 |
THE FIRST-YEAR TEACHER'S SURVIVAL GUIDE
Table of Contents
Section One: Get a Good Start in Your New Vocation
Your Teaching Career: The Good News
Core Values of Professional Educators
You Are Not Alone
Self-Assessment 1.1: What Are Your Assumptions About Teaching?
You Are the Solution
Self-Assessment 1.2: Character Traits of Successful Teachers
Self-Assessment 1.3: How Will You Rate as a Teacher?
How to Avoid Ruining Your Career
How to be the Best Teacher You Can Be
Common-Sense Steps to Boost Your Confidence
Talk It Over: How to Get a Good Start in Your New Vocation
Section Two: Develop Your Professional Expertise
Advantages to Enjoy in Your First Years as a Teacher
Self-Assessment 2.1: Assess Your Strengths
Your Classroom Responsibilities
Self-Assessment 2.2: Manage Your Classroom Responsibilities
Look Ahead and Set Goals
Self-Assessment 2.3: Create Your Vision of the Year Ahead
How to Fulfill State and District Standards in Your Classroom
Attend Conferences
Learn Through Reading and Research
Investigate the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
Find Role Models
The No Child Left Behind Act and You
NCLB Strategies for Success in Your Classroom
Web Resources to Help You with the Challenge of NCLB
School Information, Policies, and Procedures You Need to Know
Professional Information, Policies, and Procedures You Need to Know
How to Share Space, Materials, and Equipment
Optimize Your Use of the Photocopier
How to Save Paper
How to Encourage Students to Recycle
Become an Efficient Teacher
Tips on Using Your Faculty Handbook Wisely
Tips on Eliminating Procrastination
Tips for Managing Time
Use Small Blocks of Time Wisely
Arrive a Little Early, Leave a Little Late
Manage Stacks of Paper with Ease
How to Organize and Manage Forms
Tips for Managing Student Information
Your Teacher Binder
Self-Assessment 2.4: A Teacher's To-Do List
Find Your Mentors
Professional Organizations for Teachers
Journals to Help You Grow Professionally
Using the Internet as a Teaching Resource
Burnout Can Happen to You
Proactive Anti-Burnout Strategies
Turn Problems into Opportunities
How to Stay Healthy
The Safety Net of Professionalism
Talk it Over: How to Develop Your Professional Expertise
Section Three: Become a Valuable Team Player
Teamwork Skills That Build Success
Self-Assessment 3.1: Set Goals to Improve How You Work with Others
What Your Co-Workers Expect fromYou
On-the-Job Courtesy
Trustworthiness
Diversity in the Workplace
How to Fit In
Be Assertive in a Positive Way
Behave Professionally at Meetings
Avoid the Harm that Gossip Can Do
Work Well with Difficult Colleagues
How to Get Along with Difficult People
How to Maintain a Private Social Life
Mistakes No Teacher Should Make in Social Situations
The Support Staff
The Chain of Command
Working Well with Your Supervisors
The Evaluation Process
Preparing for an Observation
Self-Assessment 3.2: How Observers Will Evaluate You
Make Evaluations Work for You
Turn Criticism into a Positive Experience
Develop a Plan to Correct Weaknesses
Working Well with Parents and Guardians
What Parents and Guardians Expect from You
Be Positive with Parents and Guardians
Sample Positive Message to a Parent
The Importance of Keeping Parent Contact Records
Form 3.1: Documentation Log for Parent Contact
Open House
A Few General Guidelines for an Open House
How to Prepare for an Open House
What to Include in Your Presentation
Present a Professional Image
Time Line for a Successful Open House
Take Care to Intereact Professionally with Parents
Assist Parents and Guardians Who Do Not Speak English
Be a Good Listener
Handle Accidental Meetings Gracefully
Deal with the Gift Dilemma
Reach Out to Parents and Guardians
Make a Good Impression Through Effective Correspondence
Make Telephone Calls with Confidence
Send Home Class Newsletters
Create a Classroom Web Page
Conduct Successful Parent Conferences
Five Essential Goals to Accomplish in a Parent Conference
Guidelines for Effective Parent Conferences
Why Some Parents or Guardians May Not Relate Well to You
What to Do When Parents or Guardians Are Uncooperative
How to Reach Out to Your Community
Talk It Over: How to Become a Valuable Team Player
Section Four: Organize Your Way to a Great Beginning
Lay Your Plans Before School Begins
Self-Assessment 4.1: What Do You Already Know About Beginning a School Term?
