the best classroom management practices. New teachers are often overwhelmed by this facet of education, but the book guides educators of both youngsters and older students how to tackle both the common and the extraordinary circumstances that evolve in the classroom. No matter what type of class you are teaching or what the student makeup is, Cowley thoroughly explains some tactics that can help you have the best possible classroom management skills in the school.

43. Motivating Students Who Don’t Care (Allen N. Mendler) Motivating Students Who Don’t Care by Allen N. Mendler will help anyone improve as a teacher by giving them the tools to deal with the most troubling students possible. Dealing with uninterested students is part of teaching, but Mendler has found several key ways to connect with these students and help them learn. This is a skill that most teachers do not have when they start the job, which is why Motivating Students Who Don’t Care is an excellent book for new teachers to read. It will give a new teacher confidence knowing that they are prepared for any situation they will face on the job.

44. Reluctant Disciplinarian (Gary Rubinstein) Reluctant Disciplinarian is a hilarious personal account of Gary Rubinstein’s first years as a teacher. Like most teachers that go into the profession with idealistic visions of the noble pursuit, he quickly looses control of the classroom, over run by aggressive and ruthless middle schoolers. Over the first four years he goes from the softest and weakest teacher in the school to teacher of the year. He humorously enlightens the reader with his knowledge in this fast paced and anecdote laden book. If you’re a teacher locked in a power struggle with your class, this will definitely cheer you up.

45. Teaching With Love & Logic (Jim Fay and David Funk) Teaching With Love & Logic is an invaluable resource for new teachers entering the classroom and veterans alike. Offering an empathetic and common sense framework for interacting with children, the book provides powerful strategies for becoming an empowered guide to students of any age. With this book, educators are able to develop the skills that allow them to evoke discipline and classroom management. Going above and beyond the teachings of traditional training programs, the authors Jim Fay and David Funk’s combined years of experience serve to provide the psychological explanation for time-tested techniques that actually work in the real world.

46. The Tough Kid Book (Ginger Rhode, William R. Jenson, Kenton Reavis) The Tough Kid Book is a powerful go-to manual for the new teacher. It details techniques and tactics for dealing with disruptive or aggressive students. It attempts to translate the mindset of these troublesome would be bullies and how to disassemble their behavior in the quickest way while teaching the children about how their behavior will effect the outcome of any situation. Put simply, the book will show any teacher how to handle any student in a way that quickly puts the student on the path to proper behavior with a deep understanding of how everyone benefits from it.

Math and Reading

47. Every Minute Counts (David R. Johnson) Every Minute Counts is an amazing book that all math teachers should take the time to read. Because the book gives so many excellent pointers on how to effectively and efficiently manage a classroom, it is an especially beneficial tool for new teachers. Every Minute Counts discusses the importance of classroom time management and explains how a teacher’s proper use of time will add to the overall learning experience for students. The book also discusses the importance of topics such as quizzes, homework, and group work.

48. How 2 Gerbils, 20 Goldfish, 200 Games, 2000 Books and I Taught Them How to Read (Steven Daniels) Published in 1971, meet a teacher who finds creative ways to inspire impoverished and illiterate children to read and discover a new and better world through books. He does this by taking high expectations of what can be and combining them with an intense focus on helping the children in his class overcome the obstacles to becoming lifelong readers and achievers. Inspiring and relevant for today in the face of the ongoing struggles of both urban and rural school districts across the country.

49. I Read It, But I Don’t Get It (Cris Tovani) Written by teacher Cris Tovani, I Read It, But I Don’t Get It is perfect for teachers struggling to help students understand their textbooks and literature. Utilizing practical techniques that can help any child better comprehend their lessons, Tovani also connects with the reader as a talented educator discussing the challenge with her peers. The book focuses on real world solutions that are fast acting and easy to implement with children of any age. The book provides tools that the students need to measure their own comprehension while inspiring them to keep track and improve on their own.

50. Learn to Relax (Mike George) Life is rough for new teachers. You have to deal with a lot of new pressures and a lot of situations that you do not feel prepared for, and at the end of the day, you really do need to take for yourself. This is why Mike George’s book, Learn to Relax is so useful and recommended by so many teachers. This is a practical guide that tells you how to stay on top of the pressures in your life while still taking time for yourself. Too many new teachers feel burned out and unsuited for their jobs, but the truth is, learning to relax can take away a lot of that stress.

Books | Best Sellers

Education - january 15, 2017.

This copy is for your personal, noncommercial use only.

THINKING, FAST AND SLOW

by Daniel Kahneman

Farrar, Straus & Giroux

A winner of the Nobel in economic science discusses how we make choices in business and personal lives and when we can and cannot trust our intuitions.

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by Angela Duckworth

A psychologist says passion and perseverance are the keys to success.

THING EXPLAINER

by Randall Munroe

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Cells, elevators, smartphones, nuclear reactors and more are demystified with simply annotated blueprints. From the author of "What If?"

SPEAKING AMERICAN

by Josh Katz

The creator of the New York Times dialect quiz provides a guide to how words are pronounced in different parts of the country.

I AM MALALA

by Malala Yousafzai with Christina Lamb

Little, Brown

The experience of the young Pakistani advocate for women’s education who was shot by the Taliban and later won the Nobel Peace Prize. Originally published in 2013.

by Stephen King

A memoir that is a master class on the writer's craft.

WEAPONS OF MATH DESTRUCTION

by Cathy O'Neil

How decisions that impact our lives are made by algorithms instead of people.

BEST AMERICAN NONREQUIRED READING 2016

edited by Rachel Kushner

Mariner/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

A wide-ranging anthology selected by high school students.

HOW NOT TO BE WRONG

by Jordan Ellenberg

A mathematician shows how his discipline helps us think about problems of politics, medicine and commerce.

OTHER-WORDLY

by Yee-Lum Mak

From the blog of the same name, 64 intriguing words from a dozen languages.

The New York Times Book Review

Long before trump, immigrant detention was arbitrary and cruel.

“In the Shadow of Liberty,” by the historian Ana Raquel Minian, chronicles America’s often brutal treatment of noncitizens, including locking them up without charge.

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Greater Good Science Center • Magazine • In Action • In Education

Education Articles & More

Our favorite books for educators in 2020, greater good ’s editors pick the most inspiring and informative education books..

As we emerge from this unprecedented year in education, perhaps our most salient learning will be the need to place the social and emotional well-being of our students and teachers at the center of education.

But we shouldn’t have to wait until the next crisis to learn how to do this. We need to proactively address the inequities in our schools and the burnout educators are facing. And we can do that not only in today’s classrooms, but in the way we educate the teachers of tomorrow.

Our favorite education books of the year offer practical tips, theoretical frameworks, and historical context to help us on this journey. We hope they will inspire you as an education professional as you contribute to creating learning environments that are supportive, equitable, and empowering for all.

Teaching with a Social, Emotional, and Cultural Lens: A Framework for Educators and Teacher Educators , by Nancy L. Markowitz and Suzanne M. Bouffard

In their new book Teaching with a Social, Emotional, and Cultural Lens , Nancy Markowitz and Suzanne Bouffard have created a roadmap for teacher education and in-service teacher support programs that goes beyond an academics-only lens to include the holistic development of students and teachers alike.

The book centers on Markowitz’s Anchor Competencies Framework, which she created based on her years of experience as a teacher educator and now as executive director of the Center for Reaching and Teaching the Whole Child. This comprehensive model puts social-emotional learning into action, starting with specific goals including a safe and supportive learning environment, equity, resilience, academic success, and a greater good outlook—all oriented within a sociopolitical and cultural context. Teachers accomplish these goals through “Anchor Competencies,” such as building trusting relationships, fostering growth mindset and perseverance in students, and creating community.

Even though part of the book is geared toward teacher educators, offering practical lesson plan templates and observation protocols, in-service teacher trainers, school and district leaders, and educators themselves will gain much insight from the classroom examples and practices.

Transforming how we educate our children—an opportunity afforded us in this unique moment—requires us to tackle all aspects of the system, including those that shape our future educators and that support our current ones. Teaching with a Social, Emotional, and Cultural Lens is an important piece of the puzzle.

Schooling for Critical Consciousness: Engaging Black and Latinx Youth in Analyzing, Navigating, and Challenging Racial Injustice , by Scott Seider and Daren Graves

In their book Schooling for Critical Consciousness , researchers Scott Seider and Daren Graves paint portraits of five high schools that intentionally teach their diverse students to “recognize and analyze oppressive forces shaping society and to take action against these forces”—in other words, to become critically conscious of the world they live in. By doing so, they argue that the schools are helping their mainly Black and Latinx students to cultivate a sense of agency and to develop “psychological armor” against racial injustice.

Based on four years of in-depth research, the authors describe the ideological and pedagogical approaches of each school, along with the impact on students, most of which was very positive. For example, one school focused on making their students highly aware of systemic racism and how it affected them, while another worked to cultivate students’ political agency and skills to combat societal issues. And while none of the schools emerged with the perfect solution—they all had both challenges and successes—any school leader or educator would find enough guidance and inspiration in the book to begin this work in their own school.

After a year fraught with social and political turmoil, this book gave me hope that the solutions to many of our challenges lie in the education of our youth. And yet, at the end of the book, I was left wondering about whether these methods would work to teach critical consciousness to white students. Seider has done studies on this with mixed results , showing that more effort needs to be made by educators, schools, and curriculum developers to understand how to best involve all students in this work.  The burden of transforming our country into a society where all live safe, free, and equal needs to rest on everyone’s shoulders—otherwise we may not see the full realization of a dream whose time has come.

Coaching for Equity: Conversations That Change Practice , by Elena Aguilar

“I think it’s easier to assume that we’re all racist, and we all have learning to do,” says Elena Aguilar to one of her coaching clients in her new book Coaching for Equity . Aguilar’s voice is clear, direct, and refreshingly practical as she offers a series of rubrics, tips, and strategies for engaging in meaningful conversations about race and power. Although this book ostensibly targets coaches and school leaders, it addresses educational professionals of all roles and racial identities. Bottom line, if you work and collaborate with other adults and you want to think more about how to interrupt inequities in schools, this is your book.

In Coaching for Equity , Aguilar describes her “Transformational Coaching” model, shares rich stories of her work with coaching clients, and provides a brief history of racism in the United States as she sets the stage for a meaningful series of how-to chapters. In the wake of this year’s racial and political conflicts, you might find yourself gravitating to her chapters on “how to talk about race” and “how to change someone’s mind,” in particular. Aguilar walks you through “10 tips for talking about race” and provides sentence stems for responding to racist comments, while encouraging you to see conversations about race as potentially healing rather than difficult.

Aguilar maps out the conditions necessary for establishing trust and safety so that we are open to seeing our own biases and ultimately changing our beliefs. At the same time, she draws on psychological research to address some of the reasons we struggle to change in the first place, including confirmation bias (our drive to look for information to verify what we already believe).

Of course, honest conversations about our biases can bring up challenging emotions. In a recent interview, Aguilar acknowledged: “There’s just no way that we can do the work around equity without attending to our emotions and without cultivating the emotions that will help us to navigate the discomfort.” Coaching for Equity presents a variety of tools to support healing conversations about race that will ultimately change the way we see our students, colleagues, and ourselves.

Teacher Burnout Turnaround: Strategies for Empowered Educators , by Patricia A. Jennings

After years of studying how to help teachers navigate daily stressors, author and researcher Patricia Jennings decided to take a big-picture look at the “system” that creates the stress in the first place. In Teacher Burnout Turnaround , Jennings reminds us that individual educators have the power to collectively transform the education system—and we can start by changing the way we think about school.

If we want to turn around a system, we have to step back and view its stress points as potential leverage points, she argues, so her “Stress Matrix” outlines different levels of challenges (e.g,. teacher, student, student-teacher relationships, school, district, and society) and reframes them as access points for change.

On the individual level, she encourages educators to become aware of the “mind traps” that keep them from seeing the big picture in the first place. For example, she takes the problem of time urgency that many teachers experience daily (“I will never have time to teach this well”) and notes we can either shift the way we view time, as individuals, or change the way we do school in the first place (for example, with the innovative use of advisories and block scheduling).

Jennings’s primary tool of transformation is “design thinking”—seeing the school as a multifaceted system with the student “user” at its heart. She emphasizes the value in putting the learner-user first, practicing empathy by putting ourselves in their shoes, seeing the challenges to their learning through their eyes, and then actively brainstorming new and innovative ways of doing school (such as collaborative learning or project-based instructional approaches).

Unlike some of her books, Teacher Burnout Turnaround is more about thinking than feeling. Jennings urges a cognitive shift in our awareness that is refreshing, inspiring, and even collectively empowering. So when she quotes her colleague, Alexander Laszlo, it rings true: “Be the systems change you wish to see in the world.”

Cultivating Genius: An Equity Framework for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy , by Gholdy Muhammad

In her book, Cultivating Genius , researcher Gholdy Muhammad reveals the lessons she learned in her exploration of the rich history of 19th century Black literary societies. Society members met in church basements, libraries, homes, and auditoriums to engage in reading, writing, debating, and speaking. What’s more, this path to cultivate self-empowerment, self-determination, and self-liberation was collaborative—there was a shared responsibility to pass on knowledge to each other.

Muhammad outlines the lessons of Black literary societies that are relevant to redefining the way we teach literacy today. “We must stop implementing curriculum and literacy models that were not designed for or by people of color, expecting that these models will advance the educational achievement of children of color,” says Muhammad. “This is the same as designing a size 2 ball gown for a size 10 model. We expect youth to work inside frameworks that were not designed for them.”

There are four goals in her Historically Responsive Literacy Model: developing students’ identity, skills, intellect, and criticality. She encourages educators to design lessons where students have opportunities to simultaneously learn about themselves and their strengths, develop their expertise in content areas, build their knowledge (including their self- and social-emotional awareness), and think about power, equity, and compassionate social change.

How do you begin to do this in your classrooms? Cultivating Genius is filled with thoughtful exercises, sample lessons, and self-reflection questions for teachers and administrators that will guide you toward a deeper understanding of and practical ways to use her equity-based teaching and learning model. She calls on developers and writers of standards, curriculum, and state exams to look closely at the literacy legacy of communities of color and her framework to help them design content that is more equitable and inclusive.

About the Authors

Vicki Zakrzewski

Vicki Zakrzewski, Ph.D. , is the education director of the Greater Good Science Center.

Amy L. Eva, Ph.D. , is the associate education director at the Greater Good Science Center. As an educational psychologist and teacher educator with over 25 years in classrooms, she currently writes, presents, and leads online courses focused on student and educator well-being, mindfulness, and courage. Her new book, Surviving Teacher Burnout: A Weekly Guide To Build Resilience, Deal with Emotional Exhaustion, and Stay Inspired in the Classroom, features 52 simple, low-lift strategies for enhancing educators’ social and emotional well-being.

Maryam Abdullah

Uc berkeley.

Maryam Abdullah, Ph.D., is the Parenting Program Director of the Greater Good Science Center. She is a developmental psychologist with expertise in parent-child relationships and children’s development of prosocial behaviors.

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Educational Psychology - Second Edition

(18 reviews)

Kelvin Seifert, University of Manitoba

Rosemary Sutton, Cleveland State University

Copyright Year: 2009

Publisher: University of Manitoba

Language: English

Formats Available

Conditions of use.

Learn more about reviews.

Reviewed by Seokmin Kang, Assistant Professor, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on 12/11/22

There is a lack of neuroscience and cognitive aspects such as information process and knowledge representation. Also, it touches a little bit of everything but is shallow in its depth. read more

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

There is a lack of neuroscience and cognitive aspects such as information process and knowledge representation. Also, it touches a little bit of everything but is shallow in its depth.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The content is accurate overall.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

More adding needs in neuroscience, cognitive perspective in learning, and technology use in teaching and learning.

Clarity rating: 4

It is clear overall.

Consistency rating: 4

There is no framework, but a description or summary of the theories.

Modularity rating: 5

It is readily divisible into smaller reading sections.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

One topic is described or explained throughout the chapters. This is a double-edged sword. While readers can connect one concept with various different concepts, novice readers, before fully understanding the topic's core idea, can be easily off track, thinking of how a certain topic is related to different topics.

Interface rating: 3

The text covers mainly its content. There are few images or diagrams to better support student learning. Learning objectives or key terms should be introduced at the beginning of each chapter.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The book's grammar is fine.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

It leans much on education and application rather than foundational theories.

Reviewed by Melanie Park, Assistant Professor of Education, Huntington University on 6/21/22

Major educational psychology theories are covered, but instructors using this text may want to supplement the material with current neuroscience findings to ensure teacher candidates are prepared to implement brain based instructional strategies.... read more

Comprehensiveness rating: 3 see less

Major educational psychology theories are covered, but instructors using this text may want to supplement the material with current neuroscience findings to ensure teacher candidates are prepared to implement brain based instructional strategies. The impact of trauma on learning, the implications of Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory in the classroom, and Dweck’s Growth Mindset Theory are additional concepts not covered in the text.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

Overall, the content is accurate for the publication date, but instructors will need to point out that Bloom’s Taxonomy has been updated. References to Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) should also be included in a discussion of special education.

The text provides relevant classroom examples of educational theories. Commentary on technology and diversity have become outdated due to the rapidly changing nature of these areas in education.

Clarity rating: 5

The concepts are clearly communicated, and the classroom examples show students how educational theory is applied in the real world of teaching. The writing is easy to understand, and university students will easily comprehend the text.

Consistency rating: 5

The text consistently addresses educational theories.

The text is designed for ease of division during an educational psychology course. The chapters on classroom management, planning instruction, and assessment could easily be revisited in upper level education courses to reinforce the concepts learned during the introductory educational psychology course.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The organization is logical and will allow instructors to easily design their course in a clear fashion.

Interface rating: 4

Many of the supplemental links need to be updated or replaced. The links to the text in the Table of Contents are very helpful.

The text was free of grammatical errors.

The text did not address the needs of students in the LGBTQIA+ community. References to gender roles and assumptions regarding cultural stereotypes need to better reflect the current social climate.

The text provides a starting point for presenting educational theories. Instructors will need to supplement the text to ensure teacher candidates are exposed to current educational research. New theories and instructional approaches have emerged since the text was published, but overall, the text is easy to understand and certainly helps teacher candidates understand how educational theory can be applied to classroom situations.

Reviewed by Jodie Riek, Assistant Professor of Teacher Education, University of Wisconsin - Superior on 9/20/21

This text comprehensively covered most key traditional aspects of educational psychology such as human development theories; learning theories; and diversity. However as an introduction to education text, it was distinctly lacking content... read more

This text comprehensively covered most key traditional aspects of educational psychology such as human development theories; learning theories; and diversity. However as an introduction to education text, it was distinctly lacking content discussing political and social issues which impact education systems, the work of teachers, student learning and curriculum.

What is covered is accurate and is unbiased.

The content that is covered in this text is relevant and up to date. Any updates that will be needed in the future (for example hyperlinks which are dispersed throughout the text, may need updating in the future); will be relatively easy to update.

This text is very straight forward using every day language with limited jargon and technical terminology. When there is jargon or technical terminology there is a thoughtful easy to read explanation/definition for the reader to be able to understand in context.

Terms are used consistently throughout the text.

Chapters are just the right size, with key topic headings and sub-headings within to help the reader consume the content. It was dispersed with images and hyperlinks which breaks up the reading work. This approach makes it very consumable for the reader.

The topics are somewhat in a logical and clear sequence, although as mentioned earlier as an introduction to education text, it was distinctly lacking content discussing political and social issues which impact education systems, the work of teachers, student learning and curriculum.

Interface rating: 5

Easy to navigate. Presents as a pdf file so it can be read online and offline. It can also be printed for those readers that prefer a hard copy.

The text contains no grammatical errors that I saw.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

Very EDI aware text.

Reviewed by Eliza Bobek, Associate Clinical Professor, Massachusetts Department of Higher Education on 6/29/21

Addresses the main topics covered in a typical Educational Psychology course. Does not include information processing, memory, cognitive load. Could include more on the science of learning, LGBTQIA, trauma informed pedagogy. Some chapters more... read more

Addresses the main topics covered in a typical Educational Psychology course. Does not include information processing, memory, cognitive load. Could include more on the science of learning, LGBTQIA, trauma informed pedagogy. Some chapters more appropriate for students enrolled in teacher preparation e.g. "Planning Instruction" compared to students taking this course as an elective.

High accuracy- no errors noted.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 3

Some outdated terminology e.g. students with "special educational needs." Could be more inclusive in this chapter by addressing "students with disabilities" and avoiding a deficit perspective. Very little discussion of anti-racist and anti-bias pedagogy, stereotype threat etc.

Clear and well-organized. Text is written in the familiar-tone and terminology is clearly explained. Text is divided into manageable sections.

Appears to be consistent throughout, in terms of structure and flow.

This is very well done, sections are accessible, reducing cognitive load for the reader.

Flow is clear, but perhaps consideration to the audience- teacher preparation course for pedagogy, or psychology students as an elective?

Navigation is clear; additional images and visuals would make it stronger.

Accurate grammar.

No mention of culturally responsive teaching. Predominantly white western view. "Student diversity" is presented separately as "other." Section on "student diversity" could be re-titled to be more inclusive.

Reviewed by Audrey Roberts, Assistant Professor, Bowling Green State University on 1/28/21

This text provides a relatively comprehensive overview of most foundational educational psychology theories. However, there are some important elements missing, as well as an over-emphasis on classroom management and assessment that veer away from... read more

This text provides a relatively comprehensive overview of most foundational educational psychology theories. However, there are some important elements missing, as well as an over-emphasis on classroom management and assessment that veer away from the curriculum normally taught in an introductory educational psychology class for undergraduate students. I would argue that Chapters 1-6 and Chapter 9 would be the selections covered in an ed. psych class, with Chapters 7, 8, and 10-12 better suited for a more pedagogically focused or more assessment focused course. The two biggest concepts not covered in the text are information processing theory and memory, and any sort of mention of the LGBTQ+ community in regard to addressing diversity. I would've liked to see more attention paid to socioemotional learning theories as well.

Content is accurate, error-free, and not significantly biased in any one section or area overall. Where appropriate, the foundational researchers are given credit, so that someone with knowledge in the field would concur.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 2

Content for many of the foundational educational psychology theories has not changed since the bulk of this material was released in 2009. So, in this way, the first 6 or so chapters could continue to be used, with some more recent articles to support it. However, almost all of the citations are now, in 2021, 15+ years old. This presents problems with some of the education policies they mention, and it also neglects the impact that technology has in the day to day classroom. Tech is mentioned, but almost 20 years have passed, so things are rightfully different, and classroom management is a bit different too. Many of the hyperlinks to appropriate websites do not work or lead you to a now incorrect page.

I do appreciate the writing style of these two authors. It is conversational, yet appropriate for an academic audience of young adult students. I appreciate the real-life classroom examples, and think a real effort has been made to make connections and the material more engaging for the reader. It's not bogged down with over-difficult vocabulary, but not too simple either.

The text is generally consistent in the way that material is presented. One issue I had was that there were often concepts brought up in the middle of one chapter that weren't really explained well until later chapters. For instance, discussing motivation at the same time operant conditioning is mentioned is confusing and motivation isn't broken down until chapter 6.

I think this text would be very easy to pull out certain sections, i.e., divisible. The glossary links in the PDF are useful as well.

Overall, the organization isn't bad, however the text has a tendency to jump a bit over the place. Bold text is somewhat liberally used, which could be distracting for readers. I thought Chapter 9: Complex thinking should've been placed before it was in the text-it would've been a natural section after information processing theory/memory (which was not addressed).

Easy enough to navigate. Most of the hyperlinks do not work at the chapters' end. Very few images, but many tables, and they have all formatted well

There are no glaring grammatical errors.

The text is not culturally insensitive or offensive, but it does not address any information on the LGBTQ+ community, which is mentioned earlier.

This text has many strengths. It is free to use under a Creative Commons License, which is incredible for students who struggle with text costs. It is well laid out and would be easy to navigate. It covers most foundation educational psychology theories/material well. Last, it is an engaging read, and not filled with dry or overly academic language.

This text also has weaknesses. Nearly all citations are 15+ years old. It does not properly address current technology use in the classroom, social development in adolescence and the importance of friends, information processing theory, memory, or the LGBTQ+ community. There is an overemphasis on classroom management, assessment, and even some research methodology that seems unnecessary. There is no test bank (understandable) or self-review questions to help students. Last, most of the hyperlinks in the pdf no longer work or go to the appropriate place described.

Overall, as an instructor of an educational psychology course that has taught for years, I would feel comfortable using the first half of this text, supplemented with other articles. I think the fact that this textbook is free outweighs most of the negatives.

Reviewed by D F, Professor, Worcester State University on 6/30/20

Surface treatment of some topics. Out dated Bloom Model & references to learning styles; missing discussion of memory; passing reference to race (as part of culture), nothing about poverty, etc. Missing Social Cognitivism. Really missing links... read more

Comprehensiveness rating: 2 see less

Surface treatment of some topics. Out dated Bloom Model & references to learning styles; missing discussion of memory; passing reference to race (as part of culture), nothing about poverty, etc. Missing Social Cognitivism. Really missing links to effective teaching

Content Accuracy rating: 2

Inaccuracies due to out of date information/theories Bias in the sense that White, western is normal diversity is other Right at beginning does not use person first language, instead referring to "disabled children"

Book needs major updating in terms of student diversity & students with disabilities. Needs to include the nature of memory, learning theories and give direct links to effective teaching

Clarity rating: 3

Tends to pack a great deal into brief sections. More examples and photos would certainly help.

seems to be

Modularity rating: 4

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 3

I prefer Ormrod's approach to Educational Psychology starting with research basics and looking at learning theories in depth and then diversity

Not seem to be an iussue

None that I found

Cultural Relevance rating: 2

Narrow, white, western treatment--not reflect US adult and student diversitIES

Good start. Needs updating

Reviewed by Elbert Davis, Assistant Professor, Marshall University on 2/5/20

This textbook aligns with another for-profit textbook that cost $220. The major concepts of educational psychology are present, including the major theories and theorists of education, along with assessments, student diversity, learners with... read more

This textbook aligns with another for-profit textbook that cost $220. The major concepts of educational psychology are present, including the major theories and theorists of education, along with assessments, student diversity, learners with special needs, and motivation. I was pleasantly surprised to see appendices concerning action research, licensure preparation, and critical evaluation of research articles. References were provided at the end of each chapter, as well as websites for additional information. At the end of each chapter are key terms, but no index or glossary was found.

I saw nothing that was inaccurate or biased. Errors were not evident.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The major theories and theorists are covered. As most of these people have passed on, it is unlikely major changes will need to be made. It would be easy to add new theories or theorists if the issue arose. The only section that will need updating or overhauling would be the chapter on standardized testing. This seems to change every so often due to national, state, and local politics. It is possible that major overhauls may be needed when laws change, as with any textbook that discusses these laws. I do think these updates would be straightforward to implement.

The textbook is as accessible as similar books on educational psychology. Jargon is typically defined for the student in-text, along with examples where needed.

The framework is very consistent. Once a student reads the first chapter, he/she should be able to know what to expect in future chapters. In each chapter, headings are broken into subheadings, followed by a chapter summary, key terms, online resources, and references. Terminology is consistent throughout the textbook, and is on the level of college students in the education field should comprehend.

The textbook is organized into chapters with the major concepts. The chapters are organized into headings and subheadings. Each page is numbered. It should be easy to assign different chapters or even sections of a chapter, if necessary. Long blocks of text are interrupted by images, charts, and tables, along with subheadings. There are very few self-referential moments in the text, other than providing an example at the beginning of each chapter.

