Here at Shmoop, we love a good list, and we know you do, too. So let's get right to it.

We've come up with ten books related to teaching and learning that will make you think, wonder, re-evaluate or re-commit to your educational philosophy. They'll make you laugh, cringe, stand up tall, and—quite possibly—make you a better teacher.

You're welcome.

1. The Reading Zone: How to Help Kids Become Skilled, Passionate, Habitual, Critical Readers by Nancie Atwell (Scholastic, 2007)

Renowned educator Nancie Atwell founded the Center for Teaching and Learning in Edgecomb, Maine in 1990 and was nominated for the inaugural Global Teacher Prize (basically education's version of the Nobel) in 2015. She's a big advocate of student-centered education, with a particular emphasis on allowing students to choose the books they read. Does that mean she's suggesting that someone can become a good reader without slogging through (or at least pretending to slog through) The Scarlet Letter in high school English? Check out The Reading Zone and find out.

2. What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Literacy and Learning by James Gee (Palgrave, 2004)

What would you say if we told you that instead of eating away at your students' cognitive abilities, the video games they're playing might actually be improving them? And not just the games being pushed by NPR, but also ones like World of Warcraft and Half Life 2? That's the premise of Gee's book, and he has plenty of research to back it up.

Maybe you're already on board with the educational value of video gaming, maybe you think Gee's premise is bunk, or maybe you fall somewhere in the middle of those two positions. Whatever your stance, this book is worth a read. After all, this guy is no hack, what with his B.A. in philosophy from U.C. Santa Barbara and both an M.A. and Ph.D. in linguistics from Stanford. His work resume is impressive, and he's published several respected books and scholarly articles on linguistics, literacy, cognition, and education. Plus, Chapter 6 is subtitled, "Do you want to be the Blue Sonic or the Dark Sonic?" Can't miss that.

3. The Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America by Jonathan Kozol (Three Rivers Press, 2005)

This one's not exactly a feel-good read, but it's a necessary one. More than 60 years after desegregation, U.S. schools are anything but desegregated. No one writes about this predicament with more passion and clarity than Kozol, whose previous titles, Amazing Grace and Savage Inequalities, helped to spotlight the inequities in our nation's schools. In addition to outlining the problem, Kozol includes the voices of teachers, students, and principals in offering strategies for moving forward to ensure that all students receive the education they deserve.

4. Multiple Intelligences in the Classroom by Thomas Armstrong (Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development, 3rd edition, May 5, 2009)

Armstrong has been writing eloquently about Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences pretty much since the concept burst onto the educational scene in the early 1990s. Using down-to-earth, straightforward language, Armstrong offers practical suggestion to help you incorporate MI theory into your daily lessons and help you reach more of your students more consistently. There's even a chapter on teaching students about MI, which could be a pretty powerful way to help them figure out how to get what they want and need from their educational experiences.

5. The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything by Ken Robinson and Lou Aronica (Penguin, 2009)

You've seen his TED talk (um, yeah, the one about how schools kill creativity), but don't hold that against him. After all, you can't shoot the messenger when we all know there's some truth in the message. And there's a lot of truth in the message of The Element as well. The idea's that when people find the nexus between the things they're passionate about and the things they're good at, watch out—talent and passion are a powerful combination.

Fine, one book won't necessarily give you the power to help every student you encounter find his or her element, but it may give you some insight into people in general (and maybe even yourself), and that's worth something. Besides, where else are you going to get the inside scoop on Vidal Sassoon? Yes, we mean aside from the link we just gave you.

6. Five Minds for the Future by Howard Gardner (Harvard Business School Press, 2007)

From the man who brought you the theory of multiple intelligences, here's an analysis (grounded in research, as all of Gardner's books are) of the five types cognitive ability that will help students—and society as a whole—find success in the future.

"Visionary" is one of the words being used to describe this work, and the best part of Gardner's assessment? He suggests that these "five minds" aren't personality types or innate characteristics, but rather types of thinking that anyone can cultivate with practice and determination. How's that for inspiring?

7. Teacher Man: A Memoir by Frank McCourt (Scribner, 2006)

From the author of Angela's Ashes (remember that title from every mid-90s book club list?), this memoir, which is something of a sequel, recounts McCourt's thirty years teaching English in New York City and the numerous challenges he faced. Honest, wry, and easily relatable for educators everywhere, you'll enjoy this alternately heartbreaking and amusing tribute to your craft.

8. Choice Words: How Our Language Affects Children's Learning by Peter Johnston (Stenhouse, 2004)

Big things come in little packages, and little packages can make for quick—but powerful—reads. Choice Words is that sort of little package. You probably know that language is one of the most powerful tools at your disposal, but did you realize your word choice can actually impact the intellectual abilities of your students? That's right. The words you use (as well as the ones you omit) can affect a student's capacity to acquire literacy and strategic thinking skills. Don't believe us? Read the book.

9. Discipline with Dignity: New Challenges, New Solutions by Richard Curwin (Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development, 2008)

Brace yourself—it's about to get heavy. In the wake of school shootings in Columbine and at Virginia Tech, Richard Curwin has updated his best selling 1988 book addressing the in- and out-of-school causes of discipline problems. As Curwin notes in the first chapter, the Internet, social media, and reality TV didn't exist at the time of his first printing. So, yeah—times have changed.

But you know what hasn't changed? This book's relevance, its respectful approach, and its effectiveness in helping teachers learn to maintain control of their classrooms while making sure that their students maintain their dignity.

10. A Framework for Understanding Poverty by Ruby Payne (Process, Inc., 1996)

If you want to serve all your students well (and what teacher doesn't?) you need to understand the challenges some of them face each and every day. Poverty, as Payne points out, isn't simply the condition of being poor—it is a state of mind that has a serious impact on a student's ability to access education.

But even if you exclusively teach the rich and famous (in which case, can you get us Clooney's autograph?), you'll benefit from reading this book: Payne addresses the "hidden rules" that affect people in other socioeconomic classes as well. Besides, we're all in the soup together, aren't we? And a little mutual understanding and compassion can go a long way.