When I began my PGCE in Secondary Mathematics in 2018, I was eager to start the journey into teaching. Before enrolling on the course, I had worked as a Teaching Assistant in both primary and secondary schools to help me decide which phase of education suited me best. During that time, I bought my first professional education book: Teaching Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling in Primary Schools by David Waugh, Claire Warner and Rosemary Waugh.
Although mathematics had always been my strongest subject, I quickly realised that my own understanding of grammar and punctuation was not as secure as I had thought. Many of the concepts I was supporting pupils with were things I had long forgotten from my own school days. That book soon became an essential guide for me. It not only helped me become more effective in my role as a Teaching Assistant, but also proved invaluable when supporting my own children with their learning.
Reading that book opened my eyes to just how powerful educational research, practical advice and professional insight could be. So, when I received the reading list for my PGCE course, I spent the summer immersing myself in books about teaching mathematics and education more broadly.
What started as a small collection of half a dozen books has now grown into a library of nearly 100 titles covering a wide range of educational topics. Every one of them has contributed something valuable, shaping both my classroom practice and the teacher I have become.
How Did I Get Here?
I was fortunate to discover the Teacher Tapp app early on in its development. Each day at 15:30, Teacher Tapp sends teachers a series of questions to answer, alongside the results from previous surveys. If you have not used it before, I would highly recommend it.
In the early days of the app, one of the incentives for regular participation was discounted book vouchers for John Catt Educational. Through these offers, I was able to gradually build my professional library and access a wealth of excellent educational resources.
Over the years, I have also followed many education authors and practitioners who regularly share blogs, recommendations and updates about new books. Like many teachers, I originally built much of my professional network on X (formerly Twitter). However, as the platform changed, it became increasingly difficult to navigate the noise and negativity, so I eventually moved across to Bluesky. While it may not yet have the same energy that Twitter once had, it remains an incredibly valuable source of ideas, discussion and teaching expertise.
Recommended Books
Over the years, I have compiled many of the books I have purchased and read into a Padlet collection, which you can explore below:
Michelle's Teaching Insights 
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