The organization of the textbook mirrors that of costly for-profit textbooks on the same subject. Major areas are divided into 12 chapters with relevant headings and subheadings in each chapter.

The textbook is free of navigational issues. Headings and subheadings are used throughout the book. In the table of contents, the headings and subheadings are clickable and linked to the appropriate section or subsection of the book, eliminating the need to endlessly scroll to find a certain page. The images and charts used are not distorted. If I had a minor complaint, it would have been to use page breaks to ensure tables were on the same page, rather than be split across two pages. Again, this is a very minor issue.

No grammatical errors were found.

There is a section of the textbook that discusses cultural diversity and provides classroom examples based on different customs. Most of the examples outside of this section relate to the authors' personal experiences. The textbook is not insensitive or offensive in any way.

It is obvious that a love for educational psychology is the major motivation of authors Kelvin Seifert and Rosemary Sutton, as well as reviewer Sandra Deemer, and the editorial team (Marisa Drexel, Jackie Sharman, and Rachel Pugliese). Professor Seifert, in the preface, also explains his other motives for co-authoring the textbook (individualization of the content, the expense of the textbook, and eliminating the added features commercial textbook publishers use to increase the price).

Reviewed by Amanda Bozack, Associate Professor, Radford University on 1/6/20

This book covers the general areas explored in an introductory educational psychology course. The chapters are short but address the main concepts widely taught in this course and the reference list at the end of each chapter is comprehensive. read more

This book covers the general areas explored in an introductory educational psychology course. The chapters are short but address the main concepts widely taught in this course and the reference list at the end of each chapter is comprehensive.

Content Accuracy rating: 3

On many main points, the text is accurate. However, the student diversity chapter plays into outdated thinking about learning styles and multiple intelligences. Because the chapters are short, the complexity of this discussion and the importance of combatting misconceptions are missed. Instructors who use this textbook should consider supplementing this section or omitting it. Additionally, the chapter on students with disabilities does not use the language of or discuss tiered levels of support--the basic building blocks for preservice teachers--and the chapter on classroom management is very traditional without any information about trauma-informed practices or restorative practices. The chapters on motivation, communication, and complex thinking are strong.

Updates to the sections on learning styles and multiple intelligences, and the addition of tiered levels of support, trauma informed practices and restorative practices would increase the relevance of this textbook. Additionally, a section devoted to learning science and neuroscience would be useful given the many advances in recent years that help us understand learning from a neurological perspective.

This book is clearly and succinctly written. Terminology is bolded when appropriate and a list of key terms is provided after the chapter summary.

This book is consistent in format, terminology, and framework from one chapter to the next.

This text can easily be assigned in its entirety or for only specific chapters or topics. The information in one chapter is not dependent on information in another chapter. As such, instructors who use the whole text may find it useful to note where information from one chapter is aligned to information in another chapter.

The book and the chapters are organized logically, clearly, and follow the general arc of many educational psychology textbooks.

The interface for this text was appropriate. It is "low tech" and has a clickable table of contents.

There were no grammatical errors evident in my review.

This book did not address culture, race, or ethnicity specifically as part of the content. Educators looking to use a culturally responsive lens to teach educational psychology would probably want to supplement this text or use another text.

Reviewed by Adam Moore, Assistant Professor , Roger Williams University on 12/20/19

The text covers an overview of educational psychology. I wonder about some other areas within educational psychology that are not addressed such as universal design for learning (UDL) (Rose & Meyer), multiple intelligences (Gardner), backward... read more

The text covers an overview of educational psychology. I wonder about some other areas within educational psychology that are not addressed such as universal design for learning (UDL) (Rose & Meyer), multiple intelligences (Gardner), backward design (Wiggins & McTighe) and growth mindset (Dweck). While some of these theories are not without controversy, it might provide future educators and education professionals a more complete understanding of how one learns by including these topics. Even a critical analysis of these commonly known contemporary theories could help provide necessary background for future professionals.

Some of the terminology used to discuss people with disabilities in the text are not in line with people first language and are not 100% accurate (i.e. use of term IEP ("P" means program, not plan). Additionally, authors might consider mentioning the movement to "end the r word" instead of using the term "retarded". It is also important that professionals are explicitly told the problem with calling students "slow learners" (from p. 96). These ideas tend to support ableist language and ideologies that are too often present in educational settings.

This text will support the many education psychology courses offered at most institutions. The topics presented are almost universally taught in educational psychology courses.

The writing is clear and coherent.

The text is consistent in presentation, how terminology is presented, and how information is conveyed.

Many subheadings and bold-face print allow the reader to find information in manageable chunks.

The organization of the text is similar to other educational psychology texts. Clear and logical presentation of information.

The text is easy to read, provides some charts and photos, and is clear in presentation.

No grammatical errors that I found in my reading of this text.

There is not a substantial focus on historically minoritized people in this text. While some of the chapters mention race/ethnicity, there is not a consistent focus on people who have minoritized in educational settings (LGBTQ community, racially minoritized people, gender, people from the disability community, etc) nor is there a focus on equity.

Reviewed by Cassie Bergstrom, Assistant Professor, University of Northern Colorado on 12/14/19

The text covers a wide variety of topics typical to intro to educational psychology texts. The main topics of development, learning, student differences, motivation, classroom environment, and assessment are all covered in what I thought was... read more

The text covers a wide variety of topics typical to intro to educational psychology texts. The main topics of development, learning, student differences, motivation, classroom environment, and assessment are all covered in what I thought was appropriate depth. There were a few topics that I think could be more strongly emphasized, particularly related to how the brain works in the context of learning, information processing theory, and some additional cognitive topics. But I could also see these as topics that teachers could supplement. I did not see an index, but the table of contents is detailed and linked to the subtopics in the chapters. Each chapter has a list of “key terms” at the end (although they are not linked back to the area in the chapter). No overall index or glossary is present.

I did not find any content that was inaccurate. There are many citations throughout the text that I was familiar with in the context of the topics being discussed. References are listed by chapter, so the content is supported by outside sources that students can access. I didn’t detect any biased coverage, most of the commentary speaks to how the topics are currently seen in the field of educational psychology.

Overall, I do think the text is written broadly enough to be relevant for a number of years. Content in a few areas could be updated, as it is now at least 10 years old. There could definitely be more information on a few topics, for example the role of the brain in learning and memory, growth mindset, grit, autism spectrum, self-regulated learning, etc. These are topics that the field of ed psych has expanded on within the last decade. Other topics could be better positioned to reflect the general thinking in the field (ex. the content on Gardner's multiple intelligences could include more than one sentence of criticism…). I do think the text could be updated fairly easily, and would recommend the authors consider doing so within the next few years.

I really enjoyed the writing style of this text. The authors wrote in a clear, but concise manner. They did a nice job blending their writing styles (as opposed to some texts that feel distinctly written by more than one person). Additionally, the terminology and topics are explained at a level that someone without a background in psychology could understand. There is lots of context for the new ideas and terminology.

The internal consistency of this text is strong. Each chapter has the same organization, beginning with a vignette/story and followed with a number of subsections on different topics. The terminology and framework seem to be consistent across all chapters. Additionally, the headings provided follow the same pattern in chapters, also aiding consistency.

There are many headings and subheadings in this text, dividing main ideas into smaller chunks that could be assigned. The text is not overly self-referential—but honestly I think a bit more reference would be helpful at some points (for example connecting the info on gifted learners with special needs, mentioning the focus on multicultural and anti-bias education within the chapter on diversity). I do think the chapters could be assigned in a variety of orders, and the many headings improve the modularity of this text.

Yes, I think the topics presented in the chapters of the text flow logically, both across and within chapters. Providing the basis for learning up front (in Chapter 2) is a strength, as is following it with the information on development. Within each chapter, the topics logically follow one another, but not to the extent that assigning one chunk would disrupt the flow.

Overall, I think the PDF of this text looks really good. The interface feels more streamlined than many published texts, as there are no boxes, unnecessary graphics, or other distractions. The addition of a few more hyperlinks within the text (to help navigate) would be beneficial. Since the text is a bit dated, there were a few links at the end of chapters that didn’t work for me—which might confuse readers. I do wish the text was available in a format other than just a PDF. I have found it beneficial to provide the OER texts directly within the LMS, as opposed to linking out to another source. With the interface of a PDF, I believe this would be more difficult (I’m less likely to cut and paste PDF content, because of the formatting issues and needing to clean up the copy).

I found no grammatical errors in my reading of this text.

I didn’t detect any insensitivity or offensive handling of cultural issues within this text. The focus was often not on cultural diversity, and I think this could be improved. There is a full chapter on student diversity, but the section on culture is almost entirely devoted to language (while important, doesn’t encompass everything about culture). I did enjoy that the vignettes at the beginning of the chapters were authentic to the authors, but I think this could be an area that would benefit from including more diversity of representation (particularly the vignette at the beginning of Chapter 4…I’m not sure it’s the best way to speak to diversity).

I think this is a strong basic educational psychology text. The writing is clear and easy to read. If I was using this text, I would supplement it with a few topics that are either a bit dated or not covered in the text. But overall, I think it is a strong option for an intro to ed psych OER.

Reviewed by Jose Martinez Molinero, Assistant Professor of Secondary Education, Metropolitan State University of Denver on 11/11/19

In terms of covering all areas, this text provides a comprehensive introduction to the field of teaching. It is organized effectively—it takes the readers through a journey of the joys, challenges, nuances, and realities associated with the... read more

In terms of covering all areas, this text provides a comprehensive introduction to the field of teaching. It is organized effectively—it takes the readers through a journey of the joys, challenges, nuances, and realities associated with the teaching profession. The additional materials at the end of the text (Preparing for licensure, Deciding for your self about the research, and Reflective practitioner) provide resources that students in education preparation programs can refer back to as they progress in their respective programs. Although, the text could benefit from presenting other major licensure exam bodies other than Praxis. The text does not include an index or glossary in the traditional sense, however, at the end of each chapter key terms and a works cited is provided.3

From my perspective, the content of this text is accurate, error-free, and is unbiased. Furthermore, the authors invite readers to apply a critical lens on the content and research by providing open-ended questions regarding each chapter in the ‘Deciding for Yourself About the Research’ section in the additional materials section in the end.

The text is written in broad terms that allow longevity in its relevance. This is mostly achieved by presenting various/multiple theories and approaches when explaining how concepts may be applied in the classroom. Also, the authors recognize and address the differences in the classroom diversity and demographics within the text—although some of the content may not apply to one’s specific situation, other areas of the text will apply.

The text is accessible to students entering a teacher education program. As I reflect on the students I have had, I can envision my students reading this book and having ‘something to say’ about the content based on their own experiences as students and in their field experiences. What I appreciate the most is the teacher ‘scenarios’ that are presented in the beginning of each chapter and how authentic/realistic they are—this sets the tone for the chapter and captures the reader’s attention—answers the ‘why’ the chapter is important.

The text is consistent in its terminology and framework. One example of this, is once a concept(s) presented within the text, a visual chart or graph of the same information is provided for additional clarity. Moreover, I can expect a list of key terms and works cited at the end of every chapter.

The modularity of the text makes chapters easy to read and therefore makes the content accessible. Although there are some key terms I would like to see bolded versus italicized, the bullet points and section headers will make it easy for me to section off, focus on, or assign certain elements of the chapter to my students.

The topics are presented in a logical, clear fashion. Although, I would say this is true for teacher educators—some of the students in our programs may be completing their field experiences or student teaching in school districts that emphasize (or even romanticize) standardized testing—and this dominates their concerns and questions. Therefore, I would ask those considering the text to reflect on to what extent or where in the curriculum an honest discussion about the value that is (mis)placed on standardized testing should take place.

The navigation is appropriate and accessible from the Table of Contents. It would be helpful to include a navigation link at the end of chapter that takes the reader back to the Table of Contents instead of having to manually scroll back up. The use of pictures and charts are appropriate and helpful for the readers; however, they appear as simple or basic—not as vivid as in a traditional textbook. Typically, this is not an issue—however, the current generation of students’ focus is on ‘clout’ and aesthetics in determining the value of something.

From my reading of various chapters, I did not find any evident grammatical errors.

I appreciate how inclusive and authentic this text was in discussing the different types of learners. For example, I have use multiple multi-cultural education textbooks in the past, and not one has mentioned the phenomenon of ‘language loss’ that ELLs experience and its implications in the classroom.

Reviewed by Mistie Potts, Assistant Professor, Manchester University on 10/28/19

While the text offers a clear table of contents, no evidence of an index was observed. The reader can clearly locate topics that are relevant to teaching by using the table of contents, however finding specific theorists may be more challenging... read more

While the text offers a clear table of contents, no evidence of an index was observed. The reader can clearly locate topics that are relevant to teaching by using the table of contents, however finding specific theorists may be more challenging without an index of terms/names. The text appears to cover all relevant topics necessary to preservice or in-service teachers.

The content covered in this text appears to be accurate and aligns with recent peer-reviewed research in the field of educational psychology. The text clearly cites relevant research to support concepts covered. Each section concludes with references that direct the reader to recent research in the field. This research-based approach appears to be unbiased and consistent with commonly accepted views in the field of educational psychology.

The content of this textbook compliments the needs of today’s teachers. In this context, the content is relevant and applicable in a way that will allow it to remain relevant for years to come while providing a realistic way for teachers to utilize the theories and research findings. As research continues to unfold in the field of educational psychology, necessary updates may include small adjustments and manageable changes.

Written with a focus on practitioners, the text is clear and understandable. In this way, the text allows access to important topics in the field of educational psychology without bogging down the reader with complicated prose/jargon. The text calls upon a mild level of background knowledge (e.g., Pavlov and classical conditioning) yet provides contextual clues to include readers lacking this background. In my experiences, most undergraduate teacher preparation students come to the classroom with basic understandings of these topics. The clarity of the text is sufficient for this level of learners.

Terms and conceptual frameworks appear consistent throughout the breadth of the text. Tables with terms common to specific theories/concepts are provided to add clarity throughout the text. The terminology is highlighted with bold print making them easy to identify for the reader. No conflicting terminology or definitions were found during this review of the text.

The layout of the text provides clear sections identified with headers and subheadings. These make the text easy to divide and study in specific sections/topics. It could easily be read in chunks rather than front-to-back without disrupting comprehension of the text.

Similar to other textbooks I have explored in the field of educational psychology, the topics in the text are presented in a logical fashion that lays the groundwork for how individuals learn, educational diversity, development, and commences with topics surrounding the assessment of learning. The flow of text and tables is consistent and clear throughout the text. Distracting content is minimized by excluding sidebars and unnecessary graphics. The organization of the text fosters cognitive processing of the information with little distraction from supplemental information. A clear format for the licensure preparation section allows readers to access important test preparation information as needed. These take the form of sample questions from Praxis II exams, which will assist the reader in practice testing to prepare for the licensure exams.

The text is free from distracting content such as sidebars, photographs, or text boxes that may detract from comprehension of the material. Links from the table of contents direct the reader to specific sections in the text. The tables provide clear explanations of terms and theories. No displays or distortions of the images/charts/text were noticed in review of this text.

In review of this text, no grammatical errors were observed.

This text embraces multicultural education and is free from offensive or insensitive material. The omission of photographs alleviates the need to include a diverse array of examples to represent all cultures. The text discusses research relevant to diverse groups of learners and provides culturally relevant concepts to support multicultural education in schools. The examples provided throughout the text are inclusive of race, ethnicities and students from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds. Specifically, this text focuses on subject matter that will support educators as they provide educational experiences for all types of learners.

Reviewed by Nautu Leilani, Asst. Prof. of Education/Exec. Dir. of K12 Programs, Southern Utah University on 6/19/18

This resource is very comprehensive. It actually covers the content for several of our courses at our institution (introduction to teaching, principles of learning and teaching, educational psychology, classroom management, and instructional... read more

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This resource is very comprehensive. It actually covers the content for several of our courses at our institution (introduction to teaching, principles of learning and teaching, educational psychology, classroom management, and instructional planning/assessment). With a resource like this and being so comprehensive we could definitely remove the barrier of cost for our students.

The content in this resource is accurate. I was not able to find any errors and did not find biases. We already have professors in our department using this resource and I have not heard from them that there has been any issues in these areas either.

The content is up to date and will not become obsolete. Since the book is so comprehensive I don't believe the authors could go in depth on many of the topics. They discuss the topics very well. The only suggestion I would have is that they add to each section actual strategies to help teachers with applicability.

The text is written so that a student new to the field could understand it - the authors take time to explain terminology that is specific to the field.

I did not find any inconsistencies in terminology or the framework provided. I believe that in using this text in our classes, we will be more equipped to add further comment on this section.

One of the biggest concerns we have now in our College is overwhelming our students with too much reading. The problem when we do this is that the students choose to do none of it. The smaller chunks that the author provided makes this a resource that helps us address this concern. We could definitely use this resource as an introduction to all these topics and then jump off from there. Since the chunks of reading are small the students will likely read it and get the foundation we need them to have to go deeper.

We just did a scope and sequence of our courses in Teacher Education and when I compare the flow of this resource to our outcomes from our scope and sequence, I found that the flow matched what we thought should be the flow of our courses in general.

I would have liked to see more graphics and visuals and flowcharts to attract the attention of the reader. I think also the very narrow margins makes it feel like there is too much to read on a page. At the expense of having more pages to read for each chunk I would probably make the margins at least a little bigger.

I didn't necessarily read for grammatical errors - because that would be a read of it just for that - but as I read each part I didn't find any grammar errors that would prevent comprehension.

I would say that the cultural relevance/sensitivity of this book is a good surface attempt. I would have liked the authors to go deeper in other areas of culturally responsive teaching like they did with the english language learner sections.

Thank you to the authors for helping us compile such a wonderful resource, and for being willing to share it with us inexpensively. They should be commended. This was a lot of work on their part - and then to be willing to share it liberally is noteworthy. My suggestions were meant to only add to the wonderful work they have done. Thank you again.

Reviewed by Stephen Vassallo, Associate Professor, American University on 2/1/18

The book covers most of what one might expect in an conventional educational psychology text for teacher education. However, I am surprised that self-regulated learning is not included in the book. This notion has been an important area of study... read more

The book covers most of what one might expect in an conventional educational psychology text for teacher education. However, I am surprised that self-regulated learning is not included in the book. This notion has been an important area of study for educational psychologists for about 4 decades now. Self-regulated learning is often discussed in the section on "higher order thinking." There are also other ideas such as growth mindset and grit that are more contemporary than self-regulated learning. I would like to see these concepts discussed in an educational psychology text. I would also like to see some text on embodied cognition, which is a perspective of memory that is contrasted with the information processing perspective, which also happens to not be discussed. Although the information processing theory is philosophically and conceptually limited, it can be helpful for thinking about teaching. There are also sociocultural theories, beyond Vygotsky, that can be helpful for getting a broad and diverse representation of the field.

Educational psychology is never unbiased. The one major error in this book is that this bias is not acknowledged. However, I am hesitant to call that an error of the authors and the text an error of the field. I did not find any errors in representing the elements of the field that are typically taught to teachers. However, what is typically taught to teachers relating to educational psychology misses a great deal of complexities--including those biases that underpin theories, perspectives, methods, ways of reasoning, and models. The authors are accurate in explaining the theories and concepts that are taught in an educational psychology text.

The text is written in a way that can support adding contemporary ideas. For example, grit and growth mindset are getting a good deal of attention among educational psychologists, psychologists, administrators, and policy makers. These notions can easily be integrated in the chapter on motivation. These notions are also problematic. I would suggest integrating not just explanations of these ideas but their philosophical and ideological complexities. As another example, researchers have recently debunked the learning styles framework. I think it is worth talking about "learning styles" but offer different perspectives related to this way of reading and naming students. I am not suggesting that authors shape their texts in response to every educational fad that emerges, but I think authors should try to capture as best they could the critical nuances with the ideas they present to teachers. One of the major shortcomings of this book is the contemporary relevance but I rated this high because the structure of the book lends itself well to integrating new content.

The text is clear and lucid. All terminology is explained well.

The book is consistent. And although consistency is generally a positive quality of a book, I would like to see competing and contradictory text. For example, developmental frameworks can be useful for teaching but they can also be implicated in a number of problematic student evaluations and educational interventions. It is useful and valuable to capture the inconsistencies with thinking about learning, development, and teaching. With that said, the authors are consistent within their frame of reference. They present educational psychology ideas that are intended to improve teaching and learning.

The authors do a fine job at partitioning the text and labeling sections with appropriate headings. Although topics and concepts across chapters are related, each chapter can stand on its own and does not have to be assigned in chronological order. The text is not overly self-referential. In fact, I argue that it lacks self-reference. There are many ideas that need to be considered together and hyperlinks can help students make those connections. For example, the chapter on complex thinking should be considered in the context of development. I would like to see links between chapters.

This book conforms to the general organization of educational psychology texts. Early in the book the authors introduce readers to theories of learning and then move into development. Following are two chapters on learner differences. One is related to cognitive differences such as learning styles and intelligence. The other is related to special learning needs. The middle chapters center on big topic, including classroom management, motivation, and complex thinking. Like many other books, the last chapters are dedicated to application by focusing explicitly on pedagogy and assessment. Although chapters are dedicated to pedagogy toward the end of the book, the authors integrate suggestions throughout for applying ideas to the classroom. The organization and flow makes sense. I might consider, however, having the "complex thinking" chapter follow learning and development. The book is organized and written in such a way to support assignment chapters out of the listed order. I think that is more important than having the book chapters conform to how I might organize topic. Instructors will likely have different ideas about topic organization and this book allows for that possibility.

The images, charts, and tables are clear. There was nothing that distracted me as a reader. I did experience any problems with navigation. One very minor interface issue was that the tables were a little drab. Reviewing the tables felt like I was reviewing a quickly constructed table on a Word file. Perhaps shading title boxes or different rows or columns, for example, might make for targeted attention and aesthetic pleasure.

I did not find any grammatical errors in this book.

I do not believe the authors say anything explicitly offensive or insensitive. There are some examples and discussion of cultural groups and variation. Some educational psychology textbooks have a chapter dedicated to cultural differences in learning and development. This book does not have such a chapter, but rather has evidence of cultural relevance sprinkled modestly throughout. The issue of culture has not quite been handled well in general within educational psychology texts. This limitation is characteristic of the field in general and not specific to the text.

I would like to see some hyperlinks in the text. There are many ideas that are related to each other but are in different chapters. If hyperlinks are not possible to refer students to other chapters, perhaps not just refer students to outside sources at the end of the chapter, but also point them to different chapters within the book.

This textbook is a solid educational psychology book. Aside from missing discussion of some contemporary ideas, concepts, and critical perspectives, the authors provide a good overview of the field. I recommend using this book for a course but supplementing some of the material. I suggest certainly bringing in readings on grit, growth mindset, self-regulated learning, and embodied cognition. I also suggest bringing in text about critical educational psychology, which can support the reflections on the ways ideology, history, culture, and politics operate in and through educational psychology.

Reviewed by Cecelia Monto, Dean, Education and Humanities, and Adjunct Instructor in Education, Chemeketa Community College on 4/11/17

This book provides an overall comprehensive look at educational psychology, but I think it could be updated. If I use this text, I would supplement this text with current sources on: • Educational neuroscience • Poverty and the brain (use Eric... read more

This book provides an overall comprehensive look at educational psychology, but I think it could be updated. If I use this text, I would supplement this text with current sources on: • Educational neuroscience • Poverty and the brain (use Eric Jensen and other sources) • The need for greater diversity in the teaching force (use Linda Darling-Hammond and others) • Bilingualism in the U.S. • The concept of grit (use Duckworth), and for U.S. use I would fold in current legislation and historical pieces. • Communication during conflict Each chapter begins with an inviting story on the opening pages, and then moves on to the core topic. The stories seem a little simplistic, but they do provide a welcoming beginning to each chapter. Some of the openers (such as journals kept by author Kelvin Seifert) would not relate well to U.S. students. I would have liked a “social justice perspective” woven into the book. This could be related to students as they imagine their future teaching role, and the contribution they will make to kids, and to greater society. In the U.S., education has a solid link to democracy, and the historical foundation is powerful to students. Arne Duncans’ quote could be used to lead this idea. ““I believe that education is the civil rights issue of our generation. And if you care about promoting opportunity and reducing inequality, the classroom is the place to start. Great teaching is about so much more than education; it is a daily fight for social justice.” There are no photos or eye-catching items in the text. The authors comment that this is for cost reduction purposes, however, since the text is offered digitally it could add a needed dimension to the text.

Chapters 1, 2 and 3 The first chapter would be a good place to lay the ground work for education as a vehicle for social justice. The “trends in teaching” paragraphs should be updated. I actually thought the first chapter was a little short. There was good coverage of the learning process, although I would add information about learning and the brain. and the major learning theories (behaviorism, Piaget, Vygotsky, Bruner), as related to educational psychology and the implications to teaching. The Student development chapter was appropriate for a course on educational psychology, but may present too much information for more introductory courses. I would have liked a more straight forward piece written about stages of development, with a clear outline of physical, cognitive, social and character development, and I would have included a clear graph of Piaget’s model for cognitive development with this section. They do cover this, but the writing is less clear for me in this section. Same on Maslow- I would have liked a simpler hierarchy of needs chart. Erik Erkison’s psychosocial development section is good. The outline for Kohlberg’s stages of moral reasoning, and linkage to ethical thinking and justice was good, with Gilligan’s framework included. For US use, I would add in examples from US schools and even court cases to exemplify points.

Chapters 4, 5 and 6 The student diversity section was not comprehensive. The content on learning styles, and multiple intelligences was fine. There was some information on Talented and Gifted, but it was not linked to learning disabilities. I would have folded in Chapter 5 into Chapter 4, instead of making it a separate chapter on Students with Special Educational Needs. The separate chapter on Students with Special Educational Needs offered pretty good detail for an overview class. The ADHD section was good. I would recommend more content on dyslexia. The segment addressing behavioral issues could be linked to societal and SES issues. I appreciated the inclusion of hearing loss and vision impairment, because I have not seen that in many texts. I would have introduced the concept of differentiated learning in this section, and then revisited it in the later section. The Gender roles section of chapter 4 is incomplete and dated, more information is needed on different sexual orientations. I would have liked to see deeper content related to the bilingual and second language learners. The initial chapter mentions language diversity, but too briefly. There is no mention of the need of greater diversity in the teaching force itself. Authors could use research from Linda Darling-Hammond to write about this topic. In Chapter 4, the Student Diversity section., there is discussion of bilingualism, but seemed too clinical. I would have liked discussion of why language learners need models ….. and more coverage of English language learners in relation to motivation would have been helpful. The part on cultural identity development was good. This could be addressed by adding journal articles on this topic into supplementary coursework. Content related to low SES and the role poverty plays in the psychological profile of students is missing. The Student Motivation chapter would be appealing to students. I think this could be inserted into any time frame of the class. Perhaps this information would have been better if directly linked to the learning theory section, ie Skinner’s behaviorism, or to the Student Motivation Chapter. I would have liked to see more about making learning relevant and placed in the real world context in this chapter. Motivation linked to self-efficacy was good, but the self-determination section seemed a little esoteric and I don’t think would resonate with U.S. students. This might be a good chapter to include a piece about “grit” (by Duckworth) and learning.

