The First–Year Teacher′s Survival Guide

Julia G. Thompson has been a public school teacher for more than thirty–five years. Through her Web site (www.juliagthompson.com) and Twitter handle (@TeacherAdvice) she offers tips for teachers on a wide variety of topics.

I. Assume Your Professional Responsibilities


Section One: Know What It Means to Be a Twenty–First–Century Educator 1


Section Two: Develop the Practical Skills You’ll Need to Manage a Classroom 35


Section Three: Collaborate with Others in Your School and Community 73


II. Establish a Learning Community


Section Four: Begin a Successful School Term 107


Section Five: Develop Positive Classroom Relationships 139


III. Promote Student Achievement


Section Six: Control Class Time 175


Section Seven: Manage Your Classroom 201


Section Eight: Motivate Students to Succeed 221


IV. Design and Deliver Effective Instruction


Section Nine: Choose Appropriate Instructional Strategies and Resources 259


Section Ten: Design Effective Instruction 279


Section Eleven: Deliver Engaging Instruction 303


Section Twelve: Meet the Needs of All of Your Students 331


Section Thirteen: Assess Your Students’ Progress 365


Section Fourteen: Level the Playing Field by Covering Basic Skills 401


V. Maintain an Orderly Environment


Section Fifteen: Prevent Discipline Problems 427


Section Sixteen: Manage Discipline Problems 447


Section Seventeen: Learn to Solve Classroom Problems 483


DVD Contents xv


About the Author xix


Acknowledgments xxi


About This Survival Guide xxiii


I Assume Your Professional Responsibilities


Section One: Know What It Means to Be a Twenty–First–Century Educator 1


The Challenges of Our Changing Profession 2


You Can Manage Your Professional Challenges Successfully 3


Professionalism: The Powerful Force Underlying Everything We Do 4


Your Professional Responsibilities 5


Developing a Refl ective Practice 9


Teacher Worksheet 11: Template for Professional Self–Refl ection 11


Teacher Worksheet 12: Characteristics of Successful Teachers 12


Teacher Worksheet 13: Learning from Exemplary Teachers 13


Learning from Role Models and Mentors 14


Seeking Feedback on Your Professional Performance 15


Teacher Worksheet 14: Making the Most of Peer Observations 16


Using the Evaluation Process to Improve Your Teaching Skills 17


Teacher Worksheet 15: How Observers Will Evaluate You 19


Teacher Worksheet 16: Data Tracking Sheet 22


Maintaining Sustained Professional Growth 25


Teacher Worksheet 17: Are You in Charge of Your Career? 26


Teacher Worksheet 18: Track Your Professional Goals 30


Learning to Manage Your Stress 31


Best Practices Checklist 32


Time to Reflect: What It Means to Be a Twenty–First–Century Educator 33


Section Two: Develop the Practical Skills You’ll Need to Manage a Classroom 35


Arrange Your Own Work Area 35


Become an Efficient Teacher 42


Teacher Worksheet 21: Meet Your Classroom Priorities 44


Teacher Worksheet 22: Teacher’s Daily To–Do List 47


Teacher Worksheet 23: Checklist of a Teacher’s Weekly Reminders 49


General Tips for Managing School Papers 50


How to Organize and Manage Student Information 53


How to Grade Papers Quickly 54


Tips for Managing Electronic Files 56


Tips for Managing E–Mail 56


How to Maintain Your Class Web Page 57


How to Save Paper 58


Optimize Your Use of the Photocopier 59


Prepare Your Classroom for Students 59


How to Protect School Resources 66


How to Request Repairs 67


Classroom Safety Issues 67


Best Practices Checklist 70


Time to Refl ect: Develop the Practical Skills You’ll Need to Manage a Classroom 71


Section Three: Collaborate with Others in Your School and Community 73


Your School Community: A Network of Teams 73


Communities of Practice 74


Where Do You Fit in as a New Teacher? 75


Building Trust: The Importance of a Reputation for Integrity 76


Strategies for Effective Collaboration 77


Social Media Guidelines 80


The Importance of Perfect Attendance 81


The Support Staff 82


The Chain of Command 82


Collaborate Successfully with Administrators 83


Working Well with Parents and Guardians 84


What Parents and Guardians Expect from You 85


Prevent Miscommunication with a Transparent Classroom 86


Teacher Worksheet 31: How Effective Are You at Creating a Transparent Classroom? 89


