Acton Academy Northwest Austin

BOOKS

Courage to Grow
by Laura Sandefer

Courage to Grow: How Acton Academy Turns Learning Upside Down by Laura Sandefer is the inspiring story of Acton Academy, an innovative school founded by Sandefer and her husband, Jeff. Frustrated with traditional education, they created Acton as a model that emphasizes self-directed learning, critical thinking, and a growth mindset. Courage to Grow shares the journey of building a school where students learn through real-world challenges, goal setting, and peer collaboration, cultivating responsibility and resilience.


For parents, the book is both a story of educational transformation and a guide for fostering independent, motivated learners. Sandefer offers valuable insights for parents seeking to encourage curiosity and confidence in their children. By reading Courage to Grow, parents can gain inspiration and practical ideas for creating a home environment that supports self-discovery, problem-solving, and a love of learning, empowering children to take charge of their education and future.


Click here to learn more about Acton Academy and how it turns learning on its head!

Unschooling Rules
by Clark Aldrich

Unschooling Rules: 55 Ways to Unlearn What We Know About Schools and Rediscover Education by Clark Aldrich challenges traditional schooling, focusing on flexibility, curiosity, and real-world learning. The book presents insights on self-directed learning, the limits of standardized testing, and the value of life skills. For parents, it offers practical ways to support children’s natural curiosity and make learning a meaningful part of daily life, ideal for those seeking alternatives to mainstream education.

Mindset
by Carol S. Dweck

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Dr. Carol Dweck explores how beliefs about potential shape success. Dweck contrasts the "fixed mindset," where abilities are seen as unchangeable, with the "growth mindset," where abilities improve through effort. For parents, fostering a growth mindset helps children embrace challenges, learn from feedback, and develop resilience, building confidence and a love of learning.

NurtureShock
by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman

NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman challenges traditional parenting advice with research on child development. It reexamines assumptions about praise, sleep, sibling relationships, and discipline, revealing surprising insights. The book discusses how praise for intelligence can backfire, the effects of sleep loss, and unintended discipline consequences. It offers science-backed strategies to help parents raise resilient, well-rounded kids.

The 3 Big Questions for a Frantic Family
by Patrick Lencioni

The 3 Big Questions for a Frantic Family by Patrick Lencioni offers a practical guide for parents to bring clarity, purpose, and peace to family life. Using business principles, Lencioni helps families define values, prioritize needs, and create a cohesive “family plan” through three guiding questions about identity, priorities, and challenges. This book helps families align around shared goals, reduce stress, and foster stronger relationships, providing a manageable path to reconnect with what truly matters amidst busy schedules.

The 5 Love Languages of Children
by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell

The 5 Love Languages of Children by Dr. Gary Chapman and Dr. Ross Campbell helps parents connect with their children by identifying their primary love language—words of affirmation, acts of service, gifts, quality time, or physical touch. The book offers practical strategies to communicate love effectively, strengthen trust, and foster emotional resilience. By understanding their child’s love language, parents can create a supportive home environment that nurtures confidence, positive behavior, and a lasting parent-child bond.

Choice Words
by Peter H. Johnston

Choice Words by Peter H. Johnston explores how the language we use shapes a child’s self-image, motivation, and learning. Johnston shows how small shifts in wording can foster resilience, ownership, and a growth mindset. With practical insights on praise, questioning, and feedback, the book helps parents use language to empower their children, build confidence, and nurture a lifelong love of learning.

Parenting with Love and Logic
by Foster Cline, MD and Jim Fay

Parenting with Love and Logic by Charles Fay and Foster Cline teaches parents to foster responsibility, independence, and problem-solving through empathy and natural consequences. By offering choices within limits, parents avoid power struggles while helping children learn from their decisions. With practical tips on discipline, chores, and school challenges, the book provides a framework for raising confident, respectful kids in a positive, cooperative family environment.

The Whole Child Brain
by Daniel J. Siegel, MD and Tina Payne Bryson, Ph D

The Whole-Brain Child by Dr. Daniel J. Siegel and Dr. Tina Payne Bryson combines neuroscience with practical parenting strategies to help children manage emotions, communicate effectively, and build resilience. Through 12 strategies like “connect and redirect,” the book teaches parents how to integrate emotional and logical thinking, fostering healthier responses and stronger connections. It’s an essential guide for raising emotionally intelligent, well-adjusted children.

The Talent Code
by Daniel Coyle

The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle explores the science of developing talent through deep practice, effective coaching, and motivation. Highlighting the role of "myelin" in strengthening skills, Coyle shares insights from talent hotbeds worldwide. For parents, the book offers practical strategies to foster resilience and skill development, emphasizing effort over natural ability and creating an environment for deep learning. It’s a guide to helping children grow, persevere, and build confidence in mastering any skill.

Wits Guts Grit
by Jena Pincott

Wits Guts Grit by Jena Pincott explores the natural forces that shape children's minds and health, offering science-backed "biohacks" to build resilience, focus, and perseverance. Through engaging research and personal experiments with her daughters, Pincott uncovers how diet, microbes, exercise, and nutrients like magnesium can enhance learning, reduce anxiety, and improve stress resilience. With accessible explanations and practical strategies, the book empowers parents to harness natural methods to support their children’s cognitive and emotional development.

The One World School House
by Salman Khan

The One World Schoolhouse: Education Reimagined by Salman Khan, founder of Khan Academy, challenges traditional schooling and advocates for a mastery-based, self-paced learning model. Khan critiques rigid schedules and standardized testing, emphasizing a system that fosters deep understanding, creativity, and curiosity. For parents, the book offers insights on making education more engaging and adaptable, whether in school or at home, inspiring a shift toward lifelong learning in a rapidly changing world.

A Thomas Jefferson Education
by Oliver DeMille

A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver DeMille offers a guide for parents seeking to inspire a lifelong love of learning through "Leadership Education." Rooted in a classical model, it emphasizes mentor-based, individualized learning over standardized methods. DeMille encourages parents to engage by fostering curiosity, leading by example, and nurturing a love for reading and self-directed learning. Ideal for those seeking an alternative to conventional education, the book provides practical advice on creating an intellectually stimulating home environment that cultivates critical thinking and leadership skills.
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