Chapter 7 and 8 I would re-title this section, to use words such a Creating a Positive and Productive Learning Environment, and fold in the student motivation section and the classroom communication section. This chapter could be shorter, and written in a way that made inquiry with the reader to make it more relevant. That would leave more room to fold in the other chapters. The segment on focusing on future solutions rather than past mistakes is excellent. I would have liked to see the use of the word pedagogy in this section. I would remove the section on “functions of talk”, and reduce down the section on nonverbal communication. That would leave more room for additional information about communication and conflict and also cross cultural communication, which are areas where students need help. I would also shorten the section on classroom communication, and build in more inquiry for student readers in this section. Chapter 9, 10, 11 and 12 Facilitation Complex Thinking and Planning instruction and Assessment could be combined. I would like to see the concepts of diagnostic, formative and summative assessment included, and then linked to current examples. This would align with the concepts of student-centered and teacher-centered learning, with discussion on the methodology such as inquiry based learning, cooperative/collaborative learning. Setting learning goals and “backward design” could be added to the curriculum section. The section outlining Bloom’s Taxonomy with examples and revisions is excellent. I am glad you included Marzano. I would revisit the concept of differentiated instruction with the information presented on response to intervention. I would move the multicultural education and anti-bias education section out of this chapter, and in to the earlier section on student diversity. Information on alternative approaches to learning, like online learning and service learning is good. The assessment section was thoughtfully written, and would challenge students to consider how they are making assessment decisions. Getting students to consider the validity and reliability of assessment is critical, and revisiting the concept of bias as related to assessment is important. I would reduce the content related to teacher made assessments, and perhaps have the students evaluate existing assessments

Overall, information was accurate. Some sections that are dated presented slightly inaccurate information. For example, the authors give data about the Hispanic population in the U.S. from 2005, which was 14%. This should be adjusted to 18%, and notice of the growth of this segment should be noted to represent the true picture. The U.S. National Center for Educational Statistics notes about 25% of students in public school are Hispanic (and even that information is 3 years old). The licensing chapter is also dated and therefore inaccurate. The sections on “deciding for yourself”, which explained the research procedures used and gave more content information, were a great vehicle to encourage students to consider the complexities of research, and demonstrate their ability to evaluate and critically consider complicated topics, thus improving the accuracy of their own thinking.

The authors bring a unique perspective to educational psychology because they are from outside the U.S. I appreciate their candor in acknowledging that most major textbooks in this area cover similar content, but are quite expensive when printed and published via conventional manner. However, there are some content issues that jeopardize the relevance and longevity of the book. I would like to see the concept of educational neuroscience addressed in the early sections on cognitive development. The Student Development Chapter 3 would need to be re-worked for greater relevance for U.S. use. I would have liked to see development issues tied to social factors. The authors did some of this when they discussed health issues, but for the most part social links are missing. To improve relevance, I would like to see information on how poverty affects the brain and learning. I would also like to see a section devoted to the importance of having a diverse teaching workforce. The section on technology use in schools is quite dated and unrealistic. Discussion of single-computer classrooms is outdated. Although they must exist, I have never observed such a classroom in at least 10 years. There needs to be more emphasis on using technology in a myriad of ways, from harnessing the power of smart phones, tablets, and internet resource gathering was not fully covered. Chapter 10 references online learning, but it could have been made more relevant by explaining this book as an example. The final section on licensing requirements was outdated. Our state no longer uses PRAXIS. Perhaps because licensing is done on a state-by-state basis, this section should encourage instructors to use their own state resources in this area. Other topics that would improve relevance would be the topic “grit”, and the development of communication skills that address conflict. The citations seem dated, not much past 2006. The publication date is 2011. Relevant current publications and issues should be brought in.

Due to the consistent writing style and predictable format, the book was clear and easy to follow. Additional charts or graphs could reinforce points made in the book, and thus might improve clarity for visual learners. Chapter summaries clearly reinforce main points for students to grasp. Lists of key points and terminology also added clarity, such as the listing at the end of Chapter 3.

Overall consistency was good. Writing style was straightforward and standardized throughout the text, which made reading easier. The links to additional articles were consistently presented, and therefore would be easy to reference.

The text is designed in a modular framework, and authors note that chapters can be taught in any order. Some of the repetition crosses over modules, which helps with clarity.

The text flowed in a logical manner, and as a reader I would recommend teaching from it from the structure already presented. In terms of organization, I would move the Action Research table to a different section, not right up front. The first three chapters fit together nicely as a unit. In this early section, I would also like to see more on changes in the brain that occur from learning new information. Chapters 4 and 5 meshed well. As I already noted, I suggest linking the learning section with the motivation section .I would organize the material in Chapter 6 to fold into the later Chapters 7 or 8. The final chapters regarding instructional planning, assessment and facilitation of complex thinking could be reorganized. Each chapter finished with a summary, which could help students organize their thinking. I would change the layout of the summary into bullet points, to make it more readable. Key vocabulary was also highlighted, so that students could focus on the language specifics of the education field.

The online resources, with examples of assignments, are beneficial. Simple assignments, such as creating a chart summarizing human development, would be easy for students to follow and reinforce their reading. There was a large array of resources and articles, which would allow instructors to supplement and make the chapters more relevant. I would like to see more reflection pieces, like journals on certain topics. The autobiography assignments were too vague. The assignment on “true confessions” from students regarding moral development would be too risky in a community college setting. I would also like to see some video pieces attached as additional resources. In the communication section towards the end of the book, it would have been great to observe examples of communication styles in the classroom, or include interviews with teachers. Video clips demonstrating children in varying stages of development would also be useful. I know it’s always easier to ask for more resources than to provide them. But these additional elements would provide variety to the course.

The grammar was correct and accurate.

Cultural Relevance rating: 3

Greater relevance could be achieved by updating resources used and broadening topics to include current issues in the United States. Some opening stories did not mesh well with current student experience. For example, the Chapter 4 opening story would not be relate-able to the students in my class. As noted earlier, more emphasis on the importance of a bicultural and bilingual teaching workforce was not mentioned, and this perspective is critical. Lead in stories could provide a venue for greater cultural perspectives on teaching and student experience, and is needed. The text also lacks mention of social justice issues as they relate to teaching, which is an important point in proving cultural relevancy. Reflective assignments and inquiry based writing could be added to challenge students to broaden their thinking and relate content to their own circumstances.

Many sections of the text are solid, and I would like to use content for an online book that I will create for our Foundations of Education course. I read this text through the lens of that course need, and I was looking for some elements that are understandably not covered in this text. The current text I am using incorporates a lot of student reflection, and I think including that aspect into this text would make it more engaging. I also noted that the lack of content related to social justice and the teaching field is a concern.

Reviewed by Maite Correa, Associate Professor, Colorado State University on 12/5/16

This textbook is very comprehensive. Any prospective or current teacher could use it as an introduction or a refresher (respectively). The topics covered are ample and the references and additional readings provided at the end of each chapter help... read more

This textbook is very comprehensive. Any prospective or current teacher could use it as an introduction or a refresher (respectively). The topics covered are ample and the references and additional readings provided at the end of each chapter help the reader expand on the topic if needed. The text provides an effective index at the beginning and a glossary for each unit.

Content is accurate. Drawing from different pedagogical approaches, the authors manage to create a balance that helps the reader make their own choices.

Content is relatively up-to-date. Although chapter 12 might become obsolete depending on state requirements for standardized tests, overall, the text can stand the test of time (taking into account that pedagogy is an area that changes rapidly).

The text is accessible for any reader. All jargon or terminology is explained. It is suitable for teacher candidates, for teachers who want a refresher and for anyone interested in pedagogy.

The text is internally consistent in terms of terminology and framework. Chapters flow into each other very well, although they could be used separately (see modularity below).

The text could be used as a whole textbook divided by units (the order seems appropriate for an "Intro to Pedagogy" course), but it could also be divided into smaller reading sections that can be assigned at different points within the course. It could also be used as a companion to any other handbook that is discipline-specific (Math, Language Arts, World Languages, etc.). Case studies at the end make it very easy to assign them at any point.

The topics in the text follow a logical fashion. From the introduction (learning process and student development) until the end (assessment and standardized tests), the text increases in specificity/complexity. The case studies in the appendices are very conveniently located at the end for easy access in case the chapters are assigned in isolation.

Although the indentation in the tables could be improved and some images could be formatted to be more visually appealing, the interface in general is appropriate.

The text contains no grammatical errors.

The text is not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way. On the contrary, it follows pedagogies that are inclusive of a variety of races, ethnicities, and backgrounds.

This is a great textbook that can be used in any education course at both undergraduate and graduate levels. It can be complemented with research articles in each discipline if needed, but it can be perfectly used on its own.

Reviewed by Kelly Lynch, Teacher - Elementary Education, University of Oklahoma on 1/12/15

Text covers all aspects of what a teacher would encounter throughout the year in a classroom. Very comprehensive. read more

Text covers all aspects of what a teacher would encounter throughout the year in a classroom. Very comprehensive.

To my knowledge and experience, this text is very accurate on all fronts. It is up-to-date when it addresses standardized testing, management challenges, and student diversity.

The content in this text will need to be updated at times to keep in step with changes in standardized testing. Other than that particular section, I don't believe there will be signifigant updating needed regularly.

Text is easy to read, comprehend, and offers varied examples to address multiple ages of children and adults.

Consistency is not an issue. Text is in step with current terminology.

Text is clearly divided into smaller sections. Very easy to assign.

Text is well organized and easy to follow. Topics are clear and easily defined.

Text is very clear and easy to read. Information is easy to interpret.

No signifigant grammatical errors.

Text is culturally diverse.

Reviewed by Selma Koç, Associate Professor, Cleveland State University on 1/12/15

"Educational Psychology” by Seifert and Sutton covers a wide variety of topics providing examples from everyday classroom situations. The authors need to be commended for a book that can lay a strong foundation in the area for prospective... read more

"Educational Psychology” by Seifert and Sutton covers a wide variety of topics providing examples from everyday classroom situations. The authors need to be commended for a book that can lay a strong foundation in the area for prospective teachers. The structure of the book, the contents, the easy-to-read approach, how the authors make connections relevant to theory and practice and among the topics will be of value to the educational psychology courses. The language of the book makes it clear for the prospective teachers develop an understanding of how major theories of learning and models can be relevant and useful in teaching and learning. The inclusion of the chapters on the nature of classroom communication, facilitating complex thinking, teacher-made assessment strategies and examples provided as well as the appendices with respect to preparing students for licensure, research and the reflective practitioner complement the book compared to the other outlets in the area. For example, in the appendix titled "deciding for yourself about the research," the readers are provided with examples of several research problems, how they were conducted and their implications that reflect many of the themes of the book chapters.

The content seems to be accurate, error-free and unbiased.

The book starts with a chapter about the changing teaching profession: new trends in education such as diversity in students, use of technology to support learning, accountability in education, increased professionalism of teachers. Updates can easily be made if necessary if new trends or influences in education were to occur.

The book is written in a clear and easy-to-understand style that is adequate for those who are novice to educational psychology. The language of the text makes it appealing for exploring the book content further. Although the book is written by two authors, it's hard to detect the difference between the authors' writing.

The book is consistent in terms of terminology and framework.

The table of contents is well organized and easily divisible into reading sections that can be assigned at different points within the course. The authors do a great job providing headings and subheadings to avoid reader fatigue or overload that contibute to the the reading of the content more appealing.

The topics are presented in a manner that is suitable for an educational psychology course that flows with the course content and activities.

The text does not have any interface or navigation issues when read on-screen or in print.

I have not noticed any grammar mistakes or issues with the writing mechanics that will disrupt the meaning of the text.

The book makes use of diversity and cultural relevance as it provides numerous examples from everyday classroom situations as well as the research it discusses.

This is a book that can rivet the attention of teacher candidates because of its easy-to-understand style. I commend the authors for a book that clearly communicates the purpose of studying educational psychology and how it relates to teaching and learning.

Table of Contents

• 1. The changing teaching profession and you
• 2. The learning process
• 3. Student development
• 4. Student diversity
• 5. Students with special educational needs
• 6. Student motivation
• 7. Classroom management and the learning environment
• 8. The nature of classroom communication
• 9. Facilitating complex thinking
• 10. Planning instruction
• 11. Teacher-made assessment strategies
• 12. Standardized and other formal assessments

Ancillary Material

• University of Manitoba

About the Book

Chapters in the text can be assigned either from beginning to end, as with a conventional printed book, or they can be selected in some other sequence to meet the needs of particular students or classes. In general the first half of the book focuses on broader questions and principles taken from psychology per se, and the second half focuses on somewhat more practical issues of teaching. But the division between “theory” and “practice” is only approximate; all parts of the book draw on research, theory, and practical wisdom wherever appropriate. Chapter 2 is about learning theory, and Chapter 3 is about development; but as we point out, these topics overlap with each other as well as with the concerns of daily teaching. Chapter 4 is about several forms of student diversity (what might be called individual differences in another context), and Chapter 5 is about one form of diversity that has become prominent in schools recently—students with disabilities. Chapter 6 is about motivation, a topic that is heavily studied by psychological researchers, but that also poses perennial challenges to classroom teachers.

Following these somewhat more basic psychological chapters, we turn to several lasting challenges of classroom life—challenges that seem to be an intrinsic part of the job. Chapter 7 offers ideas about classroom management; Chapter 8, ideas about communicating with students; Chapter 9, about ways to assist students' complex forms of thinking; and Chapter 10, about planning instruction systematically. The book closes with two chapters about assessment of learning: Chapter 11 focuses on teachers' own efforts to assess students, and Chapter 12 focuses on standardized measures of assessment.

We have organized material and features in ways that we hope will allow for a variety of students, instructors, and institutions to use the book. For instructors and courses that seek a strong focus on research and the research process, for example, we have included an extra “chapter” on research methods—Appendix C, “The Reflective Practitioner”—that discusses the nature of research and the research process. We have also included a set of research-related case studies in Appendix B, “Deciding for yourself about the research”, that describe a number of particular educational research programs or topics in detail and that invite students to reflect on the quality and implications of the research.

Whether or not a strong focus on research is a priority in your particular course, there are additional features of the book that are intended to help students in learning about educational psychology. In particular, each chapter ends with a “Chapter summary”, a list of “Key terms”, and links to Internet sites (called “Further resources”) relevant to the themes of the chapter. One of the sites that is cited frequently and that may be particularly helpful to instructors is the teachingedpsych wiki (http://teachingedpsych.wikispaces.com/), an archive of hundreds of teaching and learning materials that supports the teaching of introductory educational psychology. Teachingedpsych is a project of the Special Interest Group on the Teaching of Educational Psychology (TEP SIG), affiliated with the American Educational Research Association.

All in all, we hope that you find Educational Psychology a useful and accessible part of your education. If you are preparing to be a teacher, good luck with your studies and your future! If you are an instructor, good luck with helping your students learn about this subject!

About the Contributors

Kelvin Seifert is professor of educational psychology at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. He earned a BA from Swarthmore College in 1967 and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in 1973, in a combined program from the School of Education and the Department of Psychology. His research interests include the personal identity development of teachers, the impact of peers in 0pre-service teacher education, and the development of effective strategies of blended learning. He is the author of four university textbooks (with Houghton Mifflin, in traditional print format) about educational psychology, child and adolescent development, and lifespan human development. He is also the editor of the online Canadian Journal of Educational Administration and Policy. Recent publications include “Student cohorts: Support groups or intellectual communities?” (Teachers College Record) and “Learning about peers: A missed opportunity for educational psychology” (The Clearinghouse). His professional service includes serving as chair of the Department of Educational Administration, Foundations, and Psychology at the University of Manitoba, and serving as president of the American Educational Research Association Special Interest Group on Teaching Educational Psychology. During his career of 35 years, he has taught introductory educational psychology over 75 times.

Rosemary Sutton attended graduate school and earned her MS in Educational Psychology from the University of Illinois and her Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University in Human Development. She joined the Cleveland State University faculty in Cleveland, Ohio in 1983 and since that time has taught pre-service and in service undergraduates and graduate students educational psychology and educational technology. She has received several University awards for her teaching and has conducted numerous workshops for teachers in North East Ohio.

Dr Sutton has published a variety research articles on teacher development as well as equity issues in mathematics, technology, and assessment. Her recent research interests have focused in two areas: teaching educational psychology and teachers' emotions. Recent publications can be found in Social Psychology of Education, Educational Psychology Review, Journal of Teacher Education, and an edited volume, Emotions and Education.

Since 2004, Dr Sutton has been working as an Administrator, first as the Director of Assessment for the University. This position involved coordinating the student learning assessment for all graduate, undergraduate, and student support programs. In August 2007, Dr Sutton was appointed Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies and is now responsible for overseeing offices and functions from academic and student service areas in order to create a campus culture that coordinates student services with the academic mission of the University.

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These Are the 89 Best Books for Each College Major, According to Students

We polled students on their favorite for-class reads.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you purchase through our links. Please read our full disclosure here .

Every once in a while you get a book assigned to you for a class that actually changes your life . Maybe it’s the book that makes you realize that this is what you’re meant to study, or the novel that alters your perspective on your field.

Through my political science classes, I’ve been fortunate to have several of books that have done just that, but I’m always on the lookout for new books to read in the subjects that I ordinarily don’t get to study.

For this article, I reached out to students from every major I could find, from Econ to Enviro, General Chem to Gender Studies, to find the best books that real college students are reading for their classes.  (I’ve linked them below, but feel free to buy them from your local bookstore instead !)

Scroll on down to see all of the college major book picks!

Table of Contents

The Best Books, According to Political Science Majors:

1.  The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander  

This book shows the ways legislative efforts have redesigned the racial caste system in the U.S through the criminal justice system. It examines how mass incarceration has become a system of racial control all while operating under “the principle of colorblindness.” 

( Too long, no time to read? Check out Ava DuVernay’s Oscar-nominated Netflix documentary 13th in which Alexander is interviewed!)

2.  On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder  

This is a quick read but it may just be the most important book you read this year. With the rise of nationalism around the world and an increasingly fractured political sphere, Snyder’s book examines the darkest political and historical moments of the past century so that we will not be doomed to repeat the same mistakes.

Honorable Mentions: 

• Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
• The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein
• White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America by Nancy Isenberg 

The Best Books, According to Education Majors:

1.  For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood… and the Rest of Y’all Too: Reality Pedagogy and Urban Education by Christopher Emdin  

For anyone with ambitions to go into education reform, this should be required reading. Emdin draws on his own experiences from his childhood to discuss today’s educational system and how to combat the disconnect between students and teachers that sets up so many for failure. This book is about how to reimagine the classroom as a place of equals in which students play just as large a role in teaching as they do learning.

2.  The Bridge to Brilliance: How One Principal in a Tough Community Is Inspiring the World by Nadia Lopez with Rebecca Paley  

This book may sound familiar to some and that is because the author is the Ms. Lopez from the Humans of New York post  that went viral in 2015. That post led to several follow-ups as people around the world became invested in Ms. Lopez and the work she was doing for her students. This book, which details her pedagogy and approach to teaching students the rest of the society characterizes as unteachable, is dedicated to hundreds of other Ms. Lopezes around the country who are putting in the work to revolutionize our education system.

Honorable Mention: 

• “Keep the Damned Women Out”: The Struggle for Coeducation by Nancy Weiss Malkiel

The Best Books, According to Religious or Cultural Studies Majors:

1.  Zahra’s Paradise by Amir and Khalil  

This is a graphic novel set in the aftermath of Iran’s 2009 elections. It is beautifully crafted with breathtaking illustrations as it retells the story of one mother’s search for her son when he goes missing after protesting the results of the fraudulent election. Zahra’s Paradise  is a must read for anyone wanting to understand the global political climate and because of its graphic novel-style, you can easily read it in one sitting.

2.  The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen  

This book tells the story of the Vietnam War from an Asian perspective through the eyes of a communist spy. While it reads like a thriller and its spy-novel feel is enough to give James Bond a run for his money, The Sympathizer  tackles issues of race and identity in a war-torn nation and explores one of the darkest moments in our nation’s history.

• One Hundred Years of Solitude  by Gabriel Garcia Marquez; 
• Getting Religion: Faith, Culture, and Politics from the Age of Eisenhower to the Era of Obama by Kenneth L. Woodward

The Best Books, According to STEM Majors:

1.  Lab Girl , by Hope Jahren  

This book tells the story of a woman’s journey through botany and how she found her personal sanctuary in the study. Jahren also utilizes her memoir to highlight the importance of scientists to fight for the protection of our environment, making it a perfect read for anyone studying Bio or Environmental Studies!

2.  Gulp by Mary Roach  

This is a great read for anyone dredging through a particularly difficult semester because while it is non-fiction, it’s hilarious! Roach has been called “America’s funniest science writer” by the Washington Post, so be sure to pick this up if you’re in search of a light read about the alimentary canal .

Honorable Mentions:  

• The Triumph of Seeds: How Grains, Nuts, Kernels, Pulses, and Pips Conquered the Plant Kingdom and Shaped Human History  by Thor Hanson; 
• A Civil Action by Jonathan Harr; 
• Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change by Elizabeth Kolbert; 
• Intuition by Allegra Goodman 

The Best Books, According to Computer Science Majors:

1.  Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequalities and Threatens Democracy by Cathy O’Neil

There’s no better time than right now to read this book. Though hyperbolic at times, O’Neil’s work illustrates the pervasiveness of “Big Data” in our everyday lives. It also explains what to do once you’ve pulled back the curtain and seen inside our ever-expanding world of technology.

2.  Crash Override: How Gamergate (Nearly) Destroyed My Life, and How We Can Win the Fight Against Online Hate by Zoe Quinn  

This book has been on my radar for some time now. Crash Override is important for any woman going into CompSci to read because we, unfortunately, live in a world where Quinn’s experiences as a woman in tech are all too common. Her resilience in the face of relentless trolls is an important lesson and message to all those who follow in her footsteps.

Honorable Mentions:

• Troublemakers: Silicon Valley’s Coming of Age by Leslie Berlin;
• Utopia is Creepy and Other Provocations by Nicholas Carr

The Best Books, According to History Majors:

1.  The Poisoner’s Handbook: Murder & Forensics in Jazz Age New York by Deborah Blum  

This is an addictive retelling of the evolution of forensic science during the roaring twenties. Part scientific history, part detective novel, this book is highly recommended for history buffs who are fans of Law & Order or Criminal Minds .

2. City of Light, City of Poison: Murder, Magic and the First Police Chief of Paris by Holly Tucker  

In a similar vein to our first book, this work looks at crime and the evolution of the police force in 17th century Paris. Following the first police chief of the City of Lights, Nicolas de La Reynie’s obsessive notes, court transcripts, and other historical documents give authenticity to this enticing tale of murder and deception that would otherwise seem like something straight out of an HBO period drama. 

• Out of the East: Spices and the Medieval Imagination by Paul Freedman

The Best Books, According to Economics Majors:

1.  Who Cooked Adam Smith’s Dinner?: A Story of Women and Economics  by Katrine Marcal  

I first saw this book in my hometown’s library and was immediately fascinated by the premise, as finance is typically thought of as a man’s world. The discussions surrounding feminism so often center on social inequalities rather than economic ones and so this book will definitely be one of my next picks when I have free time!

2.  The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing. A Book of Practical Counsel by Benjamin Graham  

This book connects the theoretical with the practical by explaining how to implement classical economic philosophies in your own investments. Time is key when investing, so if you can start investing even a tiny bit of money while in college, it will, literally, pay off in a big way.

3.   Basic Economics: A Common Sense Guide to the Economy by Thomas Sowell

For those of you (like me) with zero knowledge or understanding of the economy, check out  for a beginners’ guide to the economy that anyone can follow, recommended by a CF Reader!

• The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism by Edward E. Baptist

The Best Books, According to Psychology Majors:

1.  An Unquiet Mind by Kay Redfield Jamison  

This one was recommended to me by no less than three people because it is just that incredible. As someone who struggles with a depressive illness, I especially value that Dr. Jamison is retelling her own personal experiences, in often times heart-wrenching detail and brutal honesty. As her memoir focuses on her experiences in academic medicine, it is even more appropriate for college readers.

2.  The Quiet Room: A Journey Out of the Torment of Madness by Amanda Bennett and Lori Schiller  

In this book, Schiller details her personal tale of survival and perseverance as she recounts her highest highs and lowest lows in her battle with schizophrenia. Her story is important because Schiller is shedding light on an often misunderstood and stereotyped disease in a way that is as compelling as it is heartbreaking.

• The Brain that Changes Itself by Norman Doidge; 
• Mindsight by Daniel Seigel

Additionally, if there’s any interest in more psych books, I have a dear friend who focuses on Autism Spectrum Disorder and thus has a wealth of books she suggested I include. So let me know in the comments if that’s something you’d like to see!

If you’re majoring in Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies …

1.  The Power by Naomi Alderman  

I just started reading The Power , and I am already OBSESSED. It’s been called The Handmaid’s Tale  for this generation and it details a reimagining of our world as one in which women and teenage girls possess the power to inflict torturous pain on anyone they choose. The writing is haunting and addictive and I am personally neglecting all of my assigned readings at the moments to finish this. It’s that  good.

2.  Feminist Fight Club: An Office Survival Manual for a Sexist Workplace by Jessica Bennett  

This one has been recommended to me by so many professors that I’ve finally lost count. As humorous as it is informative, the Feminist Fight Club  is a manifesto of sorts for how to survive (and thrive) in a world that continues to undervalue women and their contributions. And did I mention it’s funny? Seriously, in addition to a wealth of research and statistics, this book contains feminist Mad Libs and more.

• Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston; 
• Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit; 
• White Teeth by Zadie Smith;
• Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay (reviewed by CF here! ); literally anything and everything by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

The Best Books, According to Biology Majors:

1.  The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot  

This book is a best-seller (and Oprah endorsed! ) for a reason. It tells the often-ignored story of how inequality, race, and medicine have interacted in our nation’s history. Henrietta Lacks had her DNA, her very essence, taken without her consent or knowledge. For years her story was kept secret until this novel brought the truth to the public’s eye igniting a dialogue about the intersection of ethics and scientific discovery.

2.   Power, Sex, Suicide: Mitochondria and the Meaning of Life by Nick Lane . 

The title of this pick alone won me over. This book delves into everyone’s favorite powerhouse, the cell, and how it actually determines far more of our lives and our choices than you could ever imagine.

• This is Your Brain on Parasites: How Tiny Creatures Manipulate Our Behavior and Shape Society by Kathleen McAuliffe

The Best Books, According to English Majors (Poetry):

Because English is such a broad major encompassing various literary works, I am focusing on poetry books alone for this week’s recommendations. Check back soon for our next installment, featuring more English Major picks!

1.  Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine  

This is a follow up to Claudia Ranine’s first and equally as evocative work Don’t Let Me Be Lonely: An American Lyric . It is a commentary on race relations that is as poignant as it relevant and it is a must-read for anyone with a love of language.

2. [insert] boy by Danez Smith  

Danez Smith is an accomplished spoken word poet whose videos have hundreds of thousands of views on Youtube. This is their first published work and is perfect for any fan of spoken word or slam poetry.

• The princess saves herself in this one by Amanda Lovelace

The Best Books, According to Engineering Majors:

1.  Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly. 

By now, everyone should know about this book. Highlighting the brilliant work of Black women in STEM and the vital role they played in our nation’s race to space, the book that inspired the critically-acclaimed movie is a must-read for anyone who, like the protagonists of the book and film, is determined to reach for the stars.

2.  To Engineer is Human: The Role of Failure in Successful Design by Henry Petroski 

On a slightly different topic, this book talks about the vital role that failure plays in some of mankind’s greatest engineering achievements. This book is all the more important because failure can be such a taboo topic in academia… despite the fact that it often produces our greatest accomplishments.