Time Line for a Great Beginning
Organize Your Time and Tasks
Predictable Tasks
Recurring Activities
Establish Routines and Procedures
Self-Assessment 4.2: Where to Find Help with Establishing Routines and Procedures
A Routine for Lunch Counts and Other Counts
Another Routine Task: Collecting Money
Organize Your Classroom
Cleaning Items to Take to School
Three Considerations Before You Move Furniture
Connect with Your Students by Creating an Inviting Classroom
Two Special Classroom Situations
Sharing a Classroom
Teaching in a Portable Classroom
Storage on a Budget
Tips on Organizing Materials and Supplies
Your Supply List
Set Up Your File Cabinet
Materials and Paper You Will Need to Keep
Quick Tips for Creating a Useful Computer File System
Lay Your Plans Before School Begins
Self-Assessment 4.3: Is Your Classroom Ready for Students?
Talk It Over: How to Organize Your Way to a Great Beginning
Section Five: Have a Fantastic First Day
Why the First Day is Important
Overcome First-Day Jitters
Why You Need Seating Charts
How to Create a Seating Chart
What to Do on the First Day: Your Priorities
Priority 1: Take Charge of Your Class
Priority 2: Calm Your Students' Fears
Priority 3: Introduce Yourself
Priority 4: Engage Your Students' Minds
Priority 5: Begin to Teach Class Routines
First-Day-of-School Welcome Packet
Activities for the First Day
Student Information Records
Form 5.1: Student Information Form
Learn Your Students' Names Quickly
Tricks for Matching Names with Faces
How to Get to Know Your Students
Analyze Your Students' Readiness for Success in Learning
Create a Positive Group Identity
Give Your Students a Positive Self-Image in Three Easy Steps
Achieve Your First-Day-of-School Goals
Form 5.2: First-Day-of-School Goals
Talk It Over: How to Have a Fantastic First Day
Section Six: Connect with Your Students
What Your Relationship with Your Students Should Be
The Problem with Being a Popular Teacher
What Your Students Really Want
Earn Your Students' Respect
Mutual Respect, Mutual Courtesy
You Are a Role Model
Create a Professional Image
Look the Part
"Are You Old Enough to Be a Teacher?"
Handle Student Crushes with Care
How Much of Yourself Should You Share?
Learn About Your Students
Student Inventories
Form 6.1: Student Inventory for Elementary Students
Form 6.2: Student Inventory for Middle School Students
Form 6.3: Student Inventory for High School Students
Let Your Students Know You Care
Promote Trust
Watch Your Language
Use "I" Messages
How You Can Help Students Cope with Negative Peer Pressure
Teach Your Students to Believe in Themselves
How to Empower Students and Maintain Control of Your Class
Great Advice: Don't Take It Personally
Cultivate Grace Under Pressure
Seven Strategies for Keeping Cool Under Pressure
Talk It Over: How to Connect with Your Students
Section Seven: Design Effective Lessons
The Benefits of Planning Every Lesson
How Prepared Should You Be?
How to Find the Time to Plan
Begin with Your State's Standards
How to Begin Planning Lessons
Capture the Big Picture with a Course Overview
Form 7.1: Format for a Course Overview
Flesh Out Your Course by Creating Unit Plans
Form 7.2: Format for a Unit Plan
Create Daily Plans That Work for You and Your Students
What to Include in Your Lesson Plans
Form 7.3: An Easy-to-Use Format for Daily Lesson Plans
Common Planning Problems
Some Internet Lesson Plan Resources
How to Sequence Instruction
Tap Your Students' Prior Knowledge
Perfect Your Pacing
Include Opportunities for Critical Thinking
Give Directions That Encourage Critical Thinking
Offer Your Students Options
How to Adjust a Lesson
Always Have a Backup Plan
Successful Learning When Your Class Is on a Nontraditional Schedule
Using Technology to Teach
WebQuests
Ideas for Using Technology in Class
Effective Lesson Plans When You Are Absent: What to Do When You Have to Miss School
Inform the Right People
Leave Good Lesson Plans
Handle Behavior Problems When You Return
Provide Essential Information for Your Substitute
Talk It Over: How to Design Effective Lessons
Section Eight: Deliver Effective Instruction
Let Your Enthusiasm Show
Guidelines for Improving Your Classroom Charisma
Self-Assessment 8.1: Is Your Delivery Effective?
Avoid Pitfalls That Plague Too Many Teachers
Set the Stage
Use Body Language to Motivate Your Listeners
The Power of Positive Body Language
Pay Attention to Your Audience
Use Toys to Capture Attention
Make a Point That Students Will Remember
Help Students Stay on Track During a Lecture
Improve Your Oral Presentations
Videotape Yourself
The Art of the Pause
Eye Contact
Meet the Needs of Students with Diverse Learning Styles
Activities That Accomodate Each Learning Style
Conduct Class Discussions That Engage Every Student
Strategies for Asking Engaging Questions
How to Help All Students Benefit from Question-and-Answer Sessions
Use Essential Questions to Stimulate Critical Thinking
How to Formulate Essential Questions with Your Students
How to Publish Student Work
Use Graphic Organizers to Help Students Reach Mastery
Create Learning Centers for All Types of Students
Teach Your Students to Follow Directions
How to Give Verbal Directions That All Students Can Follow
How to Give Written Directions That All Students Can Follow
Make Seatwork Appealing
Practice: The Neglected Success Strategy
Help Students Practice What They Have Learned
Using Class Time to Review
Talk It Over: How to Deliver Effective Instruction
Section Nine: Evaluate Your Students' Progress
Prepare Your Class for Success on Standardized Tests
How to Design Effective Tests and Quizzes
Create Useful Objective Questions
Essay Tests Aren't Just for English Class
Pitfalls to Avoid When Creating Assessments
Teach Your Students Successful Test-Taking Strategies
Rules of Student Conduct for Quizzes and Tests
What to Do When You Suspect a Student of Cheating
Write Useful Comments on Student Papers
25 Ways to Give Positive Feedback
Tips on Grading Objective Questions
Grading Essay Questions Made Easy
How to Use Assessment Data
What to Do if Many of Your Students Fail a Test
How to Encourage Students to Correct Their Errors
Alternative Assessments
Open-Ended Questions
Variations on Traditional Tests
Performance Assessments
Journals and Learning Logs
Interactive Response Systems
Rubrics
Sample Rubric
Portfolio Assessments
Three Types of Portfolios to Try
Keeping Track of Grades
General Information on Grade Management
Paper Grade Books
Electronic Grade Books
How to Personalize a Grade Report
What to Do When a Student Challenges a Grade
Talk It Over: How to Evaluate Your Students' Progress
Section Ten: Motivate Your Students to Succeed
The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
Ways to Motivate Your Students
Tips for Using Visual Aids Effectively
Tips for Using Models Effectively
15 Ways to Get Students Involved with Learning
Teach Your Students How to Set and Achieve Goals
Student Worksheet 10.1: Setting and Achieving Goals
"Why Do We Have to Learn This?"
Design Lessons to Maximize Intrinsic Motivation
Add Interest to Assignments
Help Students Learn Through Working in Groups
Your Role in Group Work
Creating Groups
Getting Groups Off to a Good Start
General Strategies for Facilitating Group Work
Ways to Foster Team Spirit
Managing Noise Levels
Evaluating Groups Fairly
Pair Students for Maximum Learning
Introduce Peer Tutoring for High Involvement
Use Games to Encourage Learning
Games Your Students Will Enjoy
Use Positive Reinforcement to Motivate Your Students
Using Praise Effectively
Rewarding Students for Appropriate Behavior
Some of the Best Rewards are Free
Why You Should Not Use Food as a Reward
Talk It Over: How to Motivate Your Students to Succeed
Section Eleven: Help Your Students Become Successful Learners
Habits of Mind to Encourage
Incorporate Study Skills in Every Lesson
Study Skills to Teach Your Students
Student Worksheet 11.1: How Well Do You Study?
Teach Your Students How to Organize a Notebook
Teach Your Students to Think on Paper
Strategies for Teaching Students How to Take Notes
Help Students Become Good Listeners
How to Teach Active Listening Skills
Teach Students to Speak in Front of the Class
Teach Students How to Memorize
Help Students Improve Their Writing Skills
Neatness and Accuracy Count
Use Exit Slips to Develop Metacognition
Stop the Futile Cycle of Delayed Learning
Help Students Manage Their Stress
Strategies for Teaching Stress Management
Help Students Meet Deadlines
Create a Homework Partnership
Ten Homework Strategies to Boost Student Interest and Motivation
Develop a Homework Policy
Sample Letter for Parents on Homework Policy
Steps to Follow When Assigning Homework
Help Students Make Up Missed Work
Extra Credit Dilemmas and Solutions
Help Students Complete Long-Term Projects
Teaching Project Skills
Project Planning
Talk It Over: How to Help Your Students Become Successful Learners
Section Twelve: Make the Most of Your Instructional Time
You Control the Time Your Students Have with You
How Teachers Waste Time
Principles of Effective Classroom Time Management
Raising Your Students' Awareness of Time
Student Worksheet 12.1: Track How You Use Time
The First Ten Minutes of Class
Inviting Ways to Open Class
Accommodating Students Who Work at Different Speeds
Productive Transitions
A Treasure Trove of Transition Activities
How to Handle Interruptions
How to Handle Requests to Leave the Classroom
Guidelinhes for Handling Student Requests to Leave Class
Keeping Track of Students Who Leave the Classroom
Things to Consider When Creating a Policy for Requests to Leave Class
The Last Ten Minutes of Class
Talk It Over: How to Make the Most of Your Instructional Time
Section Thirteen: Help Struggling Readers Find Success
Factors That Contribute to the Literacy Problem in Our Schools
Effective Reading Is Important for All Students
A Dozen Mistakes to Avoid When Teaching Literacy Skills
What Are the Most Important Reading Skills to Teach?
Helping Students Comprehend What They Read
Activities for Students Before They Read an Assignment
Activities for Students While They Are Reading an Assignment
Activities for Students After They Have Read an Assignment
Enriching Students' Vocabulary
How to Make Your Classroom Rich in Words
Activities That Make Learning Vocabulary Words Enjoyable and Successful
Web Resources to Help You Improve Your Students' Vocabulary Skills
Increasing Reading Fluency
How to Build Fluency Through Sustained Silent Reading
Four Strategies for Building Reading Fluency
Talk it Over: How to Help Struggling Readers Find Success
Section Fourteen: Manage Your Classroom Through Early Intervention
Why Punishment Is Not the Answer
Self-Discipline Is the Answer
Your Goal: A Positive Classroom Culture
Early Intervention Strategies
Self-Assessment 14.1: How Effective Are You at Preventing Problems?
Ten Quick Tips for Promoting On-Task Behavior
How to Set Up a Shared Supplies Bank
Create a Safe Environment for Your Students
Create Class Goals
Teach and Enforce School Rules
Create Classroom Rules
Teaching Classroom Rules
Do Your Students Need a Refresher on Class Rules?
Enforcing Classroom Rules
Enlisting Student Support for Class Rules
Establishing Consequences for Breaking Rules
The Crucial Step: Monitoring
How to Become an Effective Monitor
How Students Can Signal for Help
When You Should Act
Catch 'em Being Good!
Harness the Power of Positive Peer Pressure
Be a Consistent Teacher
Talk It Over: How to Manage Your Classroom Through Early Intervention
Section Fifteen: Handle Behavior Problems Effectively
Control Your Anxieties with Proactive Attitudes
Myths About Discipline
Behaviors You Should Not Accept
What Do Your Supervisors Expect from You?
How to Avoid a Lawsuit: A Teacher's Legal Responsibilities
Form 15.1: Behavioral Incident Report
Due Process
You May Be the Troublemaker
Self-Assessment 15.1: Classroom Management Techniques to Avoid
Think Before You Act
Figure Out the Reasons for Student Misbehavior
Talk to Students
Take a Problem-Solving Approach
Don't Give Up on Your Difficult Students
How to Deal with a Difficult Class
Hold Successful Student Conferences
Use Behavior Contracts Effectively
Form 15.2: Behavior Contract
Put Detentions to Good Use
Manage Referrals to an Administrator with Confidence
Handling Common School Problems
Problem 1: Tardiness
Your Responsibilities
Mistakes to Avoid
Strategies That Work
Problem 2: Absenteeism
Your Responsibilities
Mistakes to Avoid
Strategies That Work
Problem 3: Overcrowded Classes
Your Responsibilities
Mistakes to Avoid
Strategies That Work
Problem 4: Substance Abuse
Your Responsibilities
Mistakes to Avoid
Strategies That Work
How to Intervene If You Notice Substance Abuse
Problem 5: Fighting
Your Responsibilities
Mistakes to Avoid
Strategies That Work
Problem 6: Harassment
Your Responsibilities
Mistakes to Avoid
Strategies That Work
Twenty-Five Discipline Don'ts
Talk It Over: How to Handle Behavior Problems Effectively
Section Sixteen: Manage Diversity in Your Classroom
Gifted Students
Modifying Learning Processes for Gifted Students
Modifying Lesson Content to Challenge Gifted Students
Teaching Gifted Students in a Group of Students with Mixed Abilities
Special Needs Students
Instructional Strategies for Special Needs Students
Collaborating with Special Education Teachers
Working Successfully with Para-Educators
Tips for Teaming with with Para-Educators
Students with Attention Disorders
Students with 504 Plans
Students Who Are Underachievers
At-Risk Students
Students Living in Poverty
Ways to Help Disadvantaged Students
Students Who Are Not Native Speakers of English
Celebrate the Cultures in Your Class
Avoid Gender Bias in Your Classroom
Talk It Over: How to Manage a Diverse Classroom
Section Seventeen: Troubleshoot Twenty Common Problems
Problem 1: Heavy Backpacks Blocking the Aisles
Problem 2: Disruptive Cell Phones
Problem 3: Fire Drills
Problem 4: Drumming on Desks
Problem 5: Eating in Class
Problem 6: Note Passing
Problem 7: Public Displays of Affection
Problem 8: Dress Code Violations
Problem 9: Excessive Noise
Problem 10: Inappropriate Behavior at Assemblies
Problem 11: Restless Students During a Video Viewing
Problem 12: Lost Papers
Problem 13: Sleeping in Class
Problem 14: Crying
Problem 15: Feigned Illness
Problem 16: Inappropriate Comments
Problem 17: Talking Back
Problem 18: Defiance
Problem 19: Theft
Problem 20: Cheating by Copying from an Online Source
Talk It Over: How to Troubleshoot Problems
Table of Contents from The First-Year Teacher's Survival Guide, by Julia G. Thompson, published by Jossey-Bass.
 |
Thank you, Julia G. Thompson and Jossey Bass, for contributing this month's strategies!
If you would like to contribute to our newsletter, please contact Mike Rogers at Affiliates@EverythingAboutLearning.com. |
| About EverythingAboutLearning.com: Working with educators and educational publishers across the country, we've compiled a database of over 50,000 titles from over 125 leading publishers—all books and resources selected specifically to support you and your classroom. EverythingAboutLearning.com—the best place to go for educational books and resources. |
|
  |
|