The Importance of Keeping Contact Records 90


Teacher Worksheet 32: Contact Documentation Form 91


Be Positive with Parents and Guardians 92


Take Care to Interact Professionally 93


Class Newsletters 96


Conduct Successful Conferences with Parents and Guardians 97


Best Practices Checklist 104


Time to Reflect: Collaborate with Others in Your School and Community 104


II. Establish a Learning Community


Section Four: Begin a Successful School Term 107


The First Day Is Important 107


Overcome Those First–Day Jitters 108


What to Do on the First Day: Your Priorities 109


First–Day–of–School Welcome Packet 111


Parent or Guardian Worksheet 41: Inventory: Please Tell Me About Your Child 113


Activities for the First Day 115


Teacher Worksheet 41: Planning Template for the First Day of School 117


Teacher Worksheet 42: Checklist for the First Day 119


Student Information Records 120


Student Worksheet 41: Student Information Form 121


Learn Your Students’ Names Quickly 123


How to Get to Know Your Students 123


Student Worksheet 42: Inventory for Elementary Students 127


Student Worksheet 43: Inventory for Middle School Students 129


Student Worksheet 44: Inventory for High School Students 131


Create a Positive Group Identity 133


What You Can Expect During the First Week 135


Mistakes to Avoid at the Start of School 136


Best Practices Checklist 137


Time to Refl ect: Begin a Successful School Term 138


Section Five: Develop Positive Classroom Relationships 139


Develop a Positive Relationship with Students 139


Teacher Worksheet 51: How Appropriate Are Your Relationships with Students? 142


Teacher Worksheet 52: Are You a Good Role Model? 149


Help Students Learn to Relate Well to Each Other 157


Teacher Worksheet 53: Checklist of Social Skills All Students Should Master 167


Best Practices Checklist 173


Time to Reflect: Develop Positive Classroom Relationships 174


III. Promote Student Achievement


Section Six: Control Class Time 175


You Control the Time Your Students Have with You 175


How Teachers Waste Time 176


Teacher Worksheet 61: How Well Do You Use Class Time? 177


Principles of Effective Classroom Time Management 179


Raise Your Students’ Awareness of Class Time 180


How to Handle Interruptions 181


Pacing Instruction 182


The First Ten Minutes of Class 183


Teacher Worksheet 62: Plans for Starting Class Effectively 186


Productive Transitions 187


How to Handle Requests to Leave the Classroom 191


Teacher Worksheet 63: Student Sign–Out Sheet 195


The Last Ten Minutes of Class 196


Teacher Worksheet 64: Plans for Ending Class Effectively 198


How to Use Any Time Left at the End of Class 199


Best Practices Checklist 199


Time to Reflect: Control Class Time 200


Section Seven: Manage Your Classroom 201


A Well–Managed Classroom 201


How to Focus Your Class on Good Behavior 202


The Importance of Clear Expectations 203


Procedures, Policies, Rules: When to Apply Each One 203


Policies You Will Need to Develop 204


Teacher Worksheet 71: Planning for Classroom Policies 205


Establish Procedures 209


Teacher Worksheet 72: Where to Find Help with Establishing Procedures 210


Suggestions for Establishing Three Necessary Procedures 211


Teach and Enforce School Rules 212


Creating Classroom Rules 213


Teacher Worksheet 73: Checklist to Determine If Your Rules Will Be Successful 215


