Must Read Books for Teachers in Autism Units

I work with a lot of teachers and there is one thing we all have in common… whenever we have a vacation, long weekend, or even sick day, we want to read for leisure. If you are looking for a great teacher appreciation, birthday or holiday gift for the teacher in your life, log in to Amazon and 1-Click some of these books for teachers in Autism Units (or Special Ed) today!

FYI: I originally read these books without any kickback from the authors or sellers. There are some links in this article, however, that take you to Amazon to purchase. Doing so does bring in a few pennies that support this website… and help get me my next book!

The Autistic Brain: Helping Different Kinds of Minds Succeed

If you are a teacher in an Autism unit or working with kids on the spectrum, then you probably know who Dr. Temple Grandin is. I had the pleasure of seeing Temple speak a few years ago and that prompted me to read The Autistic Brain. It was very insightful, extremely compelling to read so much from the perspective of a person with Autism, and chock full of interesting information that can provide you with some big and small ideas you can take back to your classroom.

Dr. Grandin also has another book recently released made just for kids with Autism. It focuses on social skills, which is a target for all teachers in Autism Units… and a cornerstone for Dr. Grandin who points out just how essential social skills are. If you are interested in adding a book for a teacher AND their students, then this is a great place to start: Manners Matter! (Temple Talks to Kids).

The ELL Teacher’s Toolbox: Hundreds of Practical Ideas to Support Your Students

Larry Ferlazzo curates an amazing website, but also has a published book you need to read. ELL teachers are one of the closest counterparts to self-contained Autism Unit teachers in my mind. They have to pull out a ton of strategies to make the curriculum and learning accessible… just like us. In addition, because of language barriers, they also use a ton of strategies with visuals, concrete references, and alternative response modes- all of which support our students too. If you are having a hard time finding books that deliver strategies for teachers in Autism Unit, I suggest looking into ELL books and starting with this one is a sure win!

Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators

Teaching in a self contained classroom or Autism Unit is tough- dealing with behaviors, differentiation for a variety of needs, and working past the adult drama can leave you spent at the end of the year. This is a great reflection tool for any teacher who needs a little refill in the resilience reservoir. Elena Aguilar has written a very thoughtful book that is just what your inner teacher needs to rebuild the emotional tear down that comes with teaching in general ed, but especially for those of us in special education.

180 DAYS: Two Teachers and the Quest to Engage and Empower Adolescents

I work with a lot of first and second year teachers who love that they do, but are also looking for ways to improve. I wish I could take a little cadre of teachers around to other classrooms so they could see greatness as it happens, but that is a tall order for teachers who scarcely take a day off when we are sick as dogs, much less to galavant on classroom visits. This book, however, is a great substitute to visiting with glimpses into the classrooms of master teachers. Reading and watching them work through the complex and multifaceted job of teaching can give you intense and real insight into how to better prioritize, plan, and execute in your classroom. This becomes a total must read as you look to take your game up a level.

Amazon Kindle

I love reading. I especially love vacation reading (add adult beverage and a lounge chair and I am in heaven). What I don’t actually love is lugging books on vacation. My gift to self a few years back was a Kindle Fire and they did NOT pay me to write this or buy me a free tablet.

I love it.

Really, I love it.

I purchase my books online and push them to my Kindle… and when I sit back I can read to my heart’s content whichever book I like as long as I like. It gives me an intense amount of flexibility and I love that. If you are a lit-lover too (or know one) and they are only mildly turned off by the thought of not smelling a book while they read, then I suggest you order them a Kindle asap (or at least access to digital books via a gift card or gift subscription). I also loved when I finally got access to Audible Audiobooks… hard to read while driving on a road trip. It also makes for getting back to work with a little added bonus- yeah, I started driving slower and taking the long way home so I could listen a little longer.