The Teacher's Ultimate Planning Guide; How to Achieve a Successful School Year and Thriving Teaching Career

by Lisa Maria Burke

• ISBN13: 9780761946113
• ISBN10: 076194611X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-06-17
• Publisher: Corwin Pr

Summary

This comprehensive manual offers step-by-step tools to help alleviate the strain and frustration of guesswork in teaching.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
About the Author	xvii
Introduction. The Successful Teacher: What Research Tells Us	1	(1)
Introduction and Objectives	1	(1)
Successful Teachers: Who Are They?	1	(2)
Why Do Some Teachers Struggle to Succeed?	3	(1)
Teachers, Are You Stressed Out?	4	(1)
Stress: What Is It?	4	(2)
The General Adaptation Syndrome	5	(1)
Positive and Negative Stress	5	(1)
Stress and Teaching: What Every Teacher Must Know	6	(5)
What Causes Teachers' Stress?	6	(1)
What Are Your Stressors?	7	(1)
Why Must Teachers Learn to Deal With Stress?	8	(1)
Why Focus on Stress Prevention?	9	(1)
Psychological and Emotional Responses to Stressors	9	(1)
Beliefs: The Root of Stress	9	(1)
Teachers Can Prevent Stress	10	(1)
Apply the Research and Become a Successful Teacher	11	(1)
Summary	12	(1)
Section I. The First Steps	13	(78)
Take Care of Yourself	15	(26)
Introduction and Objectives	15	(1)
Maintain Optimal Health	16	(9)
Make Time for Your Health	16	(1)
Protect Your Physical Health	16	(5)
Protect Your Mental and Emotional Health	21	(4)
Understand the Details of Your Employment Contract	25	(9)
What to Do Before You Are Hired	26	(1)
Understand Your Contract	26	(1)
Is Your Class Roster Fair?	27	(1)
Know the Details of Your Health Insurance Benefits	27	(1)
Keep Tabs on Your Financial Benefits	28	(1)
Ensure Favorable Performance Evaluations	29	(3)
Maintain a Professional Portfolio	32	(2)
Grow Personally and Professionally	34	(5)
Professional Development Plans: Guiding Personal Growth	34	(1)
Networking: Nurturing Your Professional Relationships	35	(2)
The Truth About Giving and Receiving	37	(2)
Summary	39	(2)
Identify and Understand Expectations	41	(30)
Introduction and Objectives	41	(1)
What Are Your Expectations?	42	(3)
What Are the Government's Expectations?	45	(1)
What Are the Community's Expectations?	45	(17)
School System Policies	46	(1)
Curriculum Expectations	47	(1)
Programs for Exceptional Students	48	(1)
School Rules and Procedures	48	(8)
Your Responsibilities and Accountability for Student Progress	56	(6)
What Are Parents' Expectations?	62	(5)
Successful Parent-Teacher Conferences	63	(1)
Keeping the Tone Positive	64	(1)
Involving Parents in Their Child's Education	65	(1)
When Parents Are Not Satisfied	66	(1)
How Others Can Report Grievances Against You and Your School	67	(1)
What Do Your Students Expect of You?	67	(2)
Sharing Your Expectations: The Classroom Handbook	69	(1)
A Final Note About Expectations	70	(1)
Summary	70	(1)
Know Your Resources	71	(20)
Introduction and Objectives	71	(1)
Time: Is there Ever Enough?	71	(2)
Your Support Network	73	(5)
You Are Your Greatest Resource	73	(1)
School Employees	73	(2)
Your Students and Their Families	75	(1)
Support Programs and Services	76	(2)
Teaching Tools and Materials	78	(12)
What Your School Provides	79	(2)
Take Advantage of the Latest Technology	81	(5)
What Your School System Provides	86	(1)
Visit Your Local Libraries	86	(1)
Tap Into Your Colleagues' Expertise	87	(1)
