First-Year Teaching For Dummies

Make your first year of teaching one to remember

Becoming a new teacher is one of the most fun, exciting, and challenging experiences you’ll encounter in your life. Who wouldn’t want a little help getting ready before sitting down behind the teacher’s desk for the first time?

That’s where First-Year Teaching For Dummies comes in. You’ll find easy-to-follow strategies and techniques to help you navigate the politics of education in your community, develop fun and fulfilling relationships with your students, and refine your own instructional style. You’ll learn to:

• Survive and thrive in your first two weeks as you hit the ground running and win over your students, co-workers, and administrators
• Avoid or reduce the major stressors that can lead to burnout and other common problems
• Understand and handle 21st-century issues with skill and sensitivity

It’s almost time for you to take charge of your first classroom and you’re raring to go. So, grab a copy of First-Year Teaching For Dummies to find the last-minute tips and common-sense guidance you need to help make your first school year a rewarding one!

Carol Flaherty is a 25-year veteran elementary school teacher who spent most of her years teaching first and fourth grades.

Flirtisha Harris has taught secondary school for more than 20 years in Texas and Southern Maryland.

W. Michael Kelley started as a high school math teacher and has spent 30 years teaching and training people of all ages.

Introduction 1

Part 1: What They Didn’t Teach You in College 7

Chapter 1: What Have You Gotten Yourself Into? 9

Chapter 2: Dealing with Society’s Nutty Notions about Teaching 27

Chapter 3: How Things Have Changed in the Classroom 39

Part 2: Managing Your Classroom 53

Chapter 4: Finding Your Way Around 55

Chapter 5: Setting Up Your Classroom 71

Chapter 6: The First Week of School 89

Chapter 7: Keeping Your Classroom Under Control 105

Chapter 8: Picking Your Battles 123

Part 3: Delivering Instruction 141

Chapter 9: Finding Your Style 143

Chapter 10: Making Learning Fun 159

Chapter 11: Managing Assessment 177

Part 4: Meet the Supporting Cast 191

Chapter 12: Getting to Know Your Administrators 193

Chapter 13: Getting to Know Your Coworkers 211

Chapter 14: Getting to Know Parents 227

Chapter 15: Getting to Know Students 247

Part 5: Non-Instructional Duties 261

Chapter 16: Implicit and Explicit Duties 263

Chapter 17: Taming Administrative Tasks 279

Chapter 18: Protecting Students Under Your Care 291

Part 6: The Part of Tens 311

Chapter 19: Ten Things That Always Happen to First-Year Teachers 313

Chapter 20: The Ten Biggest First-Year Teacher Blunders 319

Chapter 21: Ten Tips for Teaching Online 325

Index 331

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.