As the new school year approaches, I’ve been thinking a lot about the teachers who leave a lasting mark — in books and in life. Some inspire with quiet encouragement, others with fiery passion, and a few change their students’ worlds in unexpected ways. With a classroom experience soon on my horizon, it felt right to celebrate these memorable mentors — real and fictional — whose lessons linger far beyond the last bell.

Many teachers have made a profound impact in my life as well. These include my teachers from my childhood and in later years as well, and also my children’s teachers. In addition, other teachers I have known personally over the years have inspired me. And of course, I cannot forget the ones I read about in books – whether real or fictional!

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For Thursday 13 and Top Ten Tuesday (where this week’s theme is a genre freebie, and my theme, of course is teachers!)

Lessons that Last: 13 Wonderful Teachers in Books

Picture Books / Early Readers

Thank You, Mr. Falker – Patricia Polacco
A heartwarming tribute to a teacher who helps a young girl overcome dyslexia and discover the joy of reading.

Miss Honey in Matilda – Roald Dahl
The gentle, supportive teacher who spots Matilda’s brilliance and champions her against the odds.

Middle Grade

Because of Mr. Terupt – Rob Buyea
Seven very different fifth graders find their lives transformed by a teacher who believes in them.

Miss Stacy in Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Progressive, inspiring, and Anne’s role model — one of literature’s earliest portrayals of a strong female teacher.

Mr. Browne in Wonder – R.J. Palacio
His monthly “precepts” offer kindness and courage in bite-sized life lessons in this Wonder-ful book.

Young Adult

Mr. Keating in Dead Poets Society – N.H. Kleinbaum
The unconventional English teacher who urges his students to “seize the day” and think for themselves. This one is a novelization of the Robin Williams’ movie of the same name.

Mr. Freeman in Speak – Laurie Halse Anderson
An eccentric art teacher who gives Melinda a safe space and a voice after trauma.

Adult Fiction

Ricky Braithwaite in To Sir, With Love – E.R. Braithwaite
A Black teacher in postwar London turns a class of rebellious teens into respectful, motivated learners.

Mr. Watts in Mister Pip – Lloyd Jones
In a war-torn Pacific island, the last remaining teacher brings hope through Dickens’ Great Expectations. One of the few books on this list I have on my TBR but know I will get to soon now.

Mr. Chipping in Goodbye, Mr. Chips by James Hilton
A nostalgic portrait of a teacher whose decades at a boys’ school leave a legacy of warmth and wit. I read this one ages ago and was inspired by it.

Nonfiction

These two are the other two reads from this list on my TBR.

Educating Esmé: Diary of a Teacher’s First Year – Esmé Raji Codell
A funny, frank diary of an energetic, unconventional fifth-grade teacher in Chicago.

There Are No Shortcuts – Rafe Esquith
Real-life lessons from a passionate LA teacher about dedication, creativity, and expecting excellence.

And book 13 is below…

Bookish Five: Classroom Chronicles and Teacher Inspiration

Book Description (paraphrased from Amazon)

In The Reluctant Disciplinarian, Gary Rubinstein hilariously recounts his crash-and-burn first year in the classroom and his journey to “Teacher of the Year” just three years later. With sharp honesty, he shares what actually works in managing a class—like mastering the “teacher look,” projecting confidence with quick, decisive answers, and proving you’re the real deal. A must-read for anyone who wants a candid, funny, and practical take on classroom discipline.

(1 & 2) Book Beginnings and First Line Friday

BOOK BEGINNINGS ON FRIDAY is hosted by Rose City Reader. What book are you happy about reading this week? Please share the opening sentence (or so) on BOOK BEGINNINGS ON FRIDAY! Add the link to your blog or social media post and visit other blogs to see what others are reading.

Happy Friday and welcome to the FIRST LINE FRIDAY, hosted by Reading is My Superpower! It’s time to grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line.

3 Friday 56

THE FRIDAY 56 is hosted by Anne at HeadFullofBooks. To play, open a book and turn to page 56 (or 56% on your e-reader). Find a sentence or two and post them, along with the book title and author. Then link up and visit others in the linky. 

4 Book Blogger Hop

The purpose of THE BOOK BLOGGER HOP is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, and befriend other bloggers. THE BOOK BLOGGER HOP is hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.  

How will you celebrate National Book Lovers Day on August 9th? 

I celebrated with a few chapters about teachers and teaching between lesson planning (or attempts at lesson planning)!

5 Inspiring Quotes For Teachers

Starting our teaching journey can feel both exhilarating and overwhelming. When it all feels a bit much, it helps to remember the wisdom of those who’ve walked this path before. These five (plus one bonus) quotes—from writers, educators, and dreamers—are gentle reminders of why we step into the classroom, how even the smallest acts of care can shape a student’s future, and how to keep moving forward.

• “I am tomorrow, or some future day, what I establish today.” — James Joyce
• “Give the children love, more love and still more love — and the common sense will come by itself.” — Astrid Lindgren
• “One of the beauties of teaching is that there is no limit to one’s growth as a teacher, just as there is no knowing beforehand how much your students can learn.” — Herbert Kohl
• “Students don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” — John C. Maxwell
• “All kids need is a little help, a little hope, and somebody who believes in them.” — Magic Johnson

And this bonus, a little wordplay that always brings a smile:
“Without teachers, life would have no class.” — Unknown

And Now, the End of This Post

Dear reader, have you read any of these books? Which one is your favorite? If you haven’t read any yet, which one would you be excited to pick up first? Who is your favorite fictional teacher? And what about real-life teachers who’ve made a difference? I’d love to hear your stories and favorite quotes that have inspired you, too. Feel free to share in the comments!