Searching for educating inspiration this summer time? Whether or not you’re rethinking assessments, exploring AI or discovering new methods to assist pupil well-being, there’s no scarcity of concepts to dig into.
That can assist you get began, we’ve curated a summer time studying and listening listing that includes authors and thought leaders from throughout larger schooling. These educators are tackling among the greatest challenges in larger ed in the present day—from pupil engagement and psychological well being to innovation and inclusive educating—and providing sensible methods you possibly can carry into your classroom immediately.
Seize a e book, queue up a podcast and get impressed for the time period forward.
8 books any educator will love this summer time
The Joyful On-line Trainer: Discovering Our Fizz in Asynchronous Lessons (2026)
On-line studying isn’t going wherever—however burnout doesn’t have to return with it. In her newest book, Flower Darby explores how instructors can carry power, connection and goal again into asynchronous programs. Grounded in studying science and constructive psychology, she shares sensible methods to construct group, increase motivation and rediscover pleasure in educating on-line.
Need extra educating recommendation? Watch Flower Darby’s Higher Learnings session to find how constructive psychology can spark pleasure and resilience in any classroom.
SNAFU EDU: Educating and Studying When Issues Go Flawed within the Classroom (2025)
Even the best-planned programs can go sideways. In SNAFU EDU, Jessamyn Neuhaus reframes educating “failures” as highly effective alternatives for progress. With honesty and humor, she shares actual classroom missteps—together with methods for responding with transparency, adaptability and care. It’s a refreshing reminder that nice educating isn’t about perfection—it’s about what you do when issues don’t go as deliberate.
Need extra? Watch Jessamyn Neuhaus’s Higher Learnings session for sensible methods to navigate educating challenges and construct stronger connections with college students.
Ungrading: Why Ranking College students Undermines Studying (and What to Do As an alternative) (2020)
What if grades are getting in the best way of studying? Susan Blum’s influential work on ungrading challenges conventional evaluation fashions and invitations educators to rethink how they measure pupil success. Via analysis and actual classroom examples, her e book explores alternate options that prioritize suggestions, reflection and intrinsic motivation.
The Energy of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Tradition of Significance (2025)
What helps college students really thrive? In line with Zach Mercurio, it begins with a easy however usually ignored want: feeling like they matter. In The Power of Mattering, Mercurio blends analysis in psychology and organizational habits to indicate how being seen, heard and valued immediately impacts motivation, well-being and efficiency. He introduces a sensible framework—noticing, affirming and needing—that educators can use to construct stronger connections and extra engaged lecture rooms.
For instructors, the takeaway is evident: when college students really feel acknowledged for who they’re and the way they contribute, studying turns into extra significant—and extra lasting. Need extra? Take heed to Mercurio uncover extra research-based practices to assist college students really feel seen in our podcast episode.
Remembering and Forgetting within the Age of Expertise: Educating, Studying, and the Science of Reminiscence in a Wired World (2022)
In a world the place info is all the time at our fingertips, what does it really imply to study? In her book, Michelle Miller attracts on cognitive psychology to unpack how reminiscence works—and the way digital instruments are reshaping consideration, retention and understanding. Her research-backed insights assist educators design programs that align with how college students really study, not simply how we assume they do.
Need extra? Watch Michelle Miller’s Higher Learnings session to discover how reminiscence science can inform simpler, partaking educating methods.
Write Like You Educate: Taking Your Classroom Abilities to a Greater Viewers (2025)
What if the identical strategies that make you an efficient instructor might additionally make you a extra impactful author? In his newest book, James Lang argues that they’ll. Drawing on years of expertise within the classroom, he reveals how core educating practices—like sparking curiosity, structuring concepts and fascinating consideration—translate immediately into compelling, accessible writing. The result’s a sensible information for educators seeking to share their concepts past the classroom and attain wider audiences with readability and confidence.
Need extra? In our podcast episode, James Lang discusses easy methods to encourage college students to finish their assigned readings with out counting on guilt, threats or wishful pondering. Hear now!