Teaching Classroom Rules 216


Enforcing Classroom Rules 217


Enlisting Student Support for Class Rules 218


Positive or Negative Consequences? 218


Best Practices Checklist 219


Time to Reflect: Manage Your Classroom 219


Section Eight: Motivate Students to Succeed 221


The Self–Fulfilling Prophecy 221


Be Positive If You Want Positive Results 222


Lay a Solid Foundation 223


Motivate Your Students with a Variety of Methods 223


Extrinsic Motivation 226


Make Sure Intrinsic Motivation Is a Classroom Constant 228


Make Success Attainable 231


Teach Your Students to Follow Directions 232


Purposeful Learning 235


Teacher Worksheet 81: Assignment Checklist 237


Take a Goal–Oriented Approach to Learning 238


Student Worksheet 81: Setting and Achieving SMART Goals 239


Make Success Visible 241


Teach Students to Track Their Own Mastery of Material 241


Student Worksheet 82: Progress Tracking Chart 243


How to Survive the Homework Debate 244


Teacher Worksheet 82: Plan Successful Homework Assignments 248


Student Worksheet 83: Missing Homework Explanation Form 252


Student Worksheet 84: Class Log Page 256


Best Practices Checklist 257


Time to Reflect: Motivate Students to Succeed 257


IV. Design and Deliver Effective Instruction


Section Nine: Choose Appropriate Instructional Strategies and Resources 259


Take Advantage of the Advances in Educational Research 259


Why Small, Strategic Steps Are the Keys to Success 260


Overview of Just a Few of the Instructional Options Teachers Have 260


Classroom Technology Resources to Aid Your Instructional Practices 267


Useful Web Sites for Educators 273


“There’s an App for That!” 274


Best Practices Checklist 275


Time to Reflect: Choose Appropriate Instructional Strategies and Resources 276


Section Ten: Design Effective Instruction 279


The Benefits of Careful Planning 279


Backward Design: Think Big, but Start Small 280


Cover the Curriculum or Teach Your Students? 280


How Prepared Should You Be? 281


Common Planning Problems 281


How to Find the Time to Plan 282


Your State’s Standards 283


The Common Core State Standards Initiative 283


Assess Your Students’ Prior Knowledge285


How to Begin Planning Instruction 286


Teacher Worksheet 101: Format for a Course Overview 288


Teacher Worksheet 102: Format for a Unit Plan 290


What to Include in Your Plans 291


Teacher Worksheet 103: Easy–to–Use Format for Daily Lesson Plans 294


Successful Learning for Nontraditional Schedules 295


How to Adjust a Lesson 296


Always Have a Backup Plan 296


Free Online Resources for Lesson Plans 298


Best Practices Checklist 300


Time to Reflect: Design Effective Instruction 301


Section Eleven: Deliver Engaging Instruction 303


Guidelines for Improving Your Classroom Charisma 303


Pitfalls That Plague Too Many Teachers 304


Improve Your Oral Presentations 305


How to Make a Point Students Will Remember 310


How to Help Students Stay on Track During a Lecture 311


Conduct Class Discussions That Engage Every Student 312


The Power of Play: Using Toys to Capture Attention 314


Games Your Students Will Enjoy 315


Use Graphic Organizers to Engage Students 318


Two Simple Techniques: Learning Cubes and Colored Dot Labels 320


Providing Models, Examples, and Samples 326


How to Make Seatwork Appealing327


Best Practices Checklist 328


Time to Reflect: Deliver Engaging Instruction 328


Section Twelve: Meet the Needs of All of Your Students 331


Differentiated Instruction to Support All Learners 331


Teacher Worksheet 121: Individualized Instruction Worksheet 335


Teacher Worksheet 122: A Planning Tool for Differentiation 338


Students Who May Need Special Care 346


Best Practices Checklist 362


Time to Reflect: Meet the Needs of All of Your Students 363


Section Thirteen: Assess Your Students’ Progress 365


Data–Driven Instruction: Summative and Formative Assessments 365


How to Use Formative Assessments 366


Teacher Worksheet 131: Tracking Formative Assessment Data 368


Student Worksheet 131: Assignment Refl ection 376


The Two Most Common Written Assessments: Tests and Quizzes 377


Create Useful Objective Questions 379


How to Grade Objective Questions Quickly 381


Conduct Rules for Quizzes and Tests 381


What to Do If Many of Your Students Fail a Test or Quiz 382


Types of Authentic Assessments 383


Keeping Track of Grades 388


Student Worksheet 132: Grade Tracking Form for Student Success 391


How to Personalize a Grade Report 392


What You Should Do When Students Challenge Grades 392


What to Do When You Suspect a Student of Cheating 393


How to Manage Cyber Cheating 393


Extra Credit Dilemmas and Solutions 395


Success with Standardized Tests 395


Best Practices Checklist 399


Time to Reflect: Assess Your Students’ Progress 399


Section Fourteen: Level the Playing Field by Covering Basic Skills 401


Media Literacy Skills 402


Listening Skills 404


Speaking Skills405


Writing Skills 406


Vocabulary Acquisition Skills 407


Critical Thinking Skills 412


Reading Skills 417


Best Practices Checklist 424


Time to Reflect: Level the Playing Field by Covering Basic Skills 425


V. