Books

I share many of my thoughts on education and leadership through articles on social media such as LinkedIn. You can find links to those here.

When I write a book about a topic it is because the time and sacrifice required to bring it to a published state is worth it. This page is called ‘books’ and not ‘book’ to remind me to keep diving deep into topics I care about. It is my hope you can read and share in my enthusiasm.

The Connection Curriculum:
Igniting Positive Change in Schools Through Sustainable Connection

Whether you are a teacher, school leader or community member seeking to revolutionise your school culture or promote positive change in your organisation, my first book The Connection Curriculum provides the path to make it happen.

“Connection is indeed what we all need but it can also be problematic because there are so many different things to connect to and different ways to be connected. Matt has written a book with a strong message with content that is very honest and practical.”

Yong Zhao, PhD

Foundation Distinguished Professor
Professor in Educational Leadership
Author

“Matt is an enthusiast for finding better outcomes for more learners through deep connection in education. This infectious energy finds its way onto every page of this thought-provoking book.”

Dr Phil Cummins

Managing Partner, a School for tomorrow.
Associate Professor of Education and Enterprise
Co-Host, The Game Changers Podcast
Author

Get your copy now.

The Connection Curriculum is a set of principles of practice that can operate individually, collectively and systemically. These tools are the distillation of my scholarly reading, presented in this book as a toolkit for unlocking the potential to effect positive change in schools. It is a toolkit that you can adopt to help your community create a dynamic of constructive connection.

I aim to challenge the status quo in education, arguing that a lack of genuine connection is harming students and communities. The book explores the essential role of connection in fostering academic achievement and student wellbeing, inviting educators to rethink traditional approaches and embrace sustainable strategies for building whole-school connectedness.

Divided into three parts, the book delves into understanding connection, building sustainable practices and maintaining connection over time. It focuses on collective leadership and community engagement to equip educators with the tools and inspiration to embark on the journey towards creating truly connected communities.

“Relationships are essential, but they are only the beginning of the journey, not the end. If you are finishing at the start, is it any wonder why we are so lost when it comes to connection?”

— Matt Pitman

  • "Matt has packed this book with actionable advice and insightful research. It tackles a crucial issue: the lack of genuine connection in education and its impact on students. As Matt argues, connection fuels both academic achievement and student well-being. The book's clear structure - Understanding, Building, and Sustaining Connection - makes it a valuable resource for any educator."

    Glen Gerreyn - international speaker, author

  • "The power of broad collaboration, of collegiality and shared responsibility, need harnessing if we are to help prepare our youngest citizens to thrive in their futures. This powerful and pragmatic book by Matt Pitman is a clarion call for that and more."

    Richard Gerver - keynote speaker, author, non-executive director

  • "Through detailed practical insights connected strongly to the academic literature, Matt provides a welcome roadmap for both teachers and school leaders to consider how best to build sustainable whole-school connections beyond short-term efforts. It is a fantastic resource for school leadership teams interested in planning for and developing their school’s growth in whole-school connectedness."

    Christopher Hudson – author, leader, academic

  • "Schools must be connected, they are integral parts of our communities. Building connections and connected communities has never been more important than it is now. This book is an essential read for all teachers and school leaders."

    Mathew Green – school leader, host of The Art of Teaching podcast

  • “Matt's book gives us the luxury of pondering and considering one of the human sides of education. A side that we all know makes a difference but hesitate to dig into. It helps us to understand just how to build deep and ongoing connection in learning spaces, playgrounds, meetings, carpark chats and surrounding community. This book is worth reading, discussing and implementing with a team of your favourite educators.”

    Pip Cleaves – principal

  • "This book is essential for every teacher, leader or administrator aiming to foster better student-teacher-community relationships, reverse disengagement and ultimately improve the vibe of school communities and student outcomes."

    James Vella – school leader

  • "A rallying cry for something many in school leadership overlook - connection. As Matt outlines, many a website, corflute or school value statement outlines a value of 'the whole learner' but all this really means is a love of the scores that said learner might produce. Outlined here, in clear, structured chapters is a way to address this widely shared oversight within school communities everywhere. This book will really make you think about the way your school approaches relationships and connection."

    Steven Kolber - teacher, curriculum writer, Global Teacher Prize top 50 finalist

Get your copy now.