The Current Professor: Authenticity and Transformational Educating (2024)
What does it actually imply to be “current” within the classroom? In The Present Professor, Liz Norell argues that efficient educating begins with one thing deeper than pedagogy—it begins with the teacher. Drawing on analysis in studying science, mindfulness and inclusive educating, she explores how an educator’s authenticity and self-awareness can form extra significant, linked studying experiences.
At a time when each college students and instructors are navigating stress and uncertainty, Norell presents a sensible roadmap for reducing by way of that noise—serving to educators higher perceive their very own inside boundaries to allow them to present up extra absolutely for his or her college students. The result’s a robust case for why creating supportive, psychologically secure lecture rooms begins with doing the internal work ourselves.
Need extra? Take heed to Liz Norell discover how authenticity and presence can remodel pupil engagement and construct extra inclusive studying environments—it’s all lined in our Increased Listenings podcast episode.
Thoughts Over Monsters: Supporting Youth Psychological Well being with Compassionate Problem (2023)
With pupil psychological well being considerations on the rise, educators are sometimes caught in a troublesome debate: ought to we lead with compassion—or push college students to construct resilience by way of problem? In Mind Over Monsters, Sarah Rose Cavanagh makes a compelling case that it is a false selection. Drawing on analysis throughout psychology, neuroscience and schooling, she introduces the idea of compassionate problem: studying environments which might be each supportive and growth-oriented.
Mixing pupil voices with insights from consultants engaged on the entrance strains of youth improvement, Cavanagh presents sensible methods for serving to college students face fears, construct confidence and develop lasting well-being. The result’s a hopeful, evidence-based roadmap for educators seeking to assist the entire pupil—with out reducing expectations.
Need extra? Take heed to Sarah Rose Cavanagh’s podcast episode the place she explores the science (and the magic) of cultivating happiness within the classroom.
5 larger ed podcasts so as to add to your queue
Searching for contemporary concepts you possibly can tackle a stroll, commute or espresso break? These podcasts from main voices in larger schooling supply sensible methods, research-backed insights and candid conversations about educating and studying in the present day.
Increased Listenings (Prime Hat)
Hosted by Prime Hat, Increased Listenings brings you conversations with like-minded educators who’re dedicated to creating schooling extra equitable, partaking and interactive. From AI within the classroom to pupil belonging and engagement, every episode presents actionable insights you possibly can apply immediately—straight from the consultants shaping the way forward for larger ed.
Tune into Higher Listenings for 4 seasons’ price of educating suggestions from in the present day’s main instructors.
Educating in Increased Ed (Bonni Stachowiak)
One of the fashionable podcasts within the house, Educating in Increased Ed explores efficient educating methods by way of interviews with educators, authors and researchers. Host Bonni Stachowiak dives into subjects like inclusive educating, course design and academic know-how—making complicated concepts accessible and actionable.
Tune into Teaching in Higher Ed for sensible suggestions and provoking conversations that may elevate your educating follow.
Intentional Educating (Derek Bruff)
In Intentional Educating, Derek Bruff explores how educators can design significant studying experiences in an evolving larger ed panorama. With a deal with pedagogy, AI and considerate course design, the podcast presents reflective, forward-looking conversations for instructors navigating change.
Tune into Intentional Teaching for insights on educating with goal in a digital-first world.
Tea for Educating (John Kane and Rebecca Mushtare)
This long-running podcast presents approachable, research-informed discussions on educating in larger schooling. From energetic studying to evaluation methods, Tea for Educating gives sensible concepts grounded in actual classroom experiences—usually with a aspect of considerate humor.
Tune into Tea for Teaching for down-to-earth methods you possibly can implement immediately.
Future U Podcast (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn)
Hosted by larger schooling consultants Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn, Future U Podcast dives into the most important tendencies shaping schools and universities in the present day—from AI and institutional technique to the altering worth of levels. Via conversations with leaders and policymakers, the present presents a forward-looking perspective on the place larger ed is headed.
Tune into Future U to remain knowledgeable on the forces remodeling larger schooling—and what they imply to your classroom.
