I’m a skeptic – especially when it comes to advice for teachers at colleges and universities. I’ve seen scores of “best practices” rise and fall since I taught my first writing courses in the 1980s. There have been some exceptions, of course, where the authors have convinced me to reconsider my assumptions. From my 68 blog posts about books for teachers, here are the ten books that I have found to be the most useful:
1. Before reading this book, I didn’t think that research on the role of emotion in the learning process was relevant to college classrooms. This book changed my mind – and it changed my methods of teaching: The Spark of Learning: Energizing the College Classroom with the Science of Emotion by Sarah Rose Cavanagh. West Virginia University Press, 2016.
2. If you are a new faculty member, or are mentoring someone new, you probably have time for only one book. If so, this book covers a good range of the most important principles, and the author coaches instead of lectures: The Missing Course: Everything They Never Taught You about College Teaching by David Gooblar. Harvard University Press, 2019.
3. Many faculty members do not want to believe this statement by James Lang: “We will not succeed in teaching today’s students unless we make a fundamental shift in our thinking: away from preventing distraction and toward cultivating attention.” In our post-pandemic world, we have to face this reality. Distracted: Why Students Can’t Focus and What You Can Do About It by James Lang. Basic Books, 2020.
4. You might think that the students who are smart enough to be in your class are also smart enough to know how to do the work. This is wishful thinking. After reading Saundra Yancy McGuire’s book, I began to use her slides to include a 30-minute discussion in my classes, with convincing results. Teach Students How to Learn: Strategies You Can Incorporate into Any Course to Improve Student Metacognition, Study Skills, and Motivation by Saundra Yancy McGuire with Stephanie McGuire. Stylus, 2015.
5. What should you do if a student makes a racist statement in your class? Nobody wants to make a mistake when walking through this minefield. The best advice I’ve seen helps me understand how to respond compassionately and effectively. Teaching About Race and Racism in the College Classroom by Cyndi Kernahan. West Virginia University Press, 2019.
6. I can identify the single biggest reorientation in my teaching career: it was when I read the book It’s become a classic because it helps us understand why some students sabotage themselves while others succeed. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck. Random House, 2006.
7. After reading Mindset, I decided to rethink how I gave feedback and graded student work. I looked for advice that aligned with Carol Dweck’s work, and I found it in a book by an assessment expert, Linda Nilson. Her research led me to use “specifications grading” with strong results. Making a major change like this can take years to fully implement. I can say this: After seeing the results, I’m all in. Specifications Grading: Restoring Rigor, Motivating Students, and Saving Faculty Time by Linda Nilson. Stylus, 2015.
8. I’d bet that the most misunderstood phrase in college teaching is “learner centered.” When it’s said with an eyeroll, you know that there is a lack of information. Having worked with the author, Maryellen Weimer, I’m biased, of course. However, I am convinced that that second edition of her ground-breaking work is the best way to understand this movement. Learner-Centered Teaching: Five Key Changes to Practice, 2nd edition by Maryellen Weimer. Jossey-Bass, 2013.
9. All college teachers owe a debt of gratitude to Malcolm Knowles. He challenged traditional methods of teaching adults, and his research led to a better understanding of self-directed learners. His work guided my teaching practice and influenced how I wrote my book. The Adult Learner: The Definitive Classic in Adult Education and Human Resource Development, 6th edition, by Malcolm S. Knowles, Elwood F. Holton III, Richard A. Swanson, Elsevier, 2005. Note: newer editions are available.
10.Many of us first heard about “Universal Design for Learning” when we created online classes. However, these principles can be applied just as well in face-to-face classrooms. The basic idea is to focus on your learning goals, and then to provide more than one path to reach them. This book is a good introduction to a rapidly evolving area of study. Reach Everyone, Teach Everyone: Universal Design for Learning in Higher Education by Thomas J. Tobin and Kirsten T. Behling. West Virginia University Press, 2018.
For much more information, see “10 Best Books for College Teachers in 2025” in the Free Tools for Writers and Teachers.