Honorable Mention:

• Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II by Liza Mundy

The Best Books, According to Pre-Law Majors:

1.  The Supremes’ Greatest Hits, 2nd Revised & Updated Edition: The 44 Supreme Court Cases That Most Directly Affect Your Life by Michael G. Trachtman  

This pick may be my nerdiest of all my suggestions so far. It is literally an encyclopedia of the most consequential judicial decisions in our nation’s history, now updated through 2015. This is at the top of my winter reading list because it’s an incredible resource and so many of these cases are often referenced in college courses.

2.  Sisters in Law: How Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Went to the Supreme Court and Changed the World by Linda Hirshman  

Featuring two of my most beloved “she-roes,” this book is a deeply personal and beautiful look into the intertwining lives of Ginsburg and O’Connor. It is a tale of the law and of sisterhood and of how vitally important it is to have a diverse array of perspectives fighting for our rights at every level of government, now more than ever.

• A Short & Happy Guide to Being a Law Student by Paula Franzese (This book is written by one of my professors who’s an alum of my school! She is the reason why I say I am going  to be a lawyer rather than just saying I want  to be one.)

The Best Books, According to Pre-Health and Medicine Majors:

1.  Blood and Guts: A History of Surgery by Richard Hollingham  

This book throws you right into the middle of some of the most groundbreaking and consequential discoveries in modern medicine. The surgeries detailed in these pages may pale in comparison to the medical miracles performed today, but those same miracles would be impossible without the groundwork laid by the greatest doctors of yesteryear.

2.  One Doctor: Close Calls, Cold Cases, and the Mysteries of Medicine   by Brendan Reilly

In this book, we follow the author in looking back on some of the most memorable and impactful cases of his career. Reilly offers a brutally honest look at how medicine has changed over the course of his career and it serves as a testament to how much impact just one doctor can make in a world where equal access to decent medical care is becoming increasingly threatened.

• The Heart Healers: The Misfits, Mavericks, and Rebels Who Created the Greatest Medical Breakthrough of Our Lives by James S. Forrester; 
• When the Air Hits Your Brain: Tales from Neurosurgery by Frank T. Vertosick Jr.; 
• The Butchering Art: Joseph Lister’s Quest to Transform the Grisly World of Victorian Medicine by Lindsey Fitzharris

The Best Books, According to Theatre and Performing Arts Majors:

1.  Stop the Show! A History of Insane Incidents and Absurd Accidents in the Theater by Brad Schreiber  

This one is sure to be appreciated by anyone who has ever participated in live theatre, whether their role was onstage or off. Schreiber has compiled a collection of some of the best anecdotes from actors and artists in the U.S. and U.K. to illustrate that when it comes to performing, anything that can go wrong, will inevitably go wrong. Stop the Show!  will have you cringing, crying from laughter, and thanking God that these stories didn’t happen to you.

2.  The Untold Stories of Broadway: Tales from the world’s most famous theaters  by Jennifer Ashley Tepper  

In a vein similar to my first suggestion, this is the first in a three-part compendium that takes you behind the most hallowed velvet curtains of all and into the secrets of the stage. With stories featuring favorite stars from Barbra Streisand to Jonathan Groff, this book allows you to learn from all who make the Great White Way a reality.

• Pulitzer Prize Plays: The First Fifty Years 1917-1967, A Dramatic Reflection of American Life by Paul Firestone; 
• On Broadway: From Rent to Revolution by Drew Hodges

The Best Books, According to Business Majors:

1.  In the Company of Women: Inspiration and Advice from over 100 Makers, Artists, and Entrepreneurs by Grace Bonney  

First of all, this is a beautiful book. Secondly, the advice inside from the women featured is so important for any college student hoping to branch out into the business world after graduation. Each woman is as inspiring as the previous and the breathtaking full-color photographs on every page make this title the perfect gift for the #bosslady in your life.

2.  Reset: My Fight for Inclusion and Lasting Change , by Ellen Pao  

It should come as no surprise to anyone studying this field that the business world is still very much a boys’ club. In this book, Ellen Pao details her fight to claim her place in a field that repeatedly diminishes the achievements of women and people of color. Despite the fact that she lost her lawsuit exposing workplace discrimination against women and other minorities in Silicon Valley, Pao was still immensely important in bringing attention to such an important issue. Her book is a must-read for anyone hoping to make a name for themselves in a world that tries to dim their light.

• 101 Things I Learned in Business School by Michael W. Preis; 
• Lean In for Graduates: With New Chapters by Experts, Including Find Your First Job, Negotiate Your Salary, and Own Who You Are by Sheryl Sandberg

The Best Books, According to Criminal Justice Majors:

1.  Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy by Heather Ann Thompson  

Pulitzer Prize winner Thompson dives deep into one of the most important events in criminal justice history of the last fifty years. Anyone going into the field of criminal justice or hoping to reform the system needs to read this book to understand the enduring influence of the Attica Prison riot and why the actions of these prisoners one fateful September continue to be one of the most consequential civil rights events of the past century.

2.  Without a Doubt   by Marcia Clark  

Marcia Clark is another one of my she-roes; not only is she one of the greatest lawyers of our time, but she’s also an incredible writer. In this book, she   details her most infamous case, the O.J. Simpson trial. While there are countless books on the Simpson trial, Clark’s is especially important because of the scrutiny she was placed under during the course of the trial and because she didn’t win. Her account offers an intimate look at the trial from start to finish and begins to explain why the case continues to fascinate to this day.

• Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner by Judy Melinek; 
• Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit by John E. Douglas; 
• Silent Witnesses: The Often Gruesome but Always Fascinating History of Forensic Science by Nigel McCrery

The Best Books, According to Developmental or Abnormal Psychology Majors:

1.  Neurotribes: The Legacy of Autism and The Future of Neurodiversity by Steve Silberman  

Autism remains a largely misunderstood and mysterious disability (or difference, depending on your perspective). This book begins the difficult work of unpacking the history of this condition, including its initial diagnoses to the many developments and discoveries since. Silberman’s work is important because it is helpful in explaining what those of us who are neurotypical define as a disability and deciding whether that name is limiting in our understanding of genetics and neurodiversity as a whole.

2.  The Woman Who Changed Her Brain: How I left My Learning Disability Behind and Other Stories of Cognitive Transformation by Barbara Arrowsmith-Young  

This book is a personal account of one woman’s life with a learning disorder and her struggles to overcome it. Inspired by her own difficulties, Arrowsmith-Young researched and developed her own unique cognitive exercise to shape the behaviors that had once made her life so difficult. This memoir is an excellent read for anyone wishing to go into the psychological field or education, as well as anyone who has been personally affected by learning disabilities.

• The Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism & Asperger’s by Temple Grandin; 
• Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger’s  by John Elder Robinson; 
• The Out of Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder by Carol Stock Kranowitz

The Best Books, According to Philosophy Majors:

1.  Existentialism Is a Humanism    

This is a great text for philosophy buffs because it details  Jean-Paul Sartre’s  attempt to connect the concept of existentialism, an idea previously left to philosophers alone, and makes it accessible to the general public. This book the published version of the speech that first brought Sartre critical acclaim and serves as the perfect jumping off point for understanding the most culturally relevant branches of contemporary philosophy.

2.  The Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant  

This book will challenge you, that much is undeniable. However, this work by Kant is also crucial for understanding metaphysics and is equally as important because the influence of this book can be seen in every philosopher that follows. This book is not a sprint, but rather a marathon; a text to be digested leisurely and with a sharp attention to detail, making it the perfect read for a winter break free of responsibilities!

• The Republic by Plato

The Best Books, According to English Majors (Memoir/Short Stories):

Again, English is such a large and encompassing major with so many different concentrations that I had to make some judgment calls based on the books that were suggested to me by my peers, as well as the books I thought would be unique compared to the titles featured on your average course syllabus. These are the ones I’ve settled on, hope you enjoy!

1.  When Women Were Birds: Fifty-Four Variations on Voice by Terry Tempest Williams  

This book was gifted to me by my significant other last holiday season and it is the perfect book for a college student. The stream of consciousness style in which it’s written makes it the type of book that you can pick up when you have a minute and dive right back in, regardless of how long it’s been since you left off. William’s work contains breathtaking prose and is simultaneously a compelling reflection on womanhood, motherhood, nature, and society that makes it memorable long after the final page.

2. Difficult Women , Roxane Gay 

Roxane Gay’s latest published work (one of our book recommendations for 2018 !) features an array of women whose characters are complex and interesting and complicated, something that is so often lacking in our female characters onscreen and in books. Gay is a brilliant author who details beautifully what it means to be a woman in modern America. More importantly, her work shows that there is no one woman in America, no universal female experience, and that is precisely what makes it so compelling.

• Men Without Women: Stories  by Haruki Murakami;
• The Dark Dark: Stories  by Samantha Hunt

The Best Books, According to Music Majors:

1.  Cowboys and Indies: The Epic History of the Record Industry by Gareth Murphy  

Cowboys and Indies is the first and most comprehensive history of the recording industry. This volume is incredibly well researched through interviews with and memoirs of some of the biggest names and game-changers in the industry. Spanning the earliest invention of a sound recording device in the 19th century to the current era of music technology, this novel is a must have for anyone hoping to make it in the biz or at the very least anyone with a passion for music.

2.  Selling Sounds: The Commercial Revolution in American Music by David Suisman  

This book takes a slightly different turn in that in that this work focuses on the commercialization of sound and music. It explores how and why our current music industry came to be, across the legal, personal, and economic realms. It explores the culture of music that we live in today, one in which we are constantly listening to music whether through our own earbuds and Spotify playlists or the seemingly endless stream of Christmas music playing in your local grocery store.

• Just Kids  by Patti Smith;
• Uncommon People: The Rise and Fall of The Rock Stars  by David Hepworth;
• Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!: The Story of Pop Music from Bill Haley to Beyoncé  by Bob Stanley;
• All Shook Up: How Rock ‘n’ Roll Changed America  by Glenn C. Altschuler

What do you think?

How do you find time to read for fun during a busy semester? What’s the best book you’ve ever read for a class? Any majors and books I missed? Let us know in the comments below!

Related posts:

• 4 Books by Female Authors That’ll Change Your Life
• 2017’s Best YA Beach Reads So Far
• 7 Motivating & Inspiring Self Help Books to Kick the New Year Off Right
• Best Children’s Books This Year
• Best Summer Books for College Girls – What to Read This Summer

12 thoughts on “These Are the 89 Best Books for Each College Major, According to Students”

Please do an update! We love this!

I love this article!!! I’m always looking for new things to read and I absolutely love non-fiction ❤️

Then as a math major my favorite textbook would have to be Nonlinear Dynamics and Choas by Steven Strogatz. I’ve loaned it to several mathy friends and they liked it to!!!

oh can you do history?

Social sciences?

While I appreciate that STEM was included, I’m still a little disappointed that it was put into only one category – because as a comp sci major, I have very little in common with engineers, and neither group has very much in common with lab sciences like biology or physics. Plus medicine is a completely different world in its own, too – and all have different career goals and expectations. Just having one about a lab botanist and one about anatomy is better than nothing, but they’re even less relevant to me than the books for teachers.

Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell was immensely helpful to me as an Econ major.

Psychology, History, and Criminal Justice majors please!

Stay tuned for part 2!

Business majors?!?!?

Stay tuned for Part 2, coming soon! 🙂

Theatre and arts majors please!

health and medicine majors please!

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The 40 Best Books on Early Childhood Education

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The early childhood years are so exciting. It is in these moments from birth to grade 5 that major developmental work takes place. Culture, the individual’s mind, the classroom layout, peers, situation, and circumstance affect every aspect of these early developmental years. As a 21st century early childhood educator you understand the value of keeping with contemporary models of education and the value of seeking out alternatives when the mold doesn’t fit your unique bunch of young learners. It is an exciting field that continues to develop and evolve and in some cases hearken back or sideways to discover lesser-known methods of working with young learns. Head over to Italy, Hungary, or decades ago, Russia and you will find some very inspiring insights into child development we as a culture may not have looked into. Perhaps you are also newly reinvigorated to include social justice in your education paradigm- recognizing that the early years shape what kind of people we are and will become. Our top 25 best books on early childhood education offers both comprehensive and more honed-in directives for educating to this very important group of minds. In our list we have something for parents, new teachers, seasoned veterans, and any one who is interested in delving deeper into the field of early childhood education.

1.) The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson

This is the landmark book on children and the brain. Pediatric psychiatrist and director of the Center for Connection Tina Payne Bryson teams up with neuropsychologist Daniel Siegel to help parents, educators, psychologists, and others broach the topic of whole-brain learning. The proposed program uses 12 strategies- just 12. Though the brain remains a great mystery to us, we are thrilled to see an attempt to present clear and concise workable tools that will help the reader actually then close the book and use them. The aim of the book is “linking different elements [of the brain] together to make a well-functioning whole.” The book includes charts, integration recommendations across early childhood strategies, and even a refrigerator guide for parents. If the aim of this book is to teach brain integration to everyone, then the method is through accessible guidelines. Payne Bryson and Siegel do a masterful job towing the line between jargon and over simplification- a real craft! This book would be a real gem of a gift for first-time parents, and veteran parents alike.

2.) How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk has been referred to as the “parent and child bible” and is a great resource for any parent or educator. With a clear emphasis on communication, How to Talk really helps parents along with their children alleviate frustration. Clear communication begins with listening and as Faber writes “listening with full attention.” How to Talk clearly illustrates ways to turn our “natural language” or more practiced language around into language that empowers conversation. Some of the ideas in this book may flip your instincts and call into question some of your tried and true parenting responses. Chances are, that if you have picked up this book, you’re ready for a change. In addition to showing, each chapter steps you through the process so you don’t have to reach to book’s conclusion to practice new communication skills with your children. Though this book is geared more specifically to a parent-child relationship we don’t see a single reason why these principles can’t be put into practice in a classroom setting.

3.) The Exceptional Child: Inclusion in Early Childhood Education by K. Eileen Allen and Glynnis E.Cowdery

Now in its 7th edition, The Exceptional Child is for every child’s education, whether working in the department of special education or otherwise. This is a textbook and as such approaches its topic comprehensively: including the law and policy, planning your classroom to be inclusive, understanding various exceptionalities, as well as how to put everything into practice. In the latest edition expect to see some new case studies, up-to-date legislative activities, and new reflection areas. This work will make a great reference piece to keep near your desk throughout the school year. Keep it handing when your setting up your classroom, taking note of IEPs, advocating with parents, looking to facilitate improved social skills, or are ready to advance your career as an inclusion specialist.

4.) Effective Practices in Early Childhood Education: Building a Foundation (3rd Edition) by Dr. Sue Bredekamp

Leading expert on early childhood education Sue Breadcamp teams up with child psychologist Dr. Kate Cranley Gallagher in Effective Practices in Early Childhood . Now in its third edition, Breadcamp provides the readers with current information regarding policy change, Common Core, promoting play and more. In this edition content is also disseminated using a program called REVEL which is interactive, and aims to further engage today’s learners. Beradcamps’ expertise and lifelong love of learning and education bleeds through every chapter. Cranley Gallagher illuminates the pages with her strong background in child psychology. Expect to learn about how the early childhood years develop and change, create your own excellent approach to teaching, applying you learning to all types of minds, using language and diversity to strengthen your teaching, how to create coherent relationships with the parents of your students and of course how to implement this knowledge across the curriculum. We like to think of this book as an entire supplement to your degree in education and one that you will treasure throughout your career as a teacher.

5.) Anti-Bias Education in the Early Childhood Classroom: Hand in Hand, Step by Step edited by Katie Kissinger

This is an opportunity to do some serious searching deep within yourself. You know the searching we mean. We mean, checking in and asking “do I have biases and do I act on them?” That’s not an easy thing to detect in oneself, but when we’re honest with ourselves, we get there. If you’re ready to have that discussion, you’re ready for this book. We teach what we believe. If you’re looking for social justice to prevail in a major way, understand that you are an incredible influence who will shape the prospects of diverse children’s futures, then this is the book for you! This book touches on race, disability justice, justice regarding means, institutions, and what could be getting in the way of learning for people who experience any number of those very critical issues in education. Would you agree that part of education reform should include a hopeful and bright future for every single student whatever that looks like? Great! This book will give you tools to enact hope for you students. This important work is not magical, does not just take that “special someone” and Katie Kissinger understands that this is going to take modeling to demonstrate how to enact anti-bias education effectively. This is an essential addition to your education collection.

6.) The Giant Encyclopedia of Lesson Plans for Children 3 to 6 (GR-18345) edited by Kathy Charner, Maureen Murphy, & Charlie Clark

7.) The Complete Resource Book for Preschoolers: Over 2000 Activities and Ideas (Complete Resource Series) by Pam Schiller and Kay Hastings

We love this resource for many reasons, but one of the biggest reasons is that this book is a time saver. Have you ever found yourself combing through website after website looking for the perfect activity to match your learners needs and looked up at the clock only to find yourself hashing out some of the old activities from years past? You’re not alone. All educators found themselves in this situation. The Complete Resource to the rescue! Though this is a large resource, it’s not as large as the world wide web. We don’t think you’ll run into the very real issue of choice fatigue with this resource. Nor will you come up short on ideas. This book tows the line perfectly. Within the pages you’ll find activities for seasons, fine motor, dramatic play, music, and more. Additionally the book divides activities into units, discusses various ways to set up activities and gives helpful tips for handwriting and other fundamentals to learning.

8.) Carson Dellosa Key Education Early Learning Language Library Learning Cards by Kasandra S. Flora and Sherrill B. Flora

Speech and Language Pathologists Kasandra S. Flora and Sherrill B. Flora have compiled a collection of stimuli for language development in the early childhood years. The purpose of these 160 language cards are to build and expand expressive and receptive language skills. All teachers can benefit from the materials and we particularly like the stimuli for exceptional learners-including, ESL, autism, and others. Individuals without expressive language will benefit from the clear pictures and category break downs. Each card is like a mini lesson and webs together functional language skills seamlessly. Additionally, these cards are great tools for parents who want to work on building vocabulary, create opportunities for open-ended questions and encourage fun learning in the home. Teachers, special educator, and parents can all benefit from the contents of this Language Library for early learners.

9.) Supervision in Early Childhood Education: A Developmental Perspective 3rd Edition by Joseph J. Caruso & M. Temple Fawcett

Supervision in Early Childhood Education is the text book for individuals looking to step into a leadership role in early childhood education. The first part of the book lays out the context for supervision. Each chapter progresses in a natural way starting with a clarified definition of early childhood education supervision, followed by practical implications, and an outline of various responsibilities. In the second part of this book you will learn about your own personal evolution as a supervisor. As no two supervisors are alike, throughout this section you will learn how to hone and nurture your skills. Additionally, learn a variety of methodologies of supervision required across different school settings. This final part of this book discusses staff recruitment and the career development of that staff.

10.) Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth Through Age 8 3rd Edition edited by Carol Copple and Sue Bredekamp

Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs is a common textbook used for education bachelor’s degrees and early childhood education master’s degree programs. This book is approved by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). This resource guide focuses on evidence-based research to help you create developmentally appropriate material for your young learners. The age range is birth to 8 which is broken down year by year including insights on what to expect from each. This is a stable for students of higher education and into their careers as early educators.

11.) Early Childhood Education Today (13th Edition) by George S. Morrison

In the 13th edition of Early Childhood Education Today you will learn how to integrate contemporary critical components into your 21st century ECE classroom. As an early childhood educator, you are going to be confronted with a number of new challenges. This edition addresses literacy in the classroom, the achievement gap, diversity, teaching to exceptional learners, mental health, developmentally appropriate lesson planning, and how to use technology as a support for education. This book includes convenient access to ancillary digital material accessible on CD, tablet, and computer. This book is often used as a text book and is relevant for both beginning educators and seasoned educators alike.

12.) Introduction to Early Childhood Education: Preschool Through Primary Grades (6th Edition) by Jo Ann Brewer

This down-to-earth textbook by Jo Ann Brewer is a clear and comprehensive glance into the evolving realm of early childhood education. This is a must-have resource particularly with attention to the substantial material centered on language and literacy development. Expect to learn about a range of different teaching styles, classroom set up, and methodologies for reaching diverse learners. Brewer focuses on developmentally appropriate programming which leaving no child out. This resource is great for special educators as well. Commonly used as a text book, expect to find yourself entering into your career as an educator with a stronghold on the foundations of early childhood education. This is a resource you will want to return to again and again.

13.) How To Get Kids To Say Yes!: Using the Secret Four Color Languages to Get Kids to Listen by

Ella, Liz, and Keith Schrieter team up as a family and talk to you like you are one of theirs. This book comes from a parent-perspective and is perfect for parents, grandparents, and children! We also encourage teachers to take a look- if you are finding some students over others more difficult to communicate with, this may be the resource that helps all of that click into place. The “Four Color Languages” are what Schrieter argues are the various world-views of children and many children fit into one ore more of these color languages. Understanding the world-view of your child or student frames how you will communicate with her/him. This book walks you through each of the four personality types, and how to interact with them-leading you to better communication and a communal approach to parenting and learning. Along with the practical advice, this book contains real life examples, addresses Dads, and ways to engage your child in this process. It’s a collaborative approach to communication that honors the child’s personality leading to better outcomes, and ultimately happy, kind, and charitable children.

14.) Who Am I in the Lives of Children? An Introduction to Early Childhood Education (10th Edition) by Stephanie Feeney and Eva Moravick

In Who Am I in the Lives of Children authors Stephanie Feeney and Eva Moravick challenge the reader to think about who they are and will become as educators to young children. A serious topic turned into a text book that is a must-have for any individual seeking to enter into the field of early childhood education. This is a highly visual and interactive book that demonstrates through modeling, and countless real life examples. You will learn how to create developmentally appropriate lesson plans that focus on social and emotional intelligence, as well as physical and intellectual intelligence for children ages birth to grade 3.

15.) The Early Years Matter: Education, Care, and the Well-Being of Children, Birth to 8 by Marilou Hyson and Heather Biggar Tomlinson

In The Early Years Matter Marilou Hyson and Heather Biggar Tomlinson include children of all abilities and backgrounds for their book. Hyson and Tomlinson start in the home with early care and learning for families. They move through the growth and development of babies and toddlers and examine ways to form relationships in the home and in the classroom without forgetting advocacy towards improved infant and toddler services. The book progresses through ages in school starting with preschool and expresses various options and ways to select the best program. The kindergarten through 3 year section continues to examine child development and how to create an educational experience that is truly positive for these young learners. We truly appreciate the attention Hyson and Tomlinson pay towards matters involved with low income families, children who experience trauma, children with disabilities, and children who have immigrated. When it comes to content, The Early Years Matter is thorough, and truly addresses contemporary issues found in today’s early childhood education classrooms.

16.) Beginning Essentials in Early Childhood Education 3rd Edition by Ann Gordon and Kathryn Williams Browne

In the 3rd edition of Beginning Essentials in Early Childhood Education you will find new teacher vignettes, updates on “brain science”, and new ancillary teacher materials. This book aims to streamline the topic of early childhood education- making it a mini course that aims to cover quickly and clearly verses dive into minutia. In the first 50 pages you will learn about the history of early childhood education from inception to present as well as learn about the various types of programs. Section two looks at the “whole child” in terms of developmental stages, children with diverse abilities, special needs/ gifted and talented, and strategies for inclusion. This is just 20 pages in length, so is a sweeping overview. The next section discusses developmental learning and factors that influence development and growth. The remaining 100 pages focus on developing a career as a teacher. This brief overview of early childhood development is a great book for individuals who are either starting their education journey are a looking to assess whether or not this is the type of work they feel inclined to talk on. While limited in some respects by its brevity, it is still a highly informative text that wets the appetite for those who want to go deeper into the subject.

17.) Leading Anti-Bias Early Childhood Programs: A Guide for Change (Early Childhood Education) by Louise Derman-Sparks, Debbie LeeKeenan, & John Nimmo

This book is a catalyst for change in the classroom. Louise Derman-Sparks, Debbie LeeKeenan, and John Nimmo challenge everyone- even the most resistant to change. This bold approach however, is necessary to really enact any form of change where biased educating is concerned. Be prepared to unpack your own thinking and potential biases and then quickly rebuild. The contents of this book lay a foundation and give practical skills so that you and those around you can benefit from your leadership in anti-bias education. This a must-have for all educators in today’s climate and certainly for those taking leadership roles in the field. Realistically, the authors state, anti-bias education takes initiative both from the teacher and the organization. Learn to create successful programming withing your given framework, and build a program from the foundation up. In fact Leading Anti-Bias Childhood Programs does not stop in the classroom and rather continues through to a call for activism in the field! If you are ready to challenge your mentality as a teacher, change the conversations in your classroom, and change the climate inside and outside of the schoolhouse, snatch up this book immediately.

18.) Early Childhood Education: Learning Together by Virginia Casper and Rachel Theilheimer

Developmental psychologist, educator and author Virginia Casper teams up with educator, and program director Rachel Theilheimer to bring you Early Childhood Education: Learning Together . This is a comprehensive overview of early childhood education and is a good textbook for beginning students. Priced low for a textbook, this piece is accessible to young students entering the field or even those considering applying to school. The content is easy to follow and will give you a quick and sweeping overview of a variety of new challenges that individuals face in early childhood education and encourages the reader to make their pedagogy adaptable to myriad of classroom scenarios.

19.) Tools of the Mind: The Vygotskian Approach to Early Childhood Education (2nd Edition) by elena Bodrova and Deorah J. Leong

This is a unique opportunity to learn about the Vygotskian Approach in book form. This approach focuses a great deal on communal learning and how that affects executive function and how that helps students becomes agents of their own educations. Often times compared side-by-side with Piaget and how their philosophies on private speech differ, Vygotskian argues that private speech is an essential component that assists children to plan activities and strategies for their development throughout the early development of their life and even into adulthood. It is argued that the Tools of the Mind are in fact the “scaffolding” required to build self-guided learners. These tools aid in other functions as part of development including a child’s self control. This is a great resource for any individual looking to broaden their approach to teaching and delve into a different perspective on child development.

20.) Fundamentals of Early Childhood Education (8th Edition) by George S. Morrison

George S. Morrison, educator and professor along with contributing writers Elizabeth Beavers, Donna Kirkwood, and Mary Jean Woika bring to you this comprehensive yet light overview of early childhood fundamentals. It’s difficult to imagine a textbook that can achieve both of these things at once, but this one does. These eight critical themes are central to this piece: the value of developmentally appropriate practices (DAP), merging early childhood education and special education, closing achievement gaps between children of poverty and more advantaged peers, literacy development, integrating STEM, working with diverse learners, developing self-guided learners, and continual professional development. Thought out all of this you will also learn how to integrate education and DAP with parents. This is a fantastic resource for new students, first year teachers, and veteran teachers alike.

21.) Early Intervention Games: Fun, Joyful Ways to Develop Social and Motor Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum or Sensory Processing Disorders by Barbara Sher

Early Intervention Games is written by Barbara Sher, an occupational therapist who has an understanding of the sensory needs of autistic individuals and individuals with a variety of sensory processing exceptionalities. Sher has organized a treasure trove of engaging games to helps young learning with motor planning both find and gross. Most all of the activities are geared towards groups large and small. Some activities may be modified to work for one child. Many of the activities require just a few easy-to-access materials. Displaying a clear understanding of the sensory processing differences of these exceptional minds, Sher also includes and entire section on water games are absolutely relevant to groups and once again may be easily modified to work for one child. We love this collection of games that help a variety of autistic and SPD learners. This is a great collection of games, and a perfect resource for special educators.