Teacher Organizations and Associations	87	(1)
Sources of Additional Funds	87	(1)
Recycled Materials	88	(1)
The Last Resort: Your Personal Funds	89	(1)
Summary	90	(1)
Section II. Your Action Plans	91	(100)
Determine Your Goals	93	(6)
Introduction and Objectives	93	(1)
Your Personal and Professional Goals: Take Control	93	(2)
Your Instructional Goals: Fulfill Curriculum Expectations	95	(1)
Your Classroom Climate Goals: Nurture Healthy Relationships	96	(1)
Summary	97	(2)
Your Schedule: The Framework for Your Action Plans	99	(10)
Introduction and Objectives	99	(1)
Can You Make Time to Achieve Your Goals?	100	(1)
What Do You Do for Yourself and Your Profession?	100	(1)
What's Happening at Your School?	101	(1)
What Are Your Students Doing?	102	(1)
What's Your Teaching Schedule?	103	(1)
Do You Have Enough Planning Time?	104	(1)
Time Management: The Key to Effective Planning	105	(2)
Summary	107	(2)
Develop an Instructional Plan	109	(30)
Introduction and Objectives	109	(1)
Design Quality Unit Plans	109	(11)
What Are Unit Plans?	110	(1)
How to Create a Unit Plan	110	(10)
Strategies That Enhance Lesson Plans for Maximum Learning	120	(17)
Apply the Latest Brain Research	121	(1)
Take Into Account Your Students' Learning Styles	122	(2)
Accommodate Your Students' Learning Modalities	124	(2)
Strengthen Your Students' Multiple Intelligences	126	(3)
Use Effective Questioning Techniques	129	(2)
Use a Variety of Assessments	131	(6)
Summary	137	(2)
Develop a Climate Plan	139	(48)
Introduction and Objectives	139	(2)
The First Few Days of School	141	(1)
Establish Strong Interpersonal Relationships	141	(39)
Relationships Within Your Classroom	141	(31)
Your Relationship With Your Students' Parents	172	(8)
Make Your Physical Environment Inviting	180	(5)
Your Classroom's Floor Plan	180	(3)
Storage Areas for You and Your Students	183	(1)
Your Classroom Decor	183	(1)
Bulletin Boards	184	(1)
Summary	185	(2)
Revisit Your Schedule	187	(4)
Introduction and Objectives	187	(1)
Take Another Look at Your Instructional Schedule	187	(1)
Get a Head Start on Implementing Your Climate Plan	188	(1)
Reexamine Your Planning Time	189	(1)
Summary	190	(1)
Section III. Your Momentum	191	(14)
Implement and Assess Your Plans	193	(6)
Introduction and Objectives	193	(1)
Are You Achieving Your Goals?	193	(3)
Are You Preventing Stress?	196	(1)
Summary	197	(2)
Become a Reflective Practitioner	199	(6)
Introduction and Objectives	199	(1)
Engaging in the Reflective Process	199	(1)
How Much Have You Grown?	200	(3)
Others' Assessments and Evaluations	201	(1)
Your Self-Assessment and Self-Evaluation	201	(2)
Changes for Next Time	203	(1)
Your Future	204	(1)
Summary	204	(1)
Epilogue. Enabling Successful Teaching: What Educational Leaders at All Levels Must Know	205	(6)
Introduction and Objectives	205	(1)
Changes in Teacher Training	206	(2)
Changes at the School Level	208	(1)
Summary	209	(2)
Resources for Successful Teaching	211	(26)
Professional Development Plan	211	(1)
Planning Celebrations	212	(1)
Taking Class Trips	212	(4)
Substitute Teacher Kit	216	(2)
Tips for a Successful Parent-Teacher Conference	218	(2)
Sample Table of Contents for a Classroom Handbook	220	(2)
Sample Parent Survey	222	(1)
Professional Organizations	223	(2)
Possible School Supplies	225	(3)
Your Personal Schedule	228	(2)
Schedule of School Events	230	(2)
Sample Lesson Plan Book Pages	232	(2)
Pacing Chart	234	(3)
Bibliography	237	(4)
Index	241