The "slower" pace of summer allows educators, both administrators and teachers, a chance to catch up on summer reading with the best new books. During the school year teachers and administrators are often overwhelmed by after-hours work like completing reports and staying abreast of new curriculum standards. Education is a constantly evolving profession where new trends and approaches are introduced often. If educators have a more relaxed schedule over the summer, they can use the time to catch up with professional texts and hopefully have enough time to read for pleasure and the uplift unassigned reading provides.

The benefits of reading for adults are similar to those for children. Reading opens the mind and spirit, helping absorb information emotionally and cognitively. Reading is shown to nurture empathy, reduce stress, lessen symptoms of depression, and help prevent age-related cognitive decline. One study of 3,623 adults over the course of 12 years showed that readers lived an average of two years longer than non-readers. A fun experiment is to read a book you were crazy about when you were young, a book not assigned but one picked up just because it looked interesting. Relax and clear your mind of anything but you at that time. Now read this amazing book. Ask yourself why you loved it. Was it about something you saw on TV or a movie? Or did you hear about it from someone? Or did you choose it "just because" it was there. Recall your emotions: excitement, fright, anticipation, desire for adventure… Does it still evoke those emotions?

Ready to start your summer of reading? Below we’ve listed some of the most noteworthy non-fiction titles published over the past few years. And if any of your favorite titles are not on the list, please reach out to us on Facebook or Instagram to share your must-reads.

• Principaled: Navigating the Leadership Learning Curve by Kate Barker, Kourtney Ferrua, and Rachael George
• Raising Critical Thinkers: A Parent’s Guide to Growing Wise Kids in the Digital Age by Julie Bogart
• Permission to Feel: Unlocking the Power of Emotions to Help Our Kids, Ourselves, and Our Society Thrive by Marc Brackett
• Best Practices in Engaging Online Learners Through Active and Experiential Learning Strategies by Stephanie Smith Budhai and Ke'anna Brown Skipwith
• The Montessori Baby: A Parent’s Guide to Nurturing Your Baby with Love, Respect, and Understanding by Simone Davies and Junnifa Uzodike
• The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones
• Just Schools: Building Equitable Collaborations with Families and Communities by Ann M. Ishimaru
• Stop Leading, Start Building!: Turn Your School into a Success Story with the People and Resources You Already Have by Robyn R. Jackson
• The Minimalist Teacher by Tamera Musiowsky-Borneman
• Let the Children Play: How More Play Will Save Our Schools and Help Children Thrive by Pasi Sahlberg and William Doyle
• Montessori in Action: Building Resilient Montessori Schools by Elizabeth Slade
• The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives by William Stixrud and Ned Johnson
• Running with Robots: The American High School’s Third Century by Greg Toppo and Jim Tracy
• Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation by Linda Villarosa
• Hacking Flex Teaching: 10 Solutions for Your Blended, Hybrid, or Distance Learning Classroom by Hollie Woodard

About the Author

V. Kulikow is a former Montessori teacher and youth services librarian. She currently works as a UX designer and enjoys content creation both with words and images. On weekends you can find her gardening, taking nature photos, and working on her garden design certification through the Native Plant Trust.

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The opinions expressed in Montessori Life are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the position of AMS.