22.) Rethinking Early Childhood Education edited by Ann Pelo

We were so thrilled to find this gem of a book. As many people argue, bias permeates education at the earliest of years may reinforce prejudice and even reinforce stereotyping with out-of-date stimuli and educational practices. Rethinking is a breath of fresh air. Editor Ann Pelo approaches her collection with activism at the heart. Pelo understands the importance of honing a sense of self and justice in the early childhood years and encourages teachers to connect with students on ideas related to social justice, ecological awareness, and active curiosity. Within the pages are accounts from a wide range of teachers and parents discussing social justice teaching in the field. If you as a parent or teacher are looking for inspiration on ways to educate your little one or classroom on the values of social justice for today’s world, snatch this book up immediately!

23.) Diversity in Early Care and Education: Honoring Differences by Janet Gonzalez-Mena

Highly regarded early childhood education expert and life long learner Janet Gonzalez-Mena brings us Diversity in early Care and Education . Gonzalez-Mena’s career went through the entire gambit: from interested volunteer to involved parents, to teacher aid, to leader in the field. Gonzalez-Mena has seen early childhood education from every angle and has honed her understanding of what young children need in their early years. In Honoring the Differences Gonzalez-Mena examines the importance of a broadened view of each child in their classroom. She encourages teachers to understand each individual’s culture when approaching classroom teaching. There is no guess work involved here- as the author explains various ways of listening to, unpacking and embracing diverse cultures in a manner that leads to effective education. This is a phenomenal resource for parents, care givers, and early childhood educators.

24.) Inclusion in the Early Childhood Classroom: What Makes a Difference? by Susan L. Recchia and Yoon-Joo Lee

You understand the importance of assessment to truly implement quality education for your students. What about assessing assets of the individuals? In Inclusion in the Early Childhood Classroom Susan L. Recchia and Yoon-Joo Lee discuss the joys of differences in the field of education. Rather than looking at disability as a “here’s what s/he can’t do” Recchia and Yoon-Joo embrace all of the “cans dos” evident in a diverse classroom. You will learn to facilitate social interaction in an inclusion classroom, embrace children with diverse abilities with positive responding, bridge the gap for those with “developmental differences”, and learn about the required “six teacher competencies” that make a fully inclusion classroom work. All of this is taught through research, through classroom example, and thorough examination. If you are working in an inclusion setting or are hoping to maximize the education for all types of learners in your classroom, this is an excellent resource.

25.) Twelve Best Practices for Early Childhood Education: Integrating Reggio and Other Inspired Approaches by Ann Lewin-Benham

Ann Lewin-Benham is a prolific writer and educator who bring to the world this exciting resource applicable to educators and parents alike.Lewin-Benham closely examines Reggio Emilia in its cultural context and how it uniquely benefits the early learners with flow- a deep concentration for lengthy hours of the day. Does that sound impossible for early learners? Lemin-Benham explains that indeed it is not, in fact it is the result of taught self-regulation. You the reader are gently guided through every step of this through the content of the book . Other materials covered include the environment as the curriculum, human development and particularly with relations to brain development, language and imagination. The books culminates with an in-depth description of EXCEL- thankfully not how to use a spreadsheet but rather how to foster learning in the “environment” though “eXchange” “Conversation” “Evidence” and “Language.” This is a first-class resource to return to again and again. You will want to keep this piece at arms reach!

26.) The Great Disconnect in Early Childhood Education: What We Know vs. What We Do by Michael Gramling

Michael Gramling examines the impact of policy on practice in early childhood education. The front half of the book examines political propaganda used to treat symptoms rather than the cause and takes a close peak at the promises made through initiatives like the “Head Start” program- why it came into being and why it was used to solve the problem of poverty. This propaganda trickled down to include how educators should approach assessment and pedagogy in the early childhood classroom. Gramling argues quite strongly that the policy created a disconnect between best practice teaching and teaching that happens- quite passively. The latter half of the book details a solution. If you are an early childhood educator who is looking to move away from public policy education into best practice education, or even if you do but want to do it even better, snatch up this book. Additionally, as so much of early childhood education runs in tandem with parent involvement and administrative backing, administrators and parents would highly benefit from the contents of this piece.

27.) Multicultural Teaching in the Early Childhood Classroom: Approaches, Strategies and Tools, Preschool-2nd Grade (Early Childhood Education) by Mariana Souto-Manning

Multicultural Teaching in the Early Childhood Classroom is a guide for teachers who are faced with the many and varied learning styles of children from diverse cultural backgrounds. This book walks you through approaches and teaching tools even defining “multicultural education” and how to implement it. You will learn how to critically engage with the meaning of teacher and student culture, how to encourage active questioning and inquiry in young learners while taking into consideration every possible barrier. Mariano Souto-Manning discusses how to use storytelling and acting as an exchange of cultural experience and also includes methods for including technology in your early childhood classroom. This is must-have resource for 21st century early childhood educators.

28.) Using Observation in Early Childhood Education by Marian C. Marion

Author Marian C. Marion is a well-known author of textbooks for early childhood education. In Using Observation in Early Childhood Education Marion describes in detail the value of observation in the early childhood classroom. She argues that in order to assess and teach you much watch. Getting to know your early student is as much about observations is it is implementing a curriculum. You will learn how observation guides your decisions when determining programming, how observing child behavior in the environment informs those decision and how to connect with your students in a way that is relevant and meaningful. Naturally a major part of observation is assessing your learner- their cause and effect within the environment. In those moments, argues Marion, you can evaluate for your students strengths and weaknesses-identifying any issues and of course resolving them.

29.) NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children by Po Bronson and Ashely Merryman

Brace for impact as Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman not only bust myths on early childhood but downright shatter a number of conceptions we have heard again and again. “Praise your child for being smart.” A ‘no-brainer” right? Not according to the findings of Carol Dweck and her team at Stanford. Those with a high self esteem are going to make it in this tough world. Except findings show that self-esteem has been measured in a way that is not useful and often times self-esteem is really full of oneself. “Highly aggressive violent people happen to think very highly of themselves.” These are the methods by which parents and educators nurture a culture of success to help students navigate their path to success. Bronson and Merryman say that much of this nurture is backfiring and causing a plethora of resistant teenagers and young adults to settle for whatever comes easy and natural. Additionally, this book touches on the importance of sleep, why children lie, issues with self-control, the effects of television-especially educationally-centered tv on aggressive behavior, and more. If you are ready for a challenge, pick up NurtureShock immediately.

30.) How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character by Paul Tough

Through How Children Succeed Paul Tough outlines the importance of character on the success of children. Now backed in science, the importance of grit, and curiosity come to the fore as elements to seriously consider when educating young learners. Tough discusses how these elements improve the lives of children who grow up in any circumstance with particular attention to children growing up in poverty. This challenging read is a great choice for any educator or parent who is interested in changing the outcomes for children who may not be given as many opportunities. We highly recommend this book for all educators and believe that educators in urban settings will particularly benefit from the contents of its pages.

31.) Einstein Never Used Flashcards: How Our Children Really Learn- and Why They Need to Play More and Memorize Less by Kathy Hirsch-Pasek, Roberta Michnick Golinkoff, and Diane Eyer

Einstein Never Used Flashcards is a collection of activities that brings the reader be that a parent or a teacher back to common wisdom. What these three child psychologists do in the text is revive what we already know- children learn through play. Though after a number of years in high education, buried under books that force educators to practically teach to the test, it becomes unclear how to teach using play in the contemporary classroom. That’s another reason we love this book- the author’s take the guesswork out of teaching through play and provide you with 40 games to help you get your own creative juices flowing. Not only will you walk away with a treasure trove of fun for your students, you’ll also find yourself having fun piecing together and implementing these engaging, rewarding, activities that are developmentally appropriate for your learners.

32.) The Scientist in the Crib: What Early Learning Tells us About the Mind by Alison Gopnik, Andrew N. Meltzoff, & Patricia K. Kuhl

Based in the field of cognitive science, Alison Gopnik, Andrew N. Meltzoff, and Patricia K. Kuhl examine the minds of the babies. This illuminating book though published in 1999 is still relevant today. The Scientist in the Crib explains cognitive science- often described as the merging of linguistics, machine learning, neuroscience, and psychology- giving us unique insight into the world of infants. This book is filled with great analogies, humor, fun insights and is presented in a way that is perfect for the student completing a course, teacher in early childhood education, and new parent. You will learn how children develop language, interpret meaning, take in information through their eyes, and decode the sounds we would describe as “babble”. The presentation of the material is as good as the material utilizing star trek analogies, ancient wisdom and literature and so much more. If you have ever wondered what is happening in the mind of an infant, this book is a must-have.

33.) Power of Play: How Spontaneous, Imaginative Activities Lead to Happier, Healthier Children by David Elkind

Child psychologist David Elkind begs the reader to actively question the absence of play in the daily lives of not just our children but of ourselves.

The Power of Play

examines the value of unstructured time alongside the value of structured, planned orderly events. I am recalling the days when I taught summer camp for the first time. There was a moment during the second or third day of camp that my co-teacher and I recognized as being “amazing.” The unstructured snack times, breaks, and lunch where the children had maximum freedom and minimal structure appeared to be where the real connecting took place. For myself and my co-teacher the piece we noticed first was the social interactions. We lead a camp for autistic children and to see that evolve without prompting or intervention was eye-opening. Elkind includes the role play has in becoming social. He also does not throw the baby out with the bathwater- examining how play can be used in school units like math, science, and reading. Additionally, Elkind examines play and development. Even if you don’t feel you have time for “spontaneity” in your day as an educator, we still think this would make a great resource of parents and teacher alike.

34.) Bringing Reggio Emilia Home: Innovative Approach to Early Childhood Education (Early Childhood Education Series) by Louise Boyd Cadwell

This book is a documentary account of a young intern who worked in the Reggio system in Italy and how she brought this pedagogy home to her school in St. Louis, Missouri. Louise Boyd Caldwell documented-with the help of her colleagues- her experiences in both Italy and the United States . Additionally Caldwell clearly outlines the Reggio Emilia approach through the following headings: “the child as a protagonist,” “the child as collaborator” “the child as communicator” “the environment as the third teacher” “the teacher as partner nurturer and guide” “The teacher as researcher” “documentation as communication” and the “parent as partner” For an in-depth and personal account of how Reggio Emilia emerged in St. Louis and for methodology for how you too may begin to adopt the practice, this is a great option.

35.) Brain Rules for Baby (Updated and Expanded): How to Raise a Smart and Happy Baby Child from Zero to Five by John Medina

John Medina takes us on a journey inside the minds of a babies from birth to age five. Medina starts with the roles of parents and the developing mind of the baby. The audience of this book is the parents themselves. As is stated in his introduction, Medina has taken the cues from his parents in seminar and tailored this book to answer every parents’ burning questions. Though Media does touch on behavioral psychology, and cellular and molecular biology. His “brain rules” come from peer-reviewed worked that have been studied and replicated. Once they have met his scientific criteria for “best practice” into the rule book they go. We truly appreciate the marriage of science and common concerns from his audience. Some examples of his brain rules include: “babies remember” “teach self-control” “hurray for play!” and “talk to your baby- a lot!” This practical book will be one you reach for again and again throughout your babies early years. If you’re looking for a concrete yet individualized book to help you navigate and becomes fully aware of your baby’s development and your role in it, this is a must-have.

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

Author, educator, and founder Ellen Galinsky brings to us her fourth book on education- Mind in the Making . Based in the latest research on child development, Ellen Galinsky draws the reader’s attention to valuable advice for parenting, but it’s not about toilet training, breastfeeding, and school readiness. Her advice focuses on preparing the child to take on the challenges of the world and build a repertoire of what are considered to be “essential life skills.” Galinsky examines 7 critical areas: focus and self control, perspective taking, communicating, making connections, critical thinking, taking on challenges, and self-directed, engaged learning. All of the advice within the pages comes with concrete tasks; so parents are not left guess how to nurture each essential skill. This is a fantastic resource for parents who are ready for a fresh approach to parenting young children. Additionally, we like this resource for teachers as successful early childhood development programs work in tandem with educator and parent.

37.) Beyond Quality in Early Childhood Education and Care: Languages of evaluation (Routledge Education Classic Edition) by Gunilla Dahlberg, Peter Moss, and Alan Pence

How do you evaluate for quality in an early childhood program? Gunilla Dahlberg, Peter Moss, and Alan Pence have written the text book on ethics and how to truly make an attempt at understanding quality in early childhood education programs. The authors begin with theory in a cultural context as a foundation. Building upon that Dahlberg, Moss, and Pence show you how to construct learning in early childhood while examining the purpose of the institution. The pedagogy examined here includes Reggio Emilia and an examination of the Stockholm effect. In addition to this, the authors examine how to make a path for progress for students in the minority. This is a comprehensive examination of quality and ethics for early childhood learners and is must-have for educators working in the field of early childhood education and for practitioners focused on early childhood development.

38.) A Child’s Work: The Importance of Fantasy Play by Vivian Gussin Paley

Vivian Gussin Paley, on the shoulders of Rena Wilson, reminds us of how crucial play is to the development and learning of young children. Paley’s method of delivery is what makes this book so unique- she becomes a storyteller and each chapter is a new delightful tale of one child and how they play and of course learn. She paints a clear visualization that we as readers can observe and learn from. This is not your typical “guide book.” You won’t find the usual step-by-step instructions that are to be followed in order. You won’t find the jargon of a scientist. Rather, this book is written by a teacher who has made early childhood education her work for over 4 decades. If you are an educator, and you value play this is a good book. If you are an educator and you value play for you learners and for yourself- this book may become your best friend.

39.) Courageous Leadership in Early Childhood Education: Taking a Stand for Social Justice by Susi Long & Mariana Souto-Manning

Actually, this book has 13 authors who take a courageous stand for social justice. This is collection of work from teachers to teachers that serves to encourage you to speak out and step out and be a voice for students in need in the early childhood years. Arguably, these are the most important years for children to learn how to be just in social scenarios. The authors of this book recognize this and have assembled a phenomenal group of essays to show you how to utilize these tools in your early childhood classroom. You will learn how to advocate for your young students, work with bilingual students, be “culturally relevant” leaders, collaborate with your students, involve family and the greater community, respond, understand risk-taking in rural elementary schools, setting up your classroom and more. We love this book for the wide-range of diversity expressed in its pages which perfectly echos the who purpose of this book- standing up for all types of learners regardless of race, culture, and societal context.

40.) Contemporary Perspectives on Early Childhood Education edited by Nicola Yelland

This is a collection of challenges to every educator working in the field of early childhood education. In the first part of the book the reader examines contemporary perspectives on global and policy issues including a rethink on pedagogy, a look at international development, the misuse of capital in poor developing countries, poverty and discourse in the United States and more. The second half of a book provides a much-needed practical component and weighs in heavily on your ability to empathize with a wide-variety of scenarios in practice. If you feel the intrinsic issues surrounding early childhood education and are ready to steer your education practice towards of a course that better aligns with contemporary issues, this is a tremendous resource.

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The College Board Book of Majors: 2nd Edition 2nd Edition

There is a newer edition of this item:.

• ISBN-10 0874477654
• ISBN-13 978-0874477658
• Edition 2nd
• Publisher College Board
• Publication date July 11, 2006
• Language English
• Dimensions 8 x 2 x 10.5 inches
• Print length 1200 pages
• See all details

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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ College Board; 2nd edition (July 11, 2006)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 1200 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0874477654
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0874477658
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.25 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8 x 2 x 10.5 inches
• #1,168 in College Guides (Books)
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Great books for education majors to read, or for any adult who wants to start reading again.

Be honest: you probably haven't read a book for fun in a while. Of course, there are many people who still read just as much as they did when they were young, and I envy those individuals. I used to read anywhere between 30-40 books a year in grade school. I'd be finishing books before the library period was even over, staying up late with a book light, and reading instead of doing dumb "busy work" in class. Nowadays, I make the excuse that I'm "too busy." Everyone in the world is busy! I have a classmate who has said she reads all the time, and she has the same major as I do...so "I'm too busy" just doesn't fly.

That being said, I have been back at school for just over a month, and my one education professor has already reignited my love of reading. She says being an avid reader, as an educator, can kindle a love of reading in your students. She's told us that the more you read, the more you can recommend to your students. Students love reading whatever a beloved teacher is reading or has read before. It fosters a love of reading, a love of learning, and a bond between teacher and student.

Since being in her class, I have already read four new books and reread one book I read as a kid. I want to recommend solme books to my fellow education majors, but these books are good for anyone to get into. These are not tough reads. Many of them are grade school or middle school level books, but they offer stories and plots that will captivate readers of every age, educational level, and taste.

Out of Mind by Sharon Draper

Out of My Mind tells the remarkable story of Melody, a girl living with a severe disability. She may have a physical disability, but that doesn't reflect her intelligence at all. She may just be the smartest child in the entire school-- but no one knows this. Melody is constantly tortured by being intelligent beyond her years, but not being physically able to express this. That is until she gains a voice.

Age Rating: 10 and up

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

Sixteen strangers who live in the same apartment complex find themselves in a wild, twisted game in order unlock the secret of a crazy old man. These strangers couldn't be more different, and they struggle to solve the case. Will they learn to get along? Will they solve it? Follow this melting pot of characters in this hilarious tale that will teach young adults that not everything is what is seems.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

As an educator, if you haven't heard about Wonder yet, you must be living under a rock. Wonder is a story about a young boy who enters a mainstream school in 5th grade. He just so happens to have a mysterious facial deformity which has previously kept him from public schools. Each chapter is told from a different character's point of view: Auggie, his sister, his friends, among others. In a world where bullying is prevalent, it is a good story for young readers to learn about acceptance of yourself and others.

Age Rating: 8 and up

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Who else read this in middle school? Who else cried like a baby at the end? Just me? Anyway. Ponyboy and his older brothers, Sodapop and Darry, live on their own. Ponyboy is still in school, but his brothers try to make ends meet and stay out of trouble (for the most part). The Outsiders is a book that uncovers some of the darkest parts of living in socioeconomically-challenged areas. It makes a reader stop and think about the world we live in and where one falls into place within society. This book reminds us that wherever we stand in society, we must always stay gold .

Age Rating: 12 and up

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely

Rashad and Quinn are two high schoolers who find themselves on two very different sides of the same situation. Quinn finds himself staring into the stop sign-red face of his best friend's older brother, Paul, as Paul uses his full body weight to force a teenager onto the ground outside of a convenience store. Rashad finds himself slammed face down, beat down until unconscious on a sidewalk. Tensions rise in school and around town as more information unfolds. This event and all that follows encompasses current topics in our world today, including racism and police brutality.

Rules by Cynthia Lord

Catherine has always wanted a normal life, which is impossible when her 8 year-old brother, David, has autism. She's stuck in a life that revolves around David and his condition. Their lives run on rules; that's just how David likes it to be. To Catherine, rules can be broken, but as she says in the book "sometimes you've gotta work with what you've got." It's a fun, lighthearted story about acceptance and kindness for all.

Age rating: 9 and up

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Grateful beyond words: a letter to my inspiration, i have never been so thankful to know you..

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

You have taught me that you don't always have to strong. You are allowed to break down as long as you pick yourself back up and keep moving forward. When life had you at your worst moments, you allowed your friends to be there for you and to help you. You let them in and they helped pick you up. Even in your darkest hour you showed so much strength. I know that you don't believe in yourself as much as you should but you are unbelievably strong and capable of anything you set your mind to.

Your passion to make a difference in the world is unbelievable. You put your heart and soul into your endeavors and surpass any personal goal you could have set. Watching you do what you love and watching you make a difference in the lives of others is an incredible experience. The way your face lights up when you finally realize what you have accomplished is breathtaking and I hope that one day I can have just as much passion you have.

SEE MORE: A Letter To My Best Friend On Her Birthday

The love you have for your family is outstanding. Watching you interact with loved ones just makes me smile . You are so comfortable and you are yourself. I see the way you smile when you are around family and I wish I could see you smile like this everyday. You love with all your heart and this quality is something I wished I possessed.

You inspire me to be the best version of myself. I look up to you. I feel that more people should strive to have the strength and passion that you exemplify in everyday life.You may be stubborn at points but when you really need help you let others in, which shows strength in itself. I have never been more proud to know someone and to call someone my role model. You have taught me so many things and I want to thank you. Thank you for inspiring me in life. Thank you for making me want to be a better person.

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life..

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Don't freak out

This is a rule you should continue to follow no matter what you do in life, but is especially helpful in this situation.

Email the professor

Around this time, professors are getting flooded with requests from students wanting to get into full classes. This doesn't mean you shouldn't burden them with your email; it means they are expecting interested students to email them. Send a short, concise message telling them that you are interested in the class and ask if there would be any chance for you to get in.

Attend the first class

Often, the advice professors will give you when they reply to your email is to attend the first class. The first class isn't the most important class in terms of what will be taught. However, attending the first class means you are serious about taking the course and aren't going to give up on it.

Keep attending class

Every student is in the same position as you are. They registered for more classes than they want to take and are "shopping." For the first couple of weeks, you can drop or add classes as you please, which means that classes that were once full will have spaces. If you keep attending class and keep up with assignments, odds are that you will have priority. Professors give preference to people who need the class for a major and then from higher to lower class year (senior to freshman).

Have a backup plan

For two weeks, or until I find out whether I get into my waitlisted class, I will be attending more than the usual number of classes. This is so that if I don't get into my waitlisted class, I won't have a credit shortage and I won't have to fall back in my backup class. Chances are that enough people will drop the class, especially if it is very difficult like computer science, and you will have a chance. In popular classes like art and psychology, odds are you probably won't get in, so prepare for that.

Remember that everything works out at the end

Life is full of surprises. So what if you didn't get into the class you wanted? Your life obviously has something else in store for you. It's your job to make sure you make the best out of what you have.

Navigating the Talking Stage: 21 Essential Questions to Ask for Connection

It's mandatory to have these conversations..

Whether you met your new love interest online , through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

1. What do you do for a living?

What someone does for a living can tell a lot about who they are and what they're interested in! Their career reveals a lot more about them than just where they spend their time to make some money.

2. What's your favorite color?

OK, I get it, this seems like something you would ask a Kindergarten class, but I feel like it's always good to know someone's favorite color . You could always send them that Snapchat featuring you in that cute shirt you have that just so happens to be in their favorite color!

3. Do you have any siblings?

This one is actually super important because it's totally true that people grow up with different roles and responsibilities based on where they fall in the order. You can tell a lot about someone just based on this seemingly simple question.

4. What's your favorite television show?

OK, maybe this isn't a super important question, but you have to know ASAP if you can quote Michael Scott or not. If not, he probably isn't the one. Sorry, girl.

5. When is your birthday?

You can then proceed to do the thing that every girl does without admitting it and see how compatible your zodiacs are.

6. What's your biggest goal in life?

If you're like me, you have big goals that you want to reach someday, and you want a man behind you who also has big goals and understands what it's like to chase after a dream. If his biggest goal is to see how quickly he can binge-watch " Grey's Anatomy " on Netflix , you may want to move on.

7. If you had three wishes granted to you by a genie, what would they be?

This is a go-to for an insight into their personality. Based on how they answer, you can tell if they're goofy, serious, or somewhere in between.

8. What's your favorite childhood memory?

For some, this may be a hard question if it involves a family member or friend who has since passed away . For others, it may revolve around a tradition that no longer happens. The answers to this question are almost endless!

9. If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?

We all have parts of our lives and stories that we wish we could change. It's human nature to make mistakes. This question is a little bit more personal but can really build up the trust level.

10. Are you a cat or a dog person?

I mean, duh! If you're a dog person, and he is a cat person, it's not going to work out.

11. Do you believe in a religion or any sort of spiritual power?

Personally, I am a Christian, and as a result, I want to be with someone who shares those same values. I know some people will argue that this question is too much in the talking stage , but why go beyond the talking stage if your personal values will never line up?

12. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Even homebodies have a must visit place on their bucket list !

13. What is your ideal date night?

Hey, if you're going to go for it... go for it!

14. Who was/is your celebrity crush?

For me, it was hands-down Nick Jonas . This is always a fun question to ask!

15. What's a good way to cheer you up if you're having a bad day?

Let's be real, if you put a label on it, you're not going to see your significant other at their best 24/7.

16. Do you have any tattoos?

This can lead to some really good conversations, especially if they have a tattoo that has a lot of meaning to them!

17. Can you describe yourself in three words?

It's always interesting to see if how the person you're talking to views their personal traits lines ups with the vibes you're getting.

18. What makes you the most nervous in life?

This question can go multiple different directions, and it could also be a launching pad for other conversations.

19. What's the best gift you have ever received? 

Admittedly, I have asked this question to friends as well, but it's neat to see what people value.

20. What do you do to relax/have fun?

Work hard, play hard, right?

21. What are your priorities at this phase of your life?

This is always interesting because no matter how compatible your personalities may be, if one of you wants to be serious and the other is looking for something casual, it's just not going to work.

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Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in challah bread or easter bread.

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

A few weeks ago, I was given a loaf of bread called Challah (pronounced like holla), and upon my first bite, I realized it tasted just like Easter Bread. It was so delicious that I just had to make some of my own, which I did.

The recipe is as follows:

Ingredients

2 tsp active dry or instant yeast 1 cup lukewarm water 4 to 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup white granulated sugar 2 tsp salt 2 large eggs 1 large egg yolk (reserve the white for the egg wash) 1/4 cup neutral-flavored vegetable oil

Instructions

• Combine yeast and a pinch of sugar in small bowl with the water and stir until you see a frothy layer across the top.
• Whisk together 4 cups of the flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl.
• Make a well in the center of the flour and add in eggs, egg yolk, and oil. Whisk these together to form a slurry, pulling in a little flour from the sides of the bowl.
• Pour the yeast mixture over the egg slurry and mix until difficult to move.
• Turn out the dough onto a floured work surface and knead by hand for about 10 minutes. If the dough seems very sticky, add flour a teaspoon at a time until it feels tacky, but no longer like bubblegum. The dough has finished kneading when it is soft, smooth, and holds a ball-shape.
• Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and place somewhere warm. Let the dough rise 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Separate the dough into four pieces. Roll each piece of dough into a long rope roughly 1-inch thick and 16 inches long.
• Gather the ropes and squeeze them together at the very top. Braid the pieces in the pattern of over, under, and over again. Pinch the pieces together again at the bottom.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment and lift the loaf on top. Sprinkle the loaf with a little flour and drape it with a clean dishcloth. Place the pan somewhere warm and away from drafts and let it rise until puffed and pillowy, about an hour.
• Heat the oven to 350°F. Whisk the reserved egg white with a tablespoon of water and brush it all over the challah. Be sure to get in the cracks and down the sides of the loaf.
• Slide the challah on its baking sheet into the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through cooking. The challah is done when it is deeply browned.

I kept wondering how these two breads could be so similar in taste. So I decided to look up a recipe for Easter Bread to make a comparison. The two are almost exactly the same! These recipes are similar because they come from religious backgrounds. The Jewish Challah bread is based on kosher dietary laws. The Christian Easter Bread comes from the Jewish tradition but was modified over time because they did not follow kosher dietary laws.

A recipe for Easter bread is as follows:

2 tsp active dry or instant yeast 2/3 cup milk 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 cup white granulated sugar 2 tbs butter 2 large eggs 2 tbs melted butter 1 tsp salt

• In a large bowl, combine 1 cup flour, sugar, salt, and yeast; stir well. Combine milk and butter in a small saucepan; heat until milk is warm and butter is softened but not melted.
• Gradually add the milk and butter to the flour mixture; stirring constantly. Add two eggs and 1/2 cup flour; beat well. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.
• Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
• Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into two equal size rounds; cover and let rest for 10 minutes. Roll each round into a long roll about 36 inches long and 1 1/2 inches thick. Using the two long pieces of dough, form a loosely braided ring, leaving spaces for the five colored eggs. Seal the ends of the ring together and use your fingers to slide the eggs between the braids of dough.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place loaf on a buttered baking sheet and cover loosely with a damp towel. Place loaf in a warm place and let rise until doubled in bulk, about 45 minutes. Brush risen loaf with melted butter.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 30 minutes.

