Show Your Work: Teaching Smarter with the Science of Learning is a rare gem in the world of education books. Beth Hawks brings the credibility of a seasoned classroom teacher and the curiosity of a lifelong learner to every page. What makes this book stand out is its translation of research into potential strategies that teachers can tryout tomorrow. Beth doesn't just summarize cognitive science-she translates it into actionable steps, all while acknowledging the messy realities of real classrooms. Her candid stories, from both successes and failures, make the advice relatable and authentic. This is not theory in isolation; its research woven into lived experience, presented with clarity and humor. If you want a book that empowers teachers to make evidence-informed decisions without losing the human side of teaching, this is it.

John Almarode, professor of Education, James Madison University

Although research can offer teachers essential classroom guidance, we need a translator to sort out the terminology, the numbers, and all the conflicting suggestions. Enter Beth Hawks, a savvy classroom teacher who clarifies everything from working memory to effect sizes, from schema theory to retrieval practice. With Hawks as your guide, you'll finally know which strategies deserve space in your classroom-and why.

Andrew Watson, President of Translate the Brain and author of Learning Begins and The Goldilocks Map

As a high school math teacher, I'm always searching for resources that bridge theory and practice. Show Your Work: Teaching Smarter With the Science of Learning does exactly that. Reading it feels like sitting with Beth Hawks in the teacher's lounge, brainstorming ideas for your own class. Her voice is warm, practical, and grounded in real classroom experience. I walked away with strategies I could implement immediately, while also deepening my understanding of current research in the science of teaching and learning. Teaching is difficult work, best done in community, and through her book, Beth provides the kind of collegial support that lightens the load.

Meagan Stone, high school math teacher

As a school librarian, I teach lessons to many different classes of middle and high school students. Since I'm not with the same students all the time, I have found the practical strategies recommended in the “Retrieval Practice” and “Formative Assessment” chapters to be especially helpful. I had the privilege of learning many of these strategies from Beth firsthand, and I'm confident that Show Your Work will help teachers translate relevant research into effective practice.

Marcia Wingerd, library media director, GRACE Christian School