The New Teacher's Handbook; Practical Strategies & Techniques for Success in the Classroom from Kindergarten Through High School

by Unknown

• ISBN13: 9780965925822
• ISBN10: 096592582X
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2003-04-01
• Publisher: Nomad Press

Summary

Tailored for novice teachers of kindergarteners through high schoolers, this handbook explores the most common challenges inexperienced teachers face and offers techniques to overcome them successfully. While practical topics such as classroom organization, student discipline, and lesson plans are addressed, the often unmentioned realm of the politics of teaching is also discussed, with advice on how to deal effectively with administrators and parents. Bullet points, sidebars, helpful hints, appendixes, and frequently asked questions are included, making this resource instructional as well as motivational.

Author Biography

Yvonne Bender is a retired teacher with 30 years of experience teaching in Baltimore public schools. She is the author of A Parent’s Guide to Child Control or Who’s Boss Here, Anyway? She lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(4)
Preparing: Getting Ready for Your First Class	5	(10)
Case Study---The Confident Beginner
Preparation---A Key to Teaching Success
Learn About Your Students Before Meeting Them
Learn About the Curriculum
Learn About Your School's Policies and Procedures
Observing: Discovering Your School's Power Structures	15	(10)
Case Study---Team Player
Your School's Formal Power Structure
Your School's Informal Power Structure
Educational Team
Organizing: Arranging Everything for Optimal Learning	25	(8)
Case Study---Mr. Pool's Paper Chase
Placing Things Strategically
Creating Problems by Over-Organizing
Planning: Preparing a Teachable Lesson	33	(14)
Case Study---Mr. Sloan's Plan
Planning to Succeed---The Steps to a Viable Plan
The Teachable Plan
Teaching: Implementing Your Plan Successfully	47	(10)
Case Study---Mr. Marks Works His Plan
Plan Your Work; Work Your Plan
Be Sure You Know Your Stuff
Gaining Control: Preventing Behavior Problems	57	(20)
Case Study---A Tale of Two Beginners
The Control Conundrum
Prevent Problems Before They Start
Meet The Challenge; Gain the Reward
Maintaining Control: Confronting Unavoidable Behavior Problems	77	(14)
Case Study---Mrs. Perez Passes Her First Test
Managing Unavoidable Discipline Problems
Request the Help of Others
Communicating: Conveying the Right Message	91	(14)
Case Study---Mr. Chadwick's Speech Blunder
Communicating is Everything
Communicating with Parents
Communicating with Administrators
Communicating with Staff Members
Communicating in Writing
Communicating Through Actions
Documenting: Having the Write Stuff	105	(14)
Case Study---Mrs. Marksley Takes Note
Good Record Keeping Equals Good Teaching
Careful Documentation Equals Career Survival
Careful Documentation Can Equal Fewer Responsibilities
Documentation, the Dual-Edged Sword
Adapting: Bending Instead of Breaking	119	(18)
Case Study---Ladies and Gentlemen, Change Your Schedules
The Unbreakable Adaptable Teacher
What to Do if You Have Trouble Adapting
Persisting: Keep on Keeping on	137	(6)
Case Study---Mr. Aziz Persists
Persistence---The Vital Link to Career Success
Stay Focused
Keep a Positive Attitude
Seek Ways to Teach Students Better
Maintain Self-Control
Have an Excellent Attendance Record
Keep Things in Perspective
Appendix A: Some Answers to Beginners' Questions	143	(14)
Practical solutions to problems encountered by new teachers
Appendix B: Helpful Charts and Forms	157
Examples of charts and forms that you can use to organize your classroom, document essential information, and learn about your students