Both of these recipes are really easy to make. While you might need to have a day set aside for this activity, you can do things while the dough is rising or in the oven. After only a few hours, you have a delicious loaf of bread that you made from scratch, so the time and effort is really worth it!

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer..

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake , have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart , no matter how dirty the water may look.

Every year when summer rolls back around, you can't wait to fire up the boat and get back out there. Here is a list of things you can probably identify with as a fellow lake-goer.

A bad day at the lake is still better than a good day not at the lake.

It's your place of escape, where you can leave everything else behind and just enjoy the beautiful summer day. No matter what kind of week you had, being able to come and relax without having to worry about anything else is the best therapy there is. After all, there's nothing better than a day of hanging out in the hot sun, telling old funny stories and listening to your favorite music.

You know the best beaches and coves to go to.

Whether you want to just hang out and float or go walk around on a beach, you know the best spots. These often have to be based on the people you're with, given that some "party coves" can get a little too crazy for little kids on board. I still have vivid memories from when I was six that scared me when I saw the things drunk girls would do for beads.

You have no patience for the guy who can't back his trailer into the water right.

When there's a long line of trucks waiting to dump their boats in the water, there's always that one clueless guy who can't get it right, and takes 5 attempts and holds up the line. No one likes that guy. One time my dad got so fed up with a guy who was taking too long that he actually got out of the car and asked this guy if he could just do it for him. So he got into the guy's car, threw it in reverse, and got it backed in on the first try. True story.

Doing the friendly wave to every boat you pass.

Similar to the "jeep wave," almost everyone waves to other boats passing by. It's just what you do, and is seen as a normal thing by everyone.

The cooler is always packed, mostly with beer.

Alcohol seems to be a big part of the lake experience, but other drinks are squeezed into the room remaining in the cooler for the kids, not to mention the wide assortment of chips and other foods in the snack bag.

Giving the idiot who goes 30 in a "No Wake Zone" a piece of your mind.

There's nothing worse than floating in the water, all settled in and minding your business, when some idiot barrels through. Now your anchor is loose, and you're left jostled by the waves when it was nice and perfectly still before. This annoyance is typically answered by someone yelling some choice words to them that are probably accompanied by a middle finger in the air.

You have no problem with peeing in the water.

It's the lake, and some social expectations are a little different here, if not lowered quite a bit. When you have to go, you just go, and it's no big deal to anyone because they do it too.

You know the frustration of getting your anchor stuck.

The number of anchors you go through as a boat owner is likely a number that can be counted on two hands. Every once in a while, it gets stuck on something on the bottom of the lake, and the only way to fix the problem is to cut the rope, and you have to replace it.

Watching in awe at the bigger, better boats that pass by.

If you're the typical lake-goer, you likely might have an average-sized boat that you're perfectly happy with. However, that doesn't mean you don't stop and stare at the fast boats that loudly speed by, or at the obnoxiously huge yachts that pass.

Knowing any swimsuit that you own with white in it is best left for the pool or the ocean.

You've learned this the hard way, coming back from a day in the water and seeing the flowers on your bathing suit that were once white, are now a nice brownish hue.

The momentary fear for your life as you get launched from the tube.

If the driver knows how to give you a good ride, or just wants to specifically throw you off, you know you're done when you're speeding up and heading straight for a big wave. Suddenly you're airborne, knowing you're about to completely wipe out, and you eat pure wake. Then you get back on and do it all again.

You're able to go to the restaurants by the water wearing minimal clothing.

One of the many nice things about the life at the lake is that everybody cares about everything a little less. Rolling up to the place wearing only your swimsuit, a cover-up, and flip flops, you fit right in. After a long day when you're sunburned, a little buzzed, and hungry, you're served without any hesitation.

Having unexpected problems with your boat.

Every once in a while you're hit with technical difficulties, no matter what type of watercraft you have. This is one of the most annoying setbacks when you're looking forward to just having a carefree day on the water, but it's bound to happen. This is just one of the joys that come along with being a boat owner.

Having a name for your boat unique to you and your life.

One of the many interesting things that make up the lake culture is the fact that many people name their boats. They can range from basic to funny, but they are unique to each and every owner, and often have interesting and clever meanings behind them.

There's no better place you'd rather be in the summer.

Summer is your all-time favorite season, mostly because it's spent at the lake. Whether you're floating in the cool water under the sun, or taking a boat ride as the sun sets, you don't have a care in the world at that moment . The people that don't understand have probably never experienced it, but it's what keeps you coming back every year.

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50 Best Colleges for Education Majors – 2024

April 15, 2024

A decade ago, many states in the U.S. had a teacher surplus. However, due to burnout (one-third of new teachers leave the profession within five years) and massive declines in enrollment in teacher education programs since 2010, there is today a critical shortage of teachers across the country. Many entering the profession will attend local universities within their home state, which often feed into nearby school districts. However, those seeking to attend education programs with the best national reputations will find our list of Best Colleges for Education most useful. This list includes liberal arts colleges and large public and private universities from every region of the country. This list will be applicable to anyone pursuing certification as an early childhood education, elementary education, or secondary education teacher in 2024.

Methodology 

Click here to read our methodology for the Best Colleges for Education Majors.

Best Colleges for Education Majors

Here’s a quick preview of the first ten teacher education institutions that made our list. Detailed profiles and stats can be found when you scroll below.

1) Vanderbilt University

2) University of Michigan

3) Northwestern University

4) Duke University

5) New York University

6) University of Wisconsin-Madison

7) Boston College

8) Washington University in St Louis

9) Brown University

10) Swarthmore College

All of the schools profiled below have stellar reputations in the field of teacher education and commit substantial resources to undergraduate education. For each of the best colleges for education majors, College Transitions will provide you with—when available—each school’s:

• Cost of Attendance
• Acceptance Rate
• Median  SAT
• Median  ACT
• Retention Rate
• Graduation Rate

We will also include a longer write-up of each college’s:

• Academic Highlights – Includes facts like student-to-faculty ratio, average class size, number of majors offered, and most popular majors.
• Professional Outcomes – Includes info on the rate of positive outcomes, companies employing alumni, and graduate school acceptances.

Vanderbilt University

• Nashville, TN

Academic Highlights: Four of Vandy’s ten schools cater to undergrads: the College of Arts and Sciences, the Blair School of Music, the Peabody College of Education and Human Development, and the School of Engineering. In the 2022-23 school year, 87% of course sections contained 19 or fewer students. Of the 70 undergraduate majors, economics, politics and government, and neuroscience are the most popular. The School of Engineering has a strong national reputation as do offerings in biology, economics, education, and music.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after graduating, 96% of the Class of 2021 were employed or in graduate school. The most commonly entered industry was finance followed by technology, consulting, education, and engineering. Alumni can be found in droves at Capital One, Goldman Sachs, Bain & Company, JP Morgan Chase, Citi, and Meta. Among 2022 alumni who directly pursued advanced degrees, the majority enrolled at Vanderbilt followed by Columbia, Harvard, Penn, NYU, and Northwestern.

• Enrollment: 7,151 (undergraduate); 6,559 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $89,590
• Median SAT: 1530
• Median ACT: 35
• Acceptance Rate: 7%
• Retention Rate: 96%
• Graduation Rate: 93%

University of Michigan

• Ann Arbor, MI

Academic Highlights: There are 280+ undergraduate degree programs across fourteen schools and colleges, and the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) enrolls the majority of students. The Ross School of Business offers highly rated programs in entrepreneurship, management, accounting, and finance. The College of Engineering is also one of the best in the country. By degrees conferred, engineering (15%), computer science (14%), and the social sciences (11%) are most popular. A solid 56% of classes have fewer than 20 students.

Professional Outcomes: Within three months of graduating, 89% of LSA grads are employed full-time or in graduate school, with healthcare, education, law, banking, research, nonprofit work, and consulting being the most popular sectors. Within three months, 99% of Ross grads are employed with a median salary of $90k. Top employers include Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, EY, Morgan Stanley, PwC, Deloitte, and Amazon.  Within six months, 96% of engineering grads are employed (average salary of $84k) or in grad school. General Motors, Ford, Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Meta employ the greatest number of alumni.

• Enrollment: 32,695 (undergraduate); 18,530 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $35,450 (in-state); $76,294 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1470
• Median ACT: 33
• Acceptance Rate: 18%
• Retention Rate: 97%

Northwestern University

• Evanston, IL

Academic Highlights : Northwestern is home to six undergraduate schools, including Medill, which is widely regarded as one of the country’s best journalism schools. The McCormick School of Engineering also achieves top rankings, along with programs in economics, social policy, and theatre. The social sciences account for the greatest number of degrees conferred (19%), followed by communications/journalism (13%), and engineering (11%). 45% of classes have nine or fewer students enrolled; 78% have fewer than twenty enrollees. 57% of recent grads had the chance to conduct undergraduate research.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after graduating, 69% of the Class of 2022 had found employment and 27% were in graduate school. The four most popular professional fields were consulting (18%), engineering (18%), business/finance (16%), and communications/marketing/media (13%). Employers included the BBC, NBC News, The Washington Post , NPR, Boeing, Google, IBM, Deloitte, PepsiCo, Northrop Grumman, and Goldman Sachs. Across all majors, the average starting salary was $73k. Of those headed straight to graduate school, engineering, medicine, and business were the three most popular areas of concentration.

• Enrollment: 8,659 (undergraduate); 14,073 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $91,290
• Median ACT: 34
• Retention Rate: 98%
• Graduation Rate: 97%

Duke University

Academic Highlights: The academic offerings at Duke include 53 majors, 52 minors, and 23 interdisciplinary certificates. Class sizes are on the small side—71% are nineteen or fewer, and almost one-quarter are less than ten. A stellar 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio helps keep classes so reasonable even while catering to five figures worth of graduate students. Computer Science is the most popular area of concentration (11%), followed by economics (10%), public policy (9%), biology (8%), and computer engineering (7%).

Professional Outcomes: At graduation, approximately 70% of Duke diploma-earners enter the world of work, 20% continue into graduate schools, and 2% start their own businesses. The industries that attract the largest percentage of Blue Devils are tech (21%), finance (15%), business (15%), healthcare (9%), and science/research (6%). Of the 20% headed into graduate school, a hefty 22% are attending medical school, 18% are in PhD programs, and 12% are entering law school. The med school acceptance rate is 85%, more than twice the national average.

• Enrollment: 6,640
• Cost of Attendance: $85,238
• SAT Range: 1490-1570
• ACT Range: 34-35
• Acceptance Rate: 6%

New York University

• New York, NY

Academic Highlights: NYU is divided into a number of smaller (but still quite large) colleges organized by discipline; in sum, there are 230 areas of undergraduate study across nine schools and colleges. For its size, a commendable 58% of classes have an enrollment under 20 students. While all schools within NYU have solid reputations, Stern holds the distinction as one of the top undergraduate business programs in the country. For those entering film, dance, drama, or other performing arts, Tisch is as prestigious a place as you can find to study.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of exiting, 94% of Class of 2022 grads had landed at their next destination, with 78% employed and 21% in graduate school. The top industries for employment were healthcare (11%), internet and software (9%), finance (8%), and entertainment (8%). Large numbers of alumni can be found at Google, Deloitte, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, IBM, JP Morgan Chase, Citi, and Amazon. The mean starting salary is $75,336. In 2022, business, arts and sciences, and law school were the most popular grad school destinations.

• Enrollment: 29,401 (undergraduate); 29,711 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $90,222-$96,172
• Median SAT: 1520
• Acceptance Rate: 12%
• Retention Rate: 95%
• Graduation Rate: 87%

University of Wisconsin – Madison

• Madison, WI

Academic Highlights: There are 230+ undergraduate majors offered across eight schools and colleges, including the top-ranked School of Business and College of Engineering as well as the College of Letters and Science, the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, and the Schools of Nursing, Education, Pharmacy, and Human Ecology. Undergrads can expect a mix of large and small classes, with 44% of sections enrolling fewer than 20 students. Business (18%), biology (12%), the social sciences (11%), and engineering (10%) are most popular.

Professional Outcomes: In a recent year, 46% of job-seeking grads graduated with an offer.  Top employers included UW-Madison, Epic, Kohl’s, Oracle, Deloitte, and UW Health. Across all graduating years, companies employing 250+ alumni include Google, Target, Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, PwC, Accenture, and Meta. 28% of recent grads enrolled directly in graduate/professional school; the majority stayed at UW–Madison while others headed to Columbia, Northwestern, and Carnegie Mellon. The university is the top producer of Peace Corps volunteers.

• Enrollment: 37,230 (undergraduate); 12,656 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $28,916 (in-state); $58,912 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1440
• Median ACT: 30
• Acceptance Rate: 49%
• Retention Rate: 94%
• Graduation Rate: 89%

Boston College

• Chestnut Hill, MA

Academic Highlights: The college offers roughly 60 majors across four schools that award undergraduate degrees. Approximately half of the college’s sections contain nineteen or fewer students. 95% of graduates reported learning how to think critically at BC, and 93% said they learned how to write clearly and effectively. BC offers highly respected programs in communications, psychology, and business through the renowned Carroll School of Management. Other popular and well-regarded majors include economics, biology, and chemistry.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduation, 96% of the Class of 2022 had landed at their next destination. The most favored industries were financial services and real estate (26%), health care/science (20%), and business/consulting (16%). The median starting salary for a 2022 BC grad was $67,000. Eighteen percent of the Class of 2022 entered graduate schools including Brown, Columbia, the University of Chicago, and Yale. Examining the Class of 2022 data, 16% entered law school, and 14% pursued some other type of doctoral degree.

• Enrollment: 9,484
• Cost of Attendance: $86,155
• Average SAT: 1482
• Average ACT: 34
• Acceptance Rate: 17%
• Graduation Rate: 92%

Washington University in St. Louis

• St. Louis, MO

Academic Highlights : WashU admits students into five schools, many of which offer nationally recognized programs: Arts & Sciences, the Olin School of Business, the School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, and the Art of Architecture programs housed within the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts. The most commonly conferred degrees are in engineering (13%), social sciences (13%), business (13%), biology (11%), and psychology (10%). 66% of classes have fewer than 20 students, and over one-quarter have single-digit enrollments. 65% double major or pursue a minor.

Professional Outcomes: The Class of 2022 sent 52% of grads into the workforce and 28% into graduate and professional schools. Companies employing the highest number of WashU grads feature sought-after employers such as Amazon, Bain, Boeing, Deloitte, Google, IBM, Goldman Sachs, and Microsoft. Of the employed members of the Class of 2022 who reported their starting salaries, 79% made more than $60k. The universities welcoming the largest number of Bears included the prestigious institutions of Caltech, Columbia, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, and Stanford.

• Enrollment: 8,132 (undergraduate); 8,880 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $83,760
• Acceptance Rate: 11%

Brown University

• Providence, RI

Academic Highlights: Students must choose one of 80+ “concentration programs,” but there are no required courses. Class sizes tend to be small—68% have fewer than twenty students—and 35% are comprised of nine or fewer students. Biology, economics, computer science, mathematics, and engineering are among the most popular areas of concentration at Brown; however, it is hard to distinguish any one program, because Brown possesses outstanding offerings across so many disciplines.

Professional Outcomes: Soon after receiving their Brown diplomas, 69% of graduates enter the world of employment. Companies employing the greatest number of Brown alums include Google, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, Amazon, Morgan Stanley, Apple, McKinsey & Company, and Bain & Company. The Class of 2022 saw 27% of graduates go directly into graduate/professional school. Right out of undergrad, Brown students boasted an exceptional 81% admission rate to med school and an 81% admission rate to law school.

• Enrollment: 7,639
• Cost of Attendance: $84,828
• Acceptance Rate: 5%
• Retention Rate: 99%
• Graduation Rate: 96%

Swarthmore College

• Swarthmore, PA

Academic Highlights: Swarthmore offers forty undergraduate programs and runs 600+ courses each academic year. Small, seminar-style courses are the norm—an outstanding 33% of sections enroll fewer than ten students, and 70% contain a maximum of nineteen students. Social science degrees are the most commonly conferred, accounting for 24% of all 2022 graduates. Future businessmen/women, engineers, and techies are also well-positioned, given Swat’s incredibly strong offerings in economics, engineering, and computer science.

Professional Outcomes: 68% of Class of 2022 grads entered the workforce shortly after graduation. Popular industries included education (17%), consulting (16%), and financial services (13%); the median starting salary was $60,000. Google is a leading employer of Swarthmore grads followed by Amazon, Goldman Sachs, IBM, and a number of the top universities.  18% of 2022 grads pursued advanced degrees, with 35% pursuing a PhD, 35% entering master’s programs, 10% heading to law school, and 7% matriculating into medical school.

• Enrollment: 1,625
• Cost of Attendance: $81,376
• Median SAT: 1500
• Graduation Rate: 94%

University of Washington – Seattle

• Seattle, WA

Academic Highlights: 180+ undergraduate majors are offered across thirteen colleges/schools. Personal connections with professors abound as 55% of grads complete a faculty-mentored research project. The College of Engineering, which includes the College of Computer Science & Engineering, is one of the best in the nation; UW also boasts strong programs in everything from business to social work to environmental science. The most popular degrees are the social sciences (13%), biology (12%), computer science (11%), and business (8%).

Professional Outcomes: Within months of graduation, 73% of Class of 2022 grads were employed and 17% were continuing their education. The most popular employers of the Class of 2022 included Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing, and KPMG. Across all living alumni, 6,000+ work for Microsoft, and 4000+ work for each of Boeing and Amazon. Of those headed to graduate/professional school, just over half remain in state, mostly at UW itself. Large numbers of 2022 grads also headed to Columbia, Johns Hopkins, and USC.

• Enrollment: 36,872 (undergraduate); 16,211 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $34,554 (in-state); $63,906 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1420
• Median ACT: 32
• Acceptance Rate: 48%
• Graduation Rate: 84%

University of California, Irvine

Academic Highlights: UCI offers eighty undergrad programs as well as many opportunities for personal connection; 56% of all sections enroll 19 or fewer students and over 60% of students conduct a research project. The most commonly conferred degrees are the social sciences (16%), business (12%), psychology (11%), and biology (9%). The Samueli School of Engineering has a solid reputation as does the Bren School, the only independent computer science school in the UC system. Programs in public health and biological sciences earn very high marks.

Professional Outcomes: Accounting, aerospace, internet and software, K-12 education, real estate, and retail are among the industries attracting the greatest number of Anteaters. Companies employing large numbers of recent grads include Boeing, the Walt Disney Company, Google, EY, and Microsoft. Hundreds of alumni are also found at Kaiser Permanente, Meta, Apple, Edwards Lifesciences, and Deloitte. The median salary is $69,000, with CS grads earning close to $120k right off the bat. UCI has a very strong reputation for premed.

• Enrollment: 28,661 (undergraduate); 7,275 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $40,202 (in-state); $72,776 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: Test Blind
• Median ACT: Test Blind
• Acceptance Rate: 26%
• Retention Rate: 91%

The College of New Jersey

Academic Highlights: As one of only eight public colleges in the country to maintain a four-year graduation rate above 75%, TCNJ is in the esteemed company of such institutions as UVA, Michigan, and UNC-Chapel Hill. TCNJ sports a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio and an average class size of twenty-one; 42% of sections contain fewer than 20 students. Sixteen percent of degrees conferred are in education as many attend TCNJ to become teachers but the most popular degree is actually business/marketing (19%), followed by engineering (9%), and health programs (8%).

Professional Outcomes: Checking in with TCNJ grads one year after receiving their degrees, 93% had entered the working world or started an advanced degree. The list of companies employing significant numbers of recent alumni includes Johnson and Johnson, JP Morgan Chase & Co., Bank of America, Bloomberg LP, MetLife, EY, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. The most frequently attended graduate schools by recent grads included Rutgers, Georgetown, and Stevens Institute of Technology.

• Enrollment: 7,039
• Cost of Attendance: $34,86 (In-State); $40,710 (Out-of-State)
• Median SAT: 1250
• Median ACT: 28
• Acceptance Rate: 64%
• Retention Rate: 90%
• Graduation Rate: 86%

University of California, Los Angeles

• Los Angeles, CA

Academic Highlights: UCLA offers 125 majors in 100+ academic departments, and more than 60 majors require a capstone experience that results in the creation of a tangible product under the mentorship of faculty members. The most commonly conferred degrees are in the social sciences (25%), biology (16%), psychology (11%), mathematics (8%), and engineering (7%). Departmental rankings are high across the board, especially in computer science, engineering, film, fine and performing arts, mathematics, and political science.

Professional Outcomes: UCLA grads flow most heavily into the research, finance, computer science, and engineering sectors. High numbers of recent grads can be found at Disney, Google, EY, Teach for America, Amazon, and Oracle. Hundreds also can be found at Bloomberg, Deloitte, Mattel, Oracle, and SpaceX. The average starting salary exceeds $55,000. 16% of recent grads enrolled directly in a graduate/professional school, with other CA-based institutions like Stanford, Pepperdine, USC, Berkeley, and Loyola Marymount being the most popular.

• Enrollment: 33,040 (undergraduate); 15,010 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $38,517 (in-state); $71,091 (out-of-state)
• Acceptance Rate: 9%

Colgate University

• Hamilton, NY

Academic Highlights: Fifty-six majors are on tap at Colgate, including all of the expected liberal arts concentrations. With a student-faculty ratio of 9:1 and an average class size of 16, Colgate undergraduates work intimately with their instructors. The social sciences account for 35% of all degrees conferred and, within that umbrella, economics, political science, and English are among the most popular and most well-regarded majors.

Professional Outcomes: Nine months after graduation, only a small number of Colgate alumni are still looking for work; in 2022, that group represented less than 2% of the graduating class. A substantial 80% had already landed full-time jobs. Employers hiring the most Colgate grads included BOA, Merrill Lynch, JP Morgan, EY, Wayfair, and the NIH. 85-95% of law school applicants are accepted into one of their target institutions. The medical school numbers were even more impressive with 100% of graduating seniors gaining acceptance into at least one med school.

• Enrollment: 3,130
• Cost of Attendance: $83,814
• Graduation Rate: 91%

Bowdoin College

• Brunswick, ME

Academic Highlights: Class sizes are small—64% contain fewer than twenty students—and 21% have fewer than ten students. The student-faculty ratio is 9:1. More than half of Bowdoin undergrads report interacting with a professor outside of regular class time at least once per week. The greatest percentage of degrees are conferred in the social sciences (30%), biology (13%), area/ethnic/gender studies (8%), computer science (7%), and mathematics (7%). Economics and government and legal studies are two of the more popular majors within the social sciences.

Professional Outcomes: An examination of three recent years’ worth of outcomes data reveals that one year after graduation, between 73 and 77% of recent grads have found full-time employment, and 15% have gone directly into graduate school. Of those entering graduate school, 48% were enrolled in master’s programs, 23% in PhD programs, 13% in law school, and 8% in med school. The top twenty graduate schools attended, by volume, in the last five years make an exclusive list including six Ivies along with Duke, MIT, Johns Hopkins, and Stanford.

• Enrollment: 1,915
• Cost of Attendance: $82,600
• Median SAT: 1510

Smith College

• Northampton, MA

Academic Highlights: Smith has 50 academic departments and programs. The social sciences are most popular, accounting for 21% of the degrees conferred, with programs in economics and government carrying very strong reputations. Next in line are biology (6%), computer science (5%), English (5%), data science (5%), and engineering science (5%); more than two-fifths of current students are majoring in a STEM field. 19% of undergraduate sections have single-digit enrollments, and 69% of total class sections enroll fewer than 20 students.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduating, 97% of alumnae had found employment. More than 25 alumnae can be found at the US Department of State, Google, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Accenture, Fidelity Investments, Deloitte, Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase, and Amazon. Within two years of graduating, 40% of alumni had already entered a graduate program, and within ten years, 70% had earned or were working toward an advanced degree. Many Smith women rise to high ranks —twenty years after graduation, 18% of alumnae report holding a chief executive or other executive-level position.

• Enrollment: 2,523 (undergraduate); 350 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $88,980
• Acceptance Rate: 23%

Boston University

Academic Highlights: In total, the university offers more than 300 programs of study, 100+ of which are distinct undergraduate degrees spread across ten schools/colleges. Many classes at BU are reasonably small—60% contain fewer than twenty students; only 19% contain more than forty. The student-to-faculty ratio is 11:1. The greatest number of degrees are conferred in social sciences (16%), business/marketing (15%), communications and journalism (15%), biology (11%), engineering (9%), and health professions/related sciences (7%).

Professional Outcomes: Six months after graduation, 90% of BU grads have found their way into the world of employment or full-time graduate study. Across all graduating years, companies employing more than 350 BU alums include Google, Oracle, Accenture, IBM, and Amazon Web Services. Of the one-quarter of grads who move directly into graduate school, many are welcomed onto the campuses of elite graduate programs. For example, engineering students found new academic homes at MIT, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, and Columbia.

• Enrollment: 18,459
• Cost of Attendance: $86,363
• Median SAT: 1430
• Acceptance Rate: 14%

Wesleyan University

• Middletown, CT

Academic Highlights: With 45 majors and 32 minors, Wes truly has something for everyone. The academic requirements are relatively minimal, giving undergrads a high degree of intellectual freedom. Under 75% of class sections have fewer than twenty students; students rave about the accessible faculty. Research opportunities with professors are plentiful. Offerings in economics, English, film studies, and neuroscience typically receive the most praise from employers/grad schools; accordingly, the social sciences (24%), psychology (17%), and the visual and performing arts (12%) are the most popular.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduating, 66% of 2022 grads had entered employment, with tech/engineering/sciences, education, and arts/entertainment being the three top sectors. The companies employing the highest numbers of recent Wesleyan grads included Google, Epic, Analysis Group, Boston Medical Center, Booz Allen Hamilton, Accenture, and Apple. Graduate school was the next stop for 18% of new alums; enrolling institutions included MIT, Stanford, Berkeley, Yale, Harvard, Temple, and UMass.

• Enrollment: 3,069 (undergraduate); 184 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $89,094

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Chapel Hill, NC

Academic Highlights: Undergraduates can choose from 74 bachelor’s degree programs in a number of schools and colleges, the largest of which is the College of Arts & Sciences. 44% of classes have a student enrollment under 20. The social sciences (15%), biology (12%), media/journalism (9%), computer science (8%), and business (6%) are the areas in which the most degrees are conferred. The Kenan-Flager Business School is internationally renowned and requires separate admission. Other strong programs include those in chemistry, journalism, psychology, and political science.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after leaving Chapel Hill, 97% of 2022 grads had entered employment, military service, or graduate school. Among the for-profit companies that hire the most graduates are Wells Fargo, IBM, Cisco, Deloitte, EY, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Oracle, McKinsey & Company, and Goldman Sachs. In the nonprofit sector, a large number of alumni are employed by AmeriCorps, NIH, Teach for America, and the Peace Corps. The average starting salary is $70,619. 18% of 2022 grads enrolled directly in graduate/professional school.

• Enrollment: 20,210 (undergraduate); 11,739 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $27,036 (in-state); $60,040 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1450

Arizona State University

Academic Highlights: The faculty-to-student ratio is a fairly high 19:1, but not all classes call for stadium seating. In fact, 40% of course sections seat fewer than twenty students. Business is the concentration in which 22% of total bachelor’s degrees are conferred. Engineering (9%), biology (9%), and the health professions (7%) are the next three most popular. The WP Carey School of Business offers many highly ranked programs as does the Fulton Schools of Engineering.

Professional Outcomes: A healthy 83% percent of ASU graduates looking for work are employed within six months of earning their degrees. The median salary for an ASU grad is roughly $55,000. Among the school’s top fifty employers are Amazon, Apple, Intel, The Vanguard Group, and Walt Disney Company. Approximately one-fifth of recent grads enrolled in graduate school. Similar to employment, the size and scope of the university lead to many graduate pathways. Many grads continue at ASU itself, but some continue at various prestigious institutions.

• Enrollment: 65,492
• Cost of Attendance: $28,142 (in-state); $48,284 (out-of-state)
• Median ACT: 23
• Acceptance Rate: 90%
• Retention Rate: 86%
• Graduation Rate: 69%

Wellesley College

• Wellesley, MA

Academic Highlights: There are 50+ departmental and interdisciplinary majors. Thirty-six percent of course sections have single-digit enrollments while 77% have 19 or fewer students. In addition, opportunities for participation in research with faculty members abound. Most programs possess sterling reputations, including chemistry, computer science, neuroscience, and political science, but the Department of Economics shines most brightly, leading many into PhD programs and high-profile careers. Economics, biology, and computer science are the most frequently conferred degrees.

Professional Outcomes : Six months after graduating, 97% of the Class of 2022 had achieved positive outcomes. Of the 76% of grads who were employed, 24% were working in the finance/consulting/business fields, 17% in education, 17% in internet and technology & engineering, and 15% in healthcare/life sciences. Top employers included JPMorgan Chase, Google, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Goldman Sachs. The average starting salary for one recent cohort was a solid $63k. Of the 20% of 2022 grads who directly entered an advanced degree program, common schools attended included Harvard, Columbia, Brown, Stanford, MIT, and Emory.

• Enrollment: 2,447
• Cost of Attendance: $84,240
• Median SAT: 1490
• Graduation Rate: 90%

Colby College

• Waterville, ME

Academic Highlights: Offering 56 majors and 35 minors, Colby provides a classic liberal arts education with a high degree of flexibility and room for independent intellectual pursuits. A 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio is put to good instructional use as roughly two-thirds of courses have fewer than 19 students. Being a true liberal arts school, Colby has strengths across many disciplines, but biology, economics, and global studies draw especially high praise. These programs along with government and environmental science attract the highest number of students.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduation, 93% of the Class of 2022 had either obtained jobs or were enrolled full-time in a graduate program. Eighteen percent of graduates enter the financial industry and large numbers also start careers in education, with government/nonprofit, STEM, and healthcare next in popularity. The Medical school acceptance rate over the past five years is 68%, nearly double the national average.

• Enrollment: 2,299
• Cost of Attendance: $86,720
• Average SAT: 1485
• Average ACT: 33
• Acceptance Rate: 8%
• Retention Rate: 93%

Vassar College

• Poughkeepsie, NY

Academic Highlights: Vassar students have the choice of 50 majors and only three foundational curricular mandates, which means that there is plenty of room to explore electives and intellectual passions. A 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio leads to an average class size of 17 students, and 23% of all sections have an enrollment of nine or fewer. Professors are extremely available outside the classroom. The most popular majors are in the social sciences, biology, the visual and performing arts, foreign languages, and psychology.

Professional Outcomes: 93% of alums enjoy positive outcomes within six months of graduation, with 20% enrolling directly in a graduate or professional degree program. A solid number land at competitive companies like Google, Meta, EY, Deloitte, Microsoft, Citi, and Amazon. Elite universities such as Harvard, Penn, NYU, and Columbia are also among the top employers of former students, many of whom earn advanced degrees and enter academia. The school is one of the top 15 PhD producers.

• Enrollment: 2,459
• Cost of Attendance: $85,220
• Median SAT: 1480
• Acceptance Rate: 19%

University of Minnesota–Twin Cities

• Minneapolis, MN

Academic Highlights: There are 150 majors available across eight freshman-admitting undergraduate colleges. 65% of class sections enroll 29 or fewer students. The most commonly conferred degrees are in biology (13%), business & marketing (11%), engineering (10%), the social sciences (10%), computer science (9%), and psychology (8%). The College of Science and Engineering and the Carlson School of Management have strong national reputations, and the chemistry, economics, psychology, and political science departments are also well-regarded.

Professional Outcomes: The top seven companies snatching up the largest number of recent grads are all companies headquartered in the state of Minnesota: Medtronic, Target, 3M, United Health Group, US Bank, and Cargill. Google, Apple, and Meta all employ hundreds of Twin Cities alumni. The mean starting salary for recent grads was $50k. With 130 graduate programs in science, art, engineering, agriculture, medicine, and the humanities, the University of Minnesota retains many of its graduates as they pursue their next degrees.

• Enrollment: 39,248 (undergraduate); 15,707 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $33,032-$35,632 (in-state); $54,446-$57,046
• Median SAT: 1370
• Median ACT: 29
• Acceptance Rate: 75%

Middlebury College

• Middlebury, VT

Academic Highlights: Midd offers 50 departments and programs in which to major and minor. The school’s 9:1 student-faculty ratio allows 100% of courses to be taught by professors, not graduate assistants. Most classes are small; the mean class size is 16, and 14% of sections contain fewer than ten students. Middlebury is renowned for its Language Department as well as its programs in economics and international studies. The college has a robust international program (75 programs in 40 countries); over 50% of juniors take a semester abroad.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after graduating, 81% of the Class of 2022 had landed jobs and 12% were in graduate school. The most commonly held jobs fell under the categories of financial services (19%), consulting (14%), science and healthcare (14%), and media and technology (12%). Many Middlebury grads now enter tech-related fields; Google and Facebook are two of the leading employers alongside Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Deloitte, Amazon, and JP Morgan. More than 100 alumni work in the US State Department.

• Enrollment: 2,773 (undergraduate); 70 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $89,850
• Median SAT: 1460
• Acceptance Rate: 13%

University of Delaware

Academic Highlights: The University of Delaware offers 150 bachelor’s degree programs. Nearly one-third of students pursue a degree in either business (21%) or engineering (9%), two of the school’s highest-ranked departments. Nursing is popular, with 11% of degrees conferred being in the health professions. Other frequently pursued majors include the social sciences (10%), biology (7%), and education (5%). 62% of courses enroll fewer than 30 students. The university also has the oldest study abroad program in the nation, with 30% of undergrads participating.

Professional Outcomes: 94% of Class of 2022 grads quickly found their next destination. 66% were employed, with 74% taking jobs at for-profit companies, 16% at nonprofits, 7% in K-12 education, and 4% with a government entity. The greatest number of newly minted alums were hired by JPMorgan Chase & Co., KPMG, EY, ChristianaCare, and Deloitte. The median starting salary for this cohort was $62,000. 28% immediately pursued an advanced degree, with 62% entering master’s programs, 20% entering a professional program, and 9% beginning a PhD.

• Enrollment: 18,066 (undergraduate); 4,557 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $33,718 (undergraduate); $57,358 (graduate)
• Median SAT: 1280
• Acceptance Rate: 72%
• Graduation Rate: 82%

The Ohio State University — Columbus

• Columbus, OH

Academic Highlights: There are 200+ undergraduate majors and 18 schools and colleges housed within OSU. Business sees the greatest percentage of degrees conferred at 18% followed by engineering (15%), health professions (10%), and the social sciences (9%). It makes sense that so many flock to the business and engineering schools as they are among the highest-rated undergraduate programs in their respective disciplines. 40% of sections enroll fewer than 20 students, and approximately 20% of students gain research experience.

Professional Outcomes: Upon receiving their diplomas, 56% of Class of 2022 graduates were entering the world of employment while 17% were already accepted into graduate or professional school.  Hordes of Buckeyes can be found at many of the nation’s leading companies. More than 2,000 alumni work for JPMorgan Chase, more than 1,000 are employed by Amazon, and more than 600 work for Google and Microsoft. Of the grads who directly matriculate into graduate or professional school, many continue in one of OSU’s own programs.

• Enrollment: 45,728 (undergraduate); 14,318 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $27,241 (in-state); $52,747 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1340-1450
• Median ACT: 29-32
• Acceptance Rate: 53%
• Graduation Rate: 88%

University of Georgia

Academic Highlights: UGA boasts seventeen distinct colleges and schools that offer 125+ majors. Business is the most commonly conferred undergrad degree, accounting for 29% of diplomas earned. It is followed by biology (10%), social sciences (8%), communication & journalism (8%), and psychology (7%). Top-ranked programs include animal science, business, communications, and public and international affairs. 49% of sections enroll fewer than 20 students, and no matter your major, UGA encourages you to conduct research with a member of the school’s faculty.

Professional Outcomes: 96% of the Class of 2022 was employed or continuing their education six months after graduation. Popular employers include Accenture, PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Walt Disney Company, and Deloitte. Salaries vary between colleges; engineering grads had a median starting salary of $65k while journalism and communication grads reported a $50k median. In 2022, 24% of graduates enrolled directly into a graduate/professional degree program, with the most commonly attended schools including Columbia, Duke, Emory, Georgia Tech, Penn, and UVA.

• Enrollment: 30,714 (undergraduate); 9,893 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $28,142 (in-state); $48,538 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1310
• Acceptance Rate: 43%

University of Florida

• Gainesville, FL

Academic Highlights: With 16 colleges and 100 undergraduate majors to choose from, educational experiences are exceptionally diverse. The Warrington College of Business and the Wertheim College of Engineering are highly respected, so it’s no surprise that those two programs confer the greatest percentage of degrees—12% and 14%, respectively. Biology (11%), the social sciences (11%), and health professions (8%) are next in popularity. 53% of sections enroll fewer than 20 students, and 33% of students partake in an undergraduate research experience.

Professional Outcomes: By graduation day, 66% of the Class of 2022 had already procured a first job. The top occupational areas were engineering (13%), health care (13%), computer science (5%), and marketing (4%). 200+ Gator alumni can be found at top corporations like Google, EY, Raymond James, Deloitte, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Oracle, and PwC. The average salary for all 2022 grads was $69k, with a high of $100k for computer science majors. Of those pursuing advanced degrees, a master’s degree was the most popular pursuit (63%) followed by law school (11%).

• Enrollment: 34,552 (undergraduate); 20,659 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $23,530 (in-state); $45,808 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1400
• Median ACT: 31

University of Connecticut

Academic Highlights: UConn is home to fourteen schools and colleges as well as 115+ undergraduate majors. The four most commonly conferred undergraduate degrees are in business (15%), engineering (12%), the social sciences (12%), and health professions/nursing (12%). In terms of prestige and national reputation, programs in business, pharmacy, and nursing carry a good deal of weight. The school also does a nice job of creating a balance of classroom experiences—53% of sections enroll fewer than 20 students and only 18% contain more than fifty.

Professional Outcomes: 90% of the Class of 2022 experienced a positive outcome (job, grad school, military, volunteer position) within six months of earning their degrees. Among the 59% who found employment, the largest numbers landed at Aetna, Cigna, PwC, The Hartford, Travelers, and Raytheon Technologies; the median starting salary was $62,400. Massive numbers of alumni are employed by Pratt & Whitney, Pfizer, IBM, and Deloitte. 30% of 2022 graduates immediately entered a graduate or professional program, with many choosing to stay at UConn.

• Enrollment: 18,983 (undergraduate); 8,020 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $41,606 (in-state); $64,478 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1340
• Acceptance Rate: 55%
• Graduation Rate: 83%

University of Oregon

Academic Highlights: Over 80 degree programs are offered, and students flock in large numbers to the social sciences as 19% of degrees conferred fall under this umbrella. The next most popular academic pursuits are communication/journalism (14%), business (14%), psychology (9%), biology (8%) and the visual and performing arts (7%). The Lundquist College of Business and the College of Education have strong national reputations. The median class size is 20 students (37% contain less than that), and an impressive 80% of undergraduate students engage in some type of research activity.

Professional Outcomes: Members of the Class of 2022 already had their next destination lined up at graduation with 78% already employed or entering graduate school.  For 73% of that group, their outcomes related directly to the degree that they had just completed. More than 1,000 Oregon alumni work for Nike, and hundreds of others occupy offices at Intel, Amazon, Microsoft, Adidas, Google, Apple, and Salesforce. The median starting salary for a 2022 graduate was $51,000.

• Enrollment: 19,565 (undergraduate); 3,598 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $35,721 (in-state); $64,302 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1260
• Median ACT: 27
• Acceptance Rate: 86%
• Graduation Rate: 73%

Florida State University

• Tallahassee, FL

Academic Highlights: A wide range of baccalaureate degrees—103 to be precise—are available at FSU. The student-to-faculty is a 17:1, which translates into somewhat larger class sizes. Ten percent of sections contain more than fifty students, and 4% have more than 100. However, that is balanced by the 66% of sections that contain fewer than twenty students. Twenty-three percent of degrees conferred fall under the business umbrella. The social sciences (15%), psychology (8%), biology (8%), and homeland security (6%) are next in popularity.

Professional Outcomes: Eighty-three percent of job-seeking Seminole grads receive at least one offer of employment within three months of graduation. The top five sectors employing 2022 grads are (in order) finance, technology, marketing, health, and engineering. Roughly one-third of 2022 Florida State grads elected to immediately pursue admission into an advanced degree program; 75% of those who apply receive at least one acceptance. A typical graduating class sees over 100 students accepted into medical schools and over 200 accepted into law schools.

• Enrollment: 32,936
• Cost of Attendance: $25,762 (In-State); $39,692 (Out-of-State)
• Median SAT: 1300
• Acceptance Rate: 25%
• Graduation Rate: 85%

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Champaign-Urbana, IL

Academic Highlights: Eight of UIUC’s fifteen schools cater to undergraduate students. There are 150 academic programs offered, including those at the acclaimed Grainger College of Engineering and Gies College of Business. In sheer volume of degrees conferred, engineering and business/marketing are tied at 19%, followed by the social sciences (9%) and psychology (6%). 39% of sections are capped at 19 students. 29% of undergraduates work with a faculty member on a research project; another 22% have some type of fieldwork, practicum, or clinical experience.

Professional Outcomes: 95% of the members of the Class of 2022 landed at their next destination within six months of graduation, with 38% matriculating directly into an advanced degree program. 57% were employed full-time; the most popular sectors were finance, consulting, healthcare, electronics, and education. Corporations landing the most recent Illini grads were KPMG, Deloitte, Epic Systems, EY, PwC, and Amazon. The average salary across all Class of 2022 majors was an extremely solid $75,000.

• Enrollment: 35,120 (undergraduate); 21,796 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $35,926-$41,190 (in-state); $55,386-$63,290 (out-of-state)
• Acceptance Rate: 79%

Michigan State University

• East Lansing, MI

Academic Highlights: This highly regarded state institution boasts over 200 programs—undergraduate, graduate, and professional—across 17 degree-granting colleges. A 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio rates in the average range for public universities of MSU’s size and scope. Class sizes are a genuine mix of small seminars and giant lecture halls. 16% of the degrees conferred in 2022 were in the business/marketing category. The next most common degrees were earned in communication/journalism (12%), engineering (11%), and the social sciences (8%).

Professional Outcomes: Within months of strutting across the graduation stage, 56% of Class of 2022 members had landed full-time employment, 27% were pursuing advanced degrees, and 6% were still looking for a job. The top employers of this group included big names like General Motors, Ford Motor Company, Deloitte, Epic Systems, Target, PepsiCo, and Microsoft. The median starting salary earned was $60,000. Among the grads schools favored by recent alumni are the University of Michigan, New York University, Columbia University, and Boston University.

• Enrollment: 39,201
• Cost of Attendance: $27,805 (In-State); $55,189 (Out-of-State)
• Median SAT: 1220
• Acceptance Rate:
• Retention Rate: 89%

University of Maryland, College Park

• College Park, MD

Academic Highlights: Undergraduates can select from 100+ majors across twelve colleges. 18% of degrees are conferred in computer science, followed by the social sciences (13%), with  criminology, government and politics, and economics being the most popular majors.  Engineering (13%), business (11%), and biology (8%) are next in line. The School of Business, the School of Engineering, and the College of Journalism are all top-ranked, as are programs in computer science and criminology. 46% of sections enroll fewer than twenty students.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduating, 96% of Class of 2022 grads had positive outcomes. 67% found employment; the companies/organizations that hired the greatest number of grads included Northrop Grumman, Deloitte, Amazon, and EY. Meta, Apple, and Google employ more than 200 alumni each.  The mid-50% salary range for 2022 grads was $55k-$83k. 21% of the Class of 2022 headed directly to graduate and professional school; 11% entered doctoral programs, 5% entered medical school, and 5% entered law school.

• Enrollment: 30,353 (undergraduate); 10,439 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $31,540 (in-state); $60,918 (out-of-state)
• Acceptance Rate: 84%

The College of Wooster

• Wooster, OH

Academic Highlights: The College of Wooster receives high marks across the board in undergraduate teaching, senior capstone, undergraduate research, innovation, and value. With no graduate students, the faculty is wholly committed to undergraduate education and has an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The most conferred degrees last year were in the social sciences (19%) and biology (17%). Next in popularity were psychology (6%), the physical sciences (6%), mathematics (6%), journalism (6%), visual/performing arts (6%), and computer science (5%).

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of leaving Wooster, 96% of job-seeking individuals had landed a job, and 72% were employed in their preferred field. Organizations hiring at least one recent grad include Bank of America, Ernst & Young, the FBI, Morgan Stanley, and Northrop Grumman. Over the past few years, 97% of graduate school applicants were accepted into their top-choice institution. Among recent grads, 54% left to pursue a master’s degree, 27% entered doctoral programs, 8% matriculated into medical school, and 3% began law school.

• Enrollment: 1,967
• Cost of Attendance: $73,550
• Median SAT: 1350
• Acceptance Rate: 56%
• Retention Rate: 84%
• Graduation Rate: 74%

Indiana University

• Bloomington, IL

Academic Highlights: IU offers 200+ majors. The university’s 18:1 student-to-faculty ratio is not bad for a school of Indiana’s size, and it does make an effort to keep undergraduate classes on the small side. While there are a number of introductory courses that transpire in giant lecture halls, 37% of all sections contain no more than 19 students. Business/marketing is the most popular major accounting for 30% of the total degrees conferred and biology is second at 9%. IU’s computer science degree program is the school’s third most frequently conferred degree at 8%.

Professional Outcomes: Class of 2022 grads reached their next employment or graduate school destination at a 94% rate within six months of receiving their degrees. The median starting salary for A&S grads was $41,000. In the Kelley School of Business, 97% were placed successfully within six months, and the median starting salary was $67,000. Among the most frequently attended graduate schools by recent grads are Indiana Bloomington (including its own law and medical schools), Purdue, Loyola Chicago, Northwestern, and Columbia.

• Enrollment: 35,660
• Cost of Attendance: $25,170 (In-State); $53,860 (Out-of-State)
• Acceptance Rate: 82%
• Graduation Rate: 81%

Wake Forest University

• Winston-Salem, NC

Academic Highlights: All freshmen enter the Undergraduate College, which offers 45 majors and 60 minors. Sporting a student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1, classes are kept on the small side with 59% of sections enrolling fewer than 20 students. 60% of students engage in hands-on research for academic credit. Wake Forest is strong across myriad disciplines, most notably chemistry, communication, accounting, finance, and international affairs. The most frequently conferred degrees are in business (22%), the social sciences (20%), journalism (8%), and biology (8%).

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduation, 97% of the Class of 2022 had found their next destination, with 71% starting their first professional job and 26% matriculating into a graduate program. Management/consulting, investment banking, and healthcare were the top three industries. Employers landing the highest numbers of alumni included national and multinational corporations IBM, Siemens, Volvo, Goldman Sachs, Disney, Deloitte, Dell, Gucci, PepsiCo, EY, and Nike. By the start of mid-career, Wake Forest alumni earn the second-highest median salary of any school in North Carolina.

• Enrollment: 5,447 (undergraduate); 3,516 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $87,622
• Acceptance Rate: 21%

University of Pittsburgh

• Pittsburgh, PA

Academic Highlights: Pitt admits freshmen to the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences, the College of Business Administration, the Swanson School of Engineering, and the School of Nursing. Pitt’s engineering and business schools are top-rated and among the most commonly chosen fields of study. Premed offerings are also top-notch, with majors in the health professions (12%), biology (11%), psychology (9%), and computer science (9%) rounding out the list of most popular majors. Pitt has a strong 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio; 42% of sections have an enrollment of under twenty students.

Professional Outcomes: Within a few months of graduating, 94% of 2022 grads entered full-time employment or full-time graduate or professional school. Engineering, nursing, business, and information sciences majors had 73-86% employment rates while other majors tended to flock to graduate school in large numbers. Employers scooping up the highest number of grads in one recent year included the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (170), PNC (57), BNY Mellon (36), and Deloitte (19). Median starting salaries fluctuated between $37k-65k depending on major.

• Enrollment: 20,220 (undergraduate); 9,268 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $38,034-$43,254 (in-state); $56,400-$66,840 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1360
• Acceptance Rate: 50%
• Retention Rate: 92%

University of Iowa

• Iowa City, IA

Academic Highlights: 200+ undergraduate majors, minors, and certificate programs are available across eight colleges, including the Tippie College of Business, which has a very strong reputation. The most commonly conferred degree is business (24%), with parks and recreation (10%), social sciences (8%), health professions (8%), engineering (7%), and communication & journalism (5%) next in popularity. Over half of its undergraduate sections enroll 19 or fewer students, and 30% of undergrads conduct or assist research.

Professional Outcomes: 96% of Class of 2022 grads found their first job or advanced degree program within six months of receiving their diploma. The most commonly entered industries were healthcare (23%), entertainment/the arts (14%), finance and insurance (11%), and marketing/PR (10%). Companies that employ hundreds of alumni include Wells Fargo, Collins Aerospace, Principal Financial Group, Amazon, Accenture, and Microsoft. The median salary for 2022 grads was $50,000. 28% of recent graduates went directly into graduate school; 76% remained at the University of Iowa.

• Enrollment: 22,130 (undergraduate); 7,912 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $28,846-$32,259 (in-state); $50,809-$54,822 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1240
• Median ACT: 25
• Acceptance Rate: 85%

Pennsylvania State University — University Park

• State College, PA

Academic Highlights: Penn State offers 275 majors and a number of top-ranked programs in a host of disciplines. The College of Engineering is rated exceptionally well on a national scale and is also the most popular field of study, accounting for 15% of the degrees conferred. The Smeal College of Business is equally well-regarded, earning high rankings in everything from supply chain management to accounting to marketing. It attracts 15% of total degree-seekers. 61% of classes have an enrollment below thirty students.

Professional Outcomes: By graduation, 70% of Nittany Lions have found their next employment or graduate school home. 98% of College of Business grads are successful within three months of exiting, flocking in large numbers to stellar finance, accounting, consulting, and technology firms. Hundreds of alumni work at Citi, Salesforce, and Meta, and more than 500 currently work at each of IBM, Deloitte, PwC, Amazon, EY, JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, Google, and Oracle. 75% of 2022 grads employed full-time earned starting salaries greater than $50k.

• Enrollment: 41,745 (undergraduate); 7,020 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $32,656 (in-state); $52,610 (out-of-state)

Macalester College

• St. Paul, MN

Academic Highlights: Students can choose from roughly 40 majors and over 800 courses that are offered each academic year . Being an undergraduate-only institution, Macalester students enjoy the full benefits of the school’s 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The average class size is only 17 students, and 14% of class sections have single-digit enrollments. Macalester possesses strong offerings across many different disciplines. Programs in economics, international studies, and mathematics are among the best anywhere.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after graduating, 95% of the Macalester Class of 2022 had found employment, graduate school, or a fellowship. Employers of recent grads include ABC News, Google, Goldman Sachs, Dow Chemical Company, McKinsey & Company, the ACLU, the National Cancer Institute, and National Geographic . Across all sectors, the average starting salary for recent grads was above $62k. Sixty percent of Mac grads pursue an advanced degree within six years of earning their bachelor’s.

• Enrollment: 2,175
• Cost of Attendance: $79,890
• Acceptance Rate: 28%
• Retention Rate: 88%

Brandeis University

• Waltham, MA

Academic Highlights: Brandeis offers 43 majors, the most popular of which are in the social sciences (18%), biology (17%), business (10%), psychology (8%), public administration (8%), and computer science (7%). The student-faculty ratio is 11:1, and 60% of courses contain nineteen or fewer students. Departments with a particularly strong national reputation include economics, international studies, and sociology as well as all of the traditional premed pathways including biology, and chemistry.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduation, 98% of the Class of 2022 had found their way to employment (59%), graduate school (35%), or another full-time activity like travel or volunteer work (4%). Members of the Class of 2022 were hired by Red Hat, Deloitte, Nasdaq, NPR, and McKinsey & Company. The average starting salary for recent grads is $61k. A large contingent of grads elects to continue at Brandeis for graduate school. Many others go to BU, Columbia, Duke, Harvard, and Yale.

• Enrollment: 3,687
• Cost of Attendance: $86,242
• Acceptance Rate: 39%

St. Olaf College

• Northfield, MN

Academic Highlights: St. Olaf offers 45+ majors. Over half of all course sections contain fewer than twenty students, and there are multiple avenues through which students can pursue research experiences. The most commonly conferred degrees are in the social sciences (18%), the visual and performing arts (11%), biology (11%), psychology (8%), and foreign languages (7%). Many departments at St. Olaf have exceptional national reputations including religion, mathematics, and chemistry.

Professional Outcomes: In 2022, 98% of graduates had entered the workforce or graduate school within six months of receiving their diplomas. The great majority of alumni remain in the Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul area, which impacts what companies hire the most Oles. To name names, alumni have the largest representation at Target, UnitedHealth Group, the Mayo Clinic, Wells Fargo, Medtronic, 3M, and US Bank. The school is also a top producer of future PhDs.

• Enrollment: 3,074
• Cost of Attendance: $72,070
• Acceptance Rate: 52%

University of Central Florida

• Orlando, FL

Academic Highlights:  With a very high 29:1 student-to-faculty ratio, classes at UCF are fairly large as 23% contain 50 or more students. There are 100+ undergraduate majors at this institution. The most popular majors are business (17%), health professions (15%), psychology (10%), engineering (9%), and the visual and performing arts (7%). The school ranks well for facilitating social mobility and overall value and the engineering, computer science, and nursing programs all rank well on a national level.

Professional Outcomes:  Over two-thirds of recent graduates obtained employment immediately after earning their bachelor’s degree; one-quarter head right to graduate school. The median starting salary is $47,000 and the most commonly entered industries are hospital/healthcare, education, hospitality services, engineering, technology, financial, accounting, and marketing. The most popular graduate degrees pursued were in the sciences, health professions, education, and medicine.

• Enrollment: 58,749
• Cost of Attendance: $24,244 (In-State); $39,269 (Out-of-State)
• Median SAT: 1270
• Acceptance Rate: 41%
• Graduation Rate: 76%

Dickinson College

• Carlisle, PA

Academic Highlights: As students immerse themselves in one of 46 areas of concentration, Dickinson supports them with a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio and average class size of fifteen, with 78% of classes being capped at 19 students. By discipline, the greatest number of degrees are conferred in the social sciences (27%), biology (12%), business (10%), psychology (7%), and foreign languages (5%). The college’s foreign language program, which features 13 offerings—including Arabic, Hebrew, and Portuguese—is recognized as one of the top programs in the country.

Professional Outcomes: One year after graduating, 95% of Dickinson grads have found jobs or full-time volunteer work, or have enrolled in graduate school. Companies employing more than 25 Dickinson alumni include Deloitte, IBM, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Merck, EY, PNC, PwC, Google, and Amazon. It’s interesting that more alumni can be found in New York City than in Pennsylvania. Within five years of receiving their diplomas, 55-60% of recent grads have entered or finished graduate school.

• Enrollment: 2,125
• Cost of Attendance: $86,151
• Median SAT: 1355
• Acceptance Rate: 35%

University of South Carolina

• Columbia, SC

Academic Highlights: UofSC is a massive enterprise, with 16 colleges/schools within the larger university. Even so, 70% of all sections contain 29 or fewer students. 32% of students take the opportunity to earn a degree in the business/marketing realm from the superb Darla Moore School of Business. The international business program is also top-ranked. Other popular disciplines include health services (11%), biology (10%), engineering (6%), and communication and journalism (6%).  The South Carolina Honors College is extremely hard to get into and is one of the finest in the entire country.

Professional Outcomes: 79% of recent grads landed at their next destination within six months with an average starting salary of over $55,000. Within the School of Business, 87% of 2023 grads were employed within three months and the average starting salary was $69k. Top employers of recent classes included KPMG, IBM, Aramark, Bank of America, Vanguard, PwC, and Marriot. The majority of those continuing their studies in a graduate/professional degree program did so at the University of South Carolina; other popular landing spots are Duke and Wake Forest.

• Enrollment: 27,343 (undergraduate); 8,310 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $38,696 (in-state); $60,942 (out-of-state)
• Graduation Rate: 78%

Purdue University — West Lafayette

• West Lafayette, IN

Academic Highlights: Purdue offers over 200 majors at ten discipline-specific colleges, and 38% of course sections have an enrollment of 19 or fewer. Engineering and engineering technologies majors earn 34% of the degrees conferred by the university; the College of Engineering cracks the top ten on almost every list of best engineering schools. The Krannert School of Management is also well-regarded by employers; 11% of degrees conferred are in business. Other popular majors include computer science (10%) and agriculture (5%)—both are incredibly strong.

Professional Outcomes: Shortly after receiving their diplomas, 70% of 2022 grads headed to the world of employment while 24% headed to graduate/professional school. The top industries entered by grads in recent years are (1) health care, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices; (2) finance, insurance, and consulting; (3) manufacturing and machinery; (4) airline, aviation, and aerospace. Companies employing the greatest number of recent alumni were Amazon, Deloitte, PepsiCo, Labcorp, Lockheed Martin, and Microsoft. The average starting salary was $68k across all degree programs.

• Enrollment: 37,949 (undergraduate); 12,935 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $22,812 (in-state); $41,614 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1330

SUNY – Geneseo

• Geneseo, NY

Academic Highlights:  SUNY Geneseo is one of the top public liberal arts honors colleges in the United States and it proudly offers 150+ academic programs. It has a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio and class sizes vary, with 59% enrolling between 20 and 49 students. A rarity for colleges in 2024, the most commonly conferred degree is in education (19%), followed by business (15%), psychology (15%), the social sciences (15%), and biology (12%).

Professional Outcomes:  In surveying the Class of 2022, SUNY Geneseo found that 80% of graduates had achieved a positive outcome within six months of earning their bachelor’s degree. Most of the starting salaries were in the $40k-$60k range and popular employers included KPMG, Epic, The Walt Disney Company, AmeriCorps, and the US Army. Those pursuing a grad school path most often landed at Syracuse, RIT, Binghamton University, Stony Brook University, and the University at Buffalo.

• Enrollment: 4,136
• Cost of Attendance: $24,346 (In-State); $34,586 (Out-of-State)
• Median ACT: 26
• Graduation Rate: 72%

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Introduction to Comparative and International Education

• Jennifer Marshall - University of Derby, UK
• Description

This book introduces major themes surrounding comparative and international education, giving you a nuanced understanding of key debates, and thinkers, and the tools necessary to conduct comparisons using secondary sources. Social, economic, historical, and cultural factors are examined in order to investigate the varied contexts in which education takes place around the globe. This new edition includes:

• New case studies touching on contemporary issues from decolonising the curriculum to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on education
• A new introduction outlining the features of the book and how to use them
• Updated educational data from around the world and new links to external resources

See what’s new to this edition by selecting the Features tab on this page. Should you need additional information or have questions regarding the HEOA information provided for this title, including what is new to this edition, please email [email protected] . Please include your name, contact information, and the name of the title for which you would like more information. For information on the HEOA, please go to http://ed.gov/policy/highered/leg/hea08/index.html .

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7 Best Books for Art Majors

We are a reader-supported education publication. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission to help us keep providing content.

I t’s easy for students to become complacent in college, regardless of what they’re studying. And, while some pupils can get away with being lazy — think business majors and young prodigies —  it’s absolutely essential that art majors commit to their education and keep learning. After all, it’s often the new, challenging and interesting that spur creativity and passion. Luckily, there are plenty of good books for art majors out there that can inform, guide and inspire. 

1. Art & Fear

Every artist goes through ups and downs but when you’re just starting out, it might feel as if you’re the only one struggling. Art & Fear reminds readers that they aren’t alone in this struggle to create and produce art. More importantly, it arms artists with practical guidance so they don’t give up, even when it’s difficult to put pen — or brush — to paper. In these instances, the authors recommend building an artist community and viewing art as work to effectively maintain motivation and consistency. 

2. The Art Spirit 

If you’d rather read first-hand accounts of one man’s triumphs and tribulations, pick up a copy of The Art Spirit by Robert Henri. Compiled by his one-time pupil Margery Ryerson, this book is a compilation of Robert’s wisdom and musings as an American painter and educator in the early 20th century. His nuanced creative philosophy is evident throughout the volume and reminds young creators that even artists of old struggled with what it means to create, influence and leave a meaningful legacy.

3. Catching the Big Fish 

Art majors who also dabble in meditation will thoroughly enjoy David Lynch’s Catching the Big Fish. This book insists that mental capacity and inner peace hold the keys to your creative drive, and emerging scientific evidence is beginning to back these claims. As the author guides you through his process of finding and harnessing creativity, you’ll learn more about generating your own original ideas through mindfulness and balance. You’ll also learn how life, art and consciousness are inextricably intertwined. 

4. Do It: The Compendium

Need a little more outside inspiration for creating and exhibiting artwork? Do It: The Compendium is full of helpful advice and do-it-yourself instructions from more than 60 renowned artists. Their expert guidance and off-the-wall essays will give you a framework with which to create contemporary art and maybe even spark some creative ideas of your own. Connect with Louise Bourgeois, Ai Weiwei and other prominent artists through this inspiring compilation. 

5. Design as Art

Most people think of art as a frivolous, unnecessary part of life. Others perceive it to be inaccessible because they weren’t born with natural artistic talents. But the art major knows better. You see art in everything from coffee mugs to street signs, just like Bruno Mari in Design as Art. In this work, the artist studies and celebrates the relationship between form and function in ordinary objects. More importantly, he emphasizes that art is accessible to everyone, whether you’re the creator or the onlooker. 

6. Art: A World History

By the time you earn your degree, you’ll have amassed extensive knowledge about world-renowned artists and their influential work. Yet, keeping them all straight may prove difficult in the months and years after graduation. That’s where this handy little book comes in. Art: A World History includes 900 illustrations of some of history’s greatest works of art. Plus, it’s pocket-sized so you can take it to museums, galleries or your personal studio for easy reference. 

7. Taking the Leap

Art is one of the least popular college majors because fine art majors often have the worst luck finding and keeping a job. Visual and performing arts majors also face low salaries and high unemployment rates. However, there is hope, especially for those who pick up a copy of Cay Lang’s Taking the Leap. This book gives readers practical steps to build a career in visual arts. More specifically, it helps beginners put their best foot forward when exhibiting and selling their art. 

Growing Your Personal Library 

Odds are you’ll have at least a few college textbooks to add to your bookshelf post-graduation. However, if you want to supplement your collection, the books above make excellent additions. 

Grow your personal library and inspire creativity with must-reads about using your imagination, creating real art and honoring all the greats who came before. Learn the tools of the trade from experts and study the styles of world-famous creators to grow your knowledge and skillset. Regardless of what you read , you’re bound to learn something new, which is always a good thing for art majors.

Ginger Abbot is the writer, founder and Editor-in-Chief behind Classrooms. Through her work, she hopes to inspire students, grads, and educators on their own journey through learning. Find her professional portfolio here: https://classrooms.com/professional-portfolio-of-ginger-abbot/

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Catawba County Library System: Leveraging Healthy People 2030 Objectives and Community Partnerships to Deliver More than Books

This blog post is part of our quarterly series highlighting the work of Healthy People 2030 Champion organizations . Healthy People 2030 Champions are organizations recognized for their work to improve the health and well-being of people in their communities and to help achieve Healthy People 2030’s goals. 

Catawba County Library System in Western North Carolina serves a population of more than 160,000 people. While providing traditional services, like helping patrons access books and other information resources, is a key part of the library’s role, Collaborative Services Librarian Erica Derr emphasizes that the library offers much more: “Our work is really about making living better — for everyone.” 

The library carries out this work by offering creative programming in 3 main areas: lifelong learning, health and wellness, and job and career development. It works closely with a variety of community partners to create and sustain these programs, which support several Leading Health Indicators (LHIs) and other Healthy People 2030 objectives.

Creating opportunities for lifelong learning

Like libraries across the nation, Catawba County Library System considers education an essential part of its work. “I remind people all the time that the best way to keep your brain fit is to learn something new that challenges your brain,” Derr says.

The library offers many programs that support education-related Healthy People 2030 objectives, including:

• AH-05: Increase the proportion of 4th-graders with reading skills at or above the proficient level 
• AH-R04: Increase the proportion of 8th-graders with reading skills at or above the proficient level
• AH-08: Increase the proportion of high school students who graduate in 4 years

Specifically, the library promotes reading proficiency at all ages through programs like story times, opportunities to read aloud to therapy dogs, reading challenges, and partnerships with area schools. It also offers a range of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) activities for elementary students, teen-specific programming on topics like 3D printing and coding, and opportunities for adults to improve their digital literacy skills. 

Many of these educational programs take place at one of the library’s 7 branches. However, for county residents living in rural areas, getting to the library’s physical locations can be challenging. That’s where its mobile library, Catawba County Library to Go, comes in. The mobile library is a van loaded with furniture, rugs, tables, and (of course) books. It travels to areas of the county that don’t have a library branch or where residents tend to face transportation barriers — like nursing homes. Library to Go offers much of the same programming that county residents can access at physical branches, including story times for young readers, robotics and virtual reality devices for children and teens, and job application support for adults. 

Bringing services directly to residents is one way the library addresses social determinants of health (like lack of transportation access), a Healthy People 2030 priority area. Other efforts include providing free coats, diapers, and food in a safe, nonjudgmental space, which aligns with Healthy People LHIs like NWS-01: Reduce household food insecurity and hunger .

“Equity is so important to us at the library, so we try hard to provide the same opportunities and resources to everyone in the county — and Library to Go makes that possible, ” says Derr.

Helping patrons get active — in and out of the library

In addition to helping patrons keep their minds sharp, Catawba County Library System encourages them to take care of their bodies. It even sets goals for staff to help boost its health and wellness programming — and ultimately help improve the health of the community. For example, Derr’s goal in 2023 was to facilitate at least 25 programs to foster healthy eating, active living, behavioral health, and chronic disease prevention. 

Under its umbrella of health and wellness programming, the library is working to foster an interest in physical activity and lower barriers to participating by making programs fun, free, and safe — efforts that closely align with Healthy People 2030 Leading Health Indicator PA-05: Increase the proportion of adults who do enough aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity . 

The library partners with fitness organizations and exercise instructors to deliver a wide range of free fitness classes, including yoga and Zumba, at different library branches. This is especially important, Derr says, because “not every neighborhood is safe to exercise in, and we want people to know the library is a safe space for them.” She says the classes consistently draw between 10 and 40 participants. 

One librarian, a certified yoga instructor, leads a range of yoga classes at her library branch, including chair yoga and gentle stretching to provide options for all ages. She also offers a monthly session in Catawba County’s newest park, Mountain Creek Park, to help library patrons enjoy the benefits of yoga and gain the positive health impacts of being in nature. The library sponsors other physical activity programs and wellness-related events out in the community. For example, it facilitates a weekly meet-up in community parks that includes a tai chi warm-up followed by an hourlong hike during all but the coldest times of year. Additionally, staff host programs at the library’s community garden, where patrons can connect socially, get their hands dirty, and learn about growing fresh foods.

“Our health and wellness programs are a huge priority for us,” says Derr. “I’m proud to say that so far this fiscal year [as of early March 2024], we’ve facilitated over 140 health and wellness programs across the library system — and since the fiscal year ends in June, we still have a few months to go!”

Empowering job seekers with Wi-Fi, workspaces, and skill-building

Catawba County Library System also prioritizes helping community members find jobs — an effort that’s closely related to another Healthy People 2030 Leading Health Indicator: SDOH-02: Increase employment in working-age people . 

When it comes to supporting job seekers, one of the most important roles the library plays is providing free, reliable Wi-Fi in its buildings. That’s because limited access to reliable internet is a major barrier for people in the county who need to find jobs. Derr notes that 15 percent of county residents don’t have broadband internet access “because the infrastructure is not there to support it. For that to improve, it’ll take an investment in that infrastructure.” Until that time comes, the library is there to help. 

In addition to providing Wi-Fi across its branches, the library installed 5 soundproof booths equipped with videoconferencing technology that patrons can use for virtual job interviews or meetings, telehealth visits, online classes, court proceedings, or tutoring sessions. The library also works closely with NCWorks, a state-sponsored careers program, to hold events where career specialists and librarians help job seekers improve their interview skills, write résumés, and fill out job applications. 

Just like with its education and physical activity programs, Catawba County Library System also gets creative to support job seekers and their families. One Sunday each month, the library deploys the Library to Go van to a laundromat in the town of Long View so people can connect to the van’s Wi-Fi and get help with job applications and résumés. The Library to Go librarian offers story time for children during these visits, too.

The library specifically chose Long View for this outreach because it has the lowest life expectancy in the county, according to Census tract data. “This outreach has really been an asset to our community,” Derr says. “It’s a consistent and reliable source of support for people who need it most.”

Lessons Learned

When it comes to producing high-quality programs for patrons, Derr says working with the right community partners is key. She shares some ideas about how to find the right organizations to partner with and ensure things run smoothly:

Get involved in the community.

Knowing about the work that other community-based organizations are doing has been essential for Catawba County Library System to find new partners. Along with representatives from 50 other area nonprofits, Derr attends the Catawba County United Way Interagency Council meeting — where each organization shares information about its work and the resources it needs.

Team up with partners to make programs easier to access.

Working with community partners expands the number and types of venues you can use for your events — which can make them accessible to more people. Think about where in the community people are spending their time and whether there’s a potential partner that can help you reach them there — similar to how Catawba County Library System brings Library to Go to the laundromat. And consider using publicly funded spaces, like parks, for events promoting health and wellness.

Remember that working with other organizations helps you — and them.

Derr notes that working with the library can help partner organizations meet their own objectives, a point that may help potential partners get on board with a collaboration. “In many cases, we’re helping them meet their outreach goals while also helping our library patrons accomplish some things that they want to accomplish.”

Get on the same page — and then document it!

Derr says it’s important to be up front with partners about any guidelines or rules they need to follow (for example, programs at the library must be completely free and nothing can be sold). She also suggests documenting each partner’s roles and responsibilities — and how much they’ll spend — before starting on the work.  

Related Healthy People 2030 objectives:

• Increase the proportion of 4th-graders with reading skills at or above the proficient level — AH‑05
• Increase the proportion of 8th-graders with reading skills at or above the proficient level — AH‑R04
• Increase the proportion of high school students who graduate in 4 years — AH‑08
• Reduce household food insecurity and hunger  — NWS‑01
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Learning With Incarcerated Scholars

• Projects from UTSA Libraries + UTSA PhilLit
• Prison programs in books and media
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Viewing Guide

• Sing Sing (A24) Divine G (Colman Domingo), imprisoned at Sing Sing for a crime he didn’t commit, finds purpose by acting in a theatre group with other incarcerated men. When a wary outsider joins the group, the men decide to stage their first original comedy, in this stirring true story of resilience, humanity, and the transformative power of art, starring an unforgettable ensemble cast of formerly incarcerated actors. (Description from A24)
• Unlocked: The Power of Arts in Prison Unlocked captures the unsparingly honest stories of formerly incarcerated men and women who participated in RTA’s prison arts program. The film offers a different model for criminal justice, emphasizing life skills that lead to success after prison.
• The prison in twelve landscapes by Brett Story Publication Date: 2016 In this remarkable documentary, filmmaker Brett Story excavates the often unseen links and connections that prisons – and our system of mass incarceration – have on communities and industries all around us. Widely acclaimed, The Prison in Twelve Landscapes is an essential documentary, a portrait of our criminal justice system in which we never see a penitentiary.
• Film, Documentary, and Video links from the Justice Arts Coalition The Justice Arts Coalition is a national network and resource for those creating art in and around the criminal legal system.
• Ask Her About The Art As a sociological statement, Carol Strict collects prison art to show and sell at galleries; sending all profits back to the prisoners so they can buy food and art supplies. Ask Her About The Art is a verite documentary that explores the obstacles prisoners face in order to create, the alternative lifestyle of the Strict family, and the insidious intentions of the prison industrial complex. (Description from Karim Dakkon's website)

Reading Guide

Listening Guide

• Cruel Summer Book Club Episode 6: Susie Bannon Went to Prison and Got Sober Cruel Summer Book Club is a podcast about change—one of life’s only certainties. Host Jillian Anthony (author of the Cruel Summer Book Club newsletter and former Editor of Time Out New York) has honest conversations with authors, artists, life coaches, and others who share wisdom about experiencing Big Change, how they got through it, and what they learned on the other side.
• Uncarcerated: Released Reentry w/ Emily We sit down with our good friend Emily Westerholm from Released Reentry to talk about the challenges with reentering society and what Released is doing to fill that gap and help assist people as they come home.
• Ms. Book Club - Torn Apart: The Carceral Web In this episode,Torn Apart reveals the child welfare system’s deep entanglements with the criminal legal system. It exposes how state child protection caseworkers collaborate with police and use a carceral logic to surveil families. It investigates how the system treats Black children like criminals, resulting in Black children being more vulnerable to arrest, incarceration, and early death. Foster care is traumatic for both children and parents, and often leaves lasting damage on children. In this episode, Torn Apart turns to examining what it will take to end family policing.
• Society's Carceral Burden with Dr. Sharon Dolovich What does society owe to those behind bars? In this episode, Professor Sharon Dolovich of the UCLA School of Law breathes a fresh perspective into the established view of the American prison system – and the moral obligation of a just society to those it incarcerates. The "carceral burden" theory posits that, in imprisoning an individual, the state or federal government has deprived them of the means to live autonomously and support themselves; as a result, the government takes on the responsibility of caring for the incarcerated individual until their release. In the age of COVID, this relationship has come into question more frequently than ever. Join us as Riya Dange and Antoinette Charles guide Professor Dolovich through a riveting discussion of moral philosophy, policy-making, and data-driven advocacy in these unprecedented times.
• Poetry, Disability, and the Power of Medical Humanities with Kimberly Campanello Making connections through poetry, disability, and medical humanities. Brandy Schillace, Medical Humanities' Editor-in-Chief, interviews Kimberly Campanello, Associate Professor of Creative Writing at Leeds University, UK. Read the related blog including the transcription of this podcast: https://blogs.bmj.com/medical-humanities/2023/10/26/on-poetry-disability-and-the-power-of-medical-humanities
• Life in Theatre Episode 17: Reflecting Shakespeare Prison Program with Erika Phillips This episode features a fascinating chat with Erika Phillips, Program Manager for The Old Globe Theatre's 'Reflecting Shakespeare' prison program!
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Multisystemic therapy – building stronger families.

Multisystemic Therapy – Building Stronger Families (MST-BSF) is an adaptation of Multisystemic Therapy (MST) designed for families with youth ages 6–17 who come under the guidance of child protective services due to co-occurring parental substance use and physical abuse or neglect of a child. MST-BSF combines three program models: (1) MST, (2) MST for Child Abuse and Neglect, and (3) Reinforcement-Based Treatment for substance use disorders. MST-BSF uses the same service delivery characteristics and guiding principles as the core MST model. However, all family members who need treatment receive it, with a strong emphasis on adult interventions and child safety, including interventions for children who are not the subject of the maltreatment report. MST-BSF follows the MST for Child Abuse and Neglect model closely but adds Reinforcement-Based Treatment for all cases. As in MST for Child Abuse and Neglect, MST-BSF adds two key team members to the standard MST model: (1) a family resource specialist, who provides case management to help families meet basic safety needs and navigate the public assistance system to obtain services (e.g., housing) and (2) a part-time psychiatrist or advanced practice registered nurse. 

MST-BSF begins with an intake process that includes a variety of assessments (including assessments for trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse) to identify family needs and determine their treatment goals. A member of the MST-BSF team explains the purpose and implications of drug testing results to the parent and then conducts a baseline assessment of drug use. The MST-BSF team and family develop a safety plan to protect the child in the event of parental relapse. For parents with physical drug dependency, the team also recommends a 5–7-day stay in an inpatient detoxification facility. 

Therapists then use information from the assessments to determine which interventions and services are appropriate for the family and youth. Family interventions may include cognitive behavioral therapy to address anger management issues, behavioral family therapy to address communication and problem-solving skills, or prolonged exposure therapy to address post-traumatic stress disorder. Youth interventions are based on their needs and may include school-based interventions and cognitive behavioral therapies for trauma, anger management, and substance abuse. 

Parents receive individual counseling sessions (such as counseling for trauma or substance use) and undergo weekly drug and alcohol testing throughout treatment. They receive positive reinforcement, such as small voucher incentives for negative screens. Parents self-monitor by graphing the results of urine drug screens weekly. Stickers and encouraging words are written on graphs when results are negative. Therapists also encourage participation in activities that compete with time spent using drugs (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous, drug-free recreation, jobs). The provider agency holds a weekly 2-hour relapse prevention group to provide social support and reinforcement of progress. When needed, parents participate in couples therapy and family therapy sessions with their children.

MST-BSF is rated as a supported practice because at least one study carried out in a usual care or practice setting achieved a rating of moderate or high on design and execution and demonstrated a sustained favorable effect of at least 6 months beyond the end of treatment on at least one target outcome.

Date Research Evidence Last Reviewed: Apr 2023

The program or service description, target population, and program and service delivery and implementation information were informed by the following sources: the program or service manual, the program or service developer’s website, the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare, and the studies reviewed.

This information does not necessarily represent the views of the program or service developers. For more information on how this program or service was reviewed, visit the Review Process page or download the Handbook .

Target Population

MST-BSF is designed for families with youth ages 6–17 who come under the guidance of child protective services due to co-occurring parental substance use and physical abuse or neglect of a child. 

Program or Service Delivery and Implementation

Program dosage varies based on youth and family needs. The treatment team is comprised of three therapists that provide a minimum of three treatment sessions per week and who share an on-call rotation to provide crisis-related services for all families 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Teams conduct intake assessments over several days and deliver needed interventions and services over a period of 6–9 months. Families typically receive services for an average of 7 months. Therapists have maximum caseloads of four families.

Location/Delivery Setting

Recommended locations/delivery settings.

Teams deliver MST-BSF in-person in participants’ homes, in schools, in community settings, or in in-patient treatment settings in cases where the parent is receiving detoxification services.

Location/Delivery Settings Observed in the Research

• Provider Agency

Education, Certifications and Training

MST-BSF teams consist of three therapists who are part of licensed MST teams and organizations. MST-BSF therapists deliver the program with support from a supervisor, a family resource specialist, and a part-time psychiatrist or advanced practice registered nurse. Therapists typically have master’s degrees in social work, psychology, counseling, or marriage and family therapy. Supervisors typically have a master’s or doctoral degree in social work, psychology, counseling, or marriage and family therapy.

Therapists, supervisors, and other MST-BSF clinical team members must first complete 13 days of training. This includes a 5-day training in the MST model provided by Ph.D. and master’s level mental-health specialists. The training includes teaching, role-playing, and other exercises designed to develop skills used in the treatment process and to provide opportunities to practice using MST assessment strategies. The training also aims to familiarize team members with the theory underlying the MST model, the causes of serious behavior problems that MST can address, the strategies MST teams use to build collaborative relationships with stakeholder agencies in the community, and the team member’s role in continuous quality improvement. Team members also participate in 2 days of training in MST for Child Abuse and Neglect and 2 days of training in Reinforcement-based Treatment. Following initial training, clinical team members participate in 2 days of training on adult treatment for trauma and 2 days of training on child treatment for trauma. All clinical team members also participate in on-the-job learning, including 1.5 hours of weekly group supervision, individual supervision as needed, and 1.5 hours of weekly consultation with an MST-BSF expert. 

Program or Service Documentation

Book/manual/available documentation used for review.

MST-BSF is implemented with the following three resources: 

Henggeler, S. W., Schoenwald, S. K., Borduin, C. M., & Rowland, M. D. (2009). Multisystemic Therapy for antisocial behavior in children and adolescents  (2nd ed.). The Guilford Press.

Swenson, C. C., Penman, J. E., Henggeler, S. W., & Rowland, M. D. (2011). Multisystemic Therapy for Child Abuse and Neglect, revised edition . Medical University of South Carolina Family Services Research Center, National Institute of Mental Health, Connecticut Department of Children and Families, and MST Services.

Tuten, L. M., Jones, H. E., Schaeffer, C. M., & Stitzer, M. L. (2012). Reinforcement-Based Treatment for substance use disorders: A comprehensive behavioral approach . American Psychological Association.

Available languages

MST-BSF materials are available in English.

Other supporting materials

MST Orientation Training

MST Adaptations

MST-BSF Fact Sheet

For More Information

Website:  http://www.mstservices.com/

Phone: (843) 856-8226

Email:  [email protected]

Note: The details on Dosage; Location; Education, Certifications, and Training; Other Supporting Materials; and For More Information sections above are provided to website users for informational purposes only. This information is not exhaustive and may be subject to change.

Extent of Evidence

Summary of findings.

Note: For the effect sizes and implied percentile effects reported in the table, a positive number favors the intervention group and a negative number favors the comparison group. Effect sizes for some outcomes were not able to be calculated by the Prevention Services Clearinghouse.

Individual Study Findings

Note: For the effect sizes and implied percentile effects reported in the table, a positive number favors the intervention group and a negative number favors the comparison group. Effect sizes and implied percentile effects were calculated by the Prevention Services Clearinghouse as described in the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Section 5.10.4 and may not align with effect sizes reported in individual publications. Effect sizes for some outcomes were not able to be calculated by the Prevention Services Clearinghouse.

Only publications with eligible contrasts that met design and execution standards are included in the individual study findings table.

Full citations for the studies shown in the table are available in the "Studies Reviewed" section.

Studies Reviewed

Studies rated moderate.

Schaeffer, C. M., Swenson, C. C., Tuerk, E. H., & Henggeler, S. W. (2013). Comprehensive treatment for co-occurring child maltreatment and parental substance abuse: Outcomes from a 24-month pilot study of the MST-Building Stronger Families program. Child Abuse & Neglect, 37(8), 596–607. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2013.04.004

Studies Rated Low

Schaeffer, C. M., Swenson, C. C., & Powell, J. S. (2021). Multisystemic Therapy - Building Stronger Families (MST-BSF): Substance misuse, child neglect, and parenting outcomes from an 18-month randomized effectiveness trial. Child Abuse & Neglect, 122, Article 105379. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105379

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