It’s tough for teachers to keep up in today’s fast paced world. Long hours are expected from you, pay is not as much as other jobs (despite the higher ed degrees needed to become a teacher), and teachers are often left to come up with their own lesson plans. Whether you’re a new teacher fresh out of school or a seasoned professional, where do you look for guidance?

Chances are, you read a lot. There are a number of good books out on the market for advice, but if you’re pressed for time, you probably wish that someone would have done the legwork and make a list for you.

Well, we’ve found that list for you! This infographic takes a look at a great list of their 50 picks of best books for everything from dealing with conflict to organization, science to games and everything in between.

Out of the top 50, here were a few of my favorites that I’m planning on adding to my reading list:

• Why Are All the Good Teachers Crazy? by Frank Stepnowski
• The Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher’s Life by Parker J. Palmer
• The Teacher’s Book of Wit: Quips, Quotes & Anecdotes to Make Learning More Fun by Mark Ortman
• Teaching with Fire: Poetry That Sustains the Courage to Teach by Tom Vander Ark, Parker J. Palmer, and Sam M. Intrator
• The First-Year Teacher’s Survival Guide: Ready-To-Use Strategies, Tools & Activities for Meeting the Challenges of Each School Day by Julia G. Thompson

Even if you aren’t a teacher, chances are you’ll find some of these books to be of interest to you. Did we miss any books that are your teacher favorites? Please let us know in the comments.

Source: Best Education Degrees

The Top 10 Books

10. The Substitute Teacher’s Organizer: A Comprehensive Resource to Make Every Teaching Assignment a Success; Grades K-6 by Jane Herbst

Even if teachers never intend to substitute, it’s always a good idea to have a plan just in case. Not only does this book provide dozens of tips, but also lessen plans that are designed to be photocopied on the go. For those who plan to sub often, it also includes tips on how to keep multiple lesson plans organized while also recording the daily classroom activities. Even for teachers who don’t sub, this book is perfect to pass along should they find themselves sick and unable to teach the class themselves.

9. School: The Story of American Public Education by Sarah Mondale

While not a book you’ll see in most school libraries, this gives readers a look back on the educational system and how the whole thing started. The book includes information on the founding fathers of education, their hopes, dreams, and what has been accomplished since. While this book doesn’t necessarily cover teaching topics directly, it provides readers with an in depth look at just how important and life changing the school system can be.

8. Educating Esme: Diary of a Teacher’s First Year by Esmé Raji Codell

Wouldn’t it be great if teachers knew exactly what they were facing before starting their first year? While that’s not entirely possible, this book shares the journey of a first time teacher and her struggles to be the best for her students. The book reads as a dairy, giving newcomers an honest glance inside the world of a teacher.

7. The Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher’s Life by Parker J. Palmer

Nearly everyone who becomes a teacher does so because they want to help children learn. There’s a lot of passion, love, dedication, and courage that goes into the decision to become a teacher, but unfortunately, many people lose sight of this over time. This book helps teachers to take a step back and reconnecting with themselves. It’s easy to get frustrated in the hustle and bustle of teaching, but this book helps remind teachers that, as long as their heart is still in it, their students will shine.

6. Fred Jones Tools for Teaching: Discipline, Instruction, Motivation by Patrick Jones

Any teacher can be good, but this book shares the skills that make teachers exceptional. Whether it’s by motivating the classroom, reducing bullying, increasing grades, holding fun-raisers, or just making learning fun, this book covers all that and more.

5. The Teacher’s Book of Wit: Quips, Quotes & Anecdotes to Make Learning More Fun by Mark Ortman

While teaching is an important job, sometimes it’s important to take a step back and laugh. All teachers will experience their fair share of frustration, anger, confusion, joy, and sorrow before they retire. This book pokes fun at all those experiences by offering hundreds of quotes and observations taken from everyday life. The book categories these laughs into over 60 different sections, including everything from mathematics to sexual education. While you don’t have to be a teacher to enjoy this book, those who are will find it particularly amusing.

4. Growing Minds by Herbert R. Kohl

Herbert Kohl is known as one of the most influential educators in America and for good reason. His philosophy is that, in order to be a good teacher, teachers must become involved in the life of the student rather than just the lesson plans. He goes on to explain exactly how to do this in his 192-page guide. The guide also includes amusing stories, practical tips, and inspirational content that all teachers are sure to love.

3. The First Days Of School: How To Be An Effective Teacher by Harry K. Wong

They say first impressions are important, and for teachers, it can make or break the school year. This book acts as a guide for rookie teachers and covers everything from kindergarten to college. There are hundreds of teaching ideas, tactics, techniques, and projects, but the real reason the book is so popular is because it allows teachers to blossom. Because the book acts as a guide, it allows teachers to form their own teaching style and grow and learn just as their students do.

2. Teaching with Fire: Poetry That Sustains the Courage to Teach by Tom Vander Ark, Parker J. Palmer, and Sam M. Intrator

There’s something extra special about poetry. Whether it’s the way the words rhyme or the beats in each phrase, poetry has long been considered an art that is both healing and inspiring. Teaching isn’t an easy job, but when things get to be frustrating, everyone should have this book on their desk to help remind them why they are there.

1. The First-Year Teacher’s Survival Guide: Ready-To-Use Strategies, Tools & Activities for Meeting the Challenges of Each School Day by Julia G. Thompson

While there are a lot of useful books that beginning teachers will read, “The First-Year Teacher’s Survival Guide” may just be the best. The book includes tested tips, tools, strategies, activities, and more that teacher all across America have been using in their classroom. This include everything from learning how to properly connect with students to how to handle every behavioral problem imaginable. The book has also recently been updated to include more modernized tips, such as how to create a teaching schedule while working in a year-round environment or which educational websites and software are the best to incorporate in the classroom.

The book was originally designed for first-time teachers who are looking for an idea of what to expect and how to cope with their first school year. That being said, even teachers who have been at the job for decades stated that they found the book to be extremely helpful and filled with valuable information.

You can view the rest of the list here.