General & Foundational Educational Psychology

These strengthen the theoretical backbone of the lesson’s scope.

Mayer, R. E. (2017). Educational psychology: Learning and instruction (6th ed.). Pearson.

→ Excellent for cognitive, constructivist, and instructional design perspectives.

Berliner, D. C., & Calfee, R. C. (Eds.). (2013). Handbook of educational psychology (2nd ed.). Routledge.

→ A reference work ideal for defining the breadth and interdisciplinarity of educational psychology.

Developmental Educational Psychology

To reinforce Piaget, Vygotsky, and lifespan development.

Berk, L. E. (2018). Development through the lifespan (7th ed.). Pearson.

Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Harvard University Press.

Cognitive & Information-Processing Approaches

Supports Bruner, Gagné, memory, metacognition, and instructional strategies.

Anderson, J. R. (2015). Cognitive psychology and its implications (8th ed.). Worth Publishers.

Gagné, R. M., Briggs, L. J., & Wager, W. W. (2005). Principles of instructional design (5th ed.). Wadsworth.

Behavioral & Learning Theories

Useful for classroom management and observable learning outcomes.

Skinner, B. F. (1953). Science and human behavior. Macmillan.

Thorndike, E. L. (1913). Educational psychology. Teachers College Press.

Constructivism & Experiential Learning

Deepens the constructivist dimension and didactic relevance.

Dewey, J. (1938). Experience and education. Macmillan.

Fosnot, C. T. (Ed.). (2013). Constructivism: Theory, perspectives, and practice (2nd ed.). Teachers College Press.

Social & Motivational Psychology in Education

Reinforces Bandura, motivation, and classroom interaction.

Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. W.H. Freeman.

Schunk, D. H., Meece, J. L., & Pintrich, P. R. (2014). Motivation in education: Theory, research, and applications (4th ed.). Pearson.

Personality & Individual Differences

Supports differentiation and learner diversity.

McAdams, D. P., & Pals, J. L. (2006). A new Big Five: Fundamental principles for an integrative science of personality. American Psychologist, 61(3), 204–217.

Pashler, H., et al. (2008). Learning styles: Concepts and evidence. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 9(3), 105–119.

Educational Assessment & Evaluation

Complements Bloom and assessment validity.

Bloom, B. S. (Ed.). (1956). Taxonomy of educational objectives: The classification of educational goals. Longman.

Black, P., & Wiliam, D. (1998). Assessment and classroom learning. Assessment in Education, 5(1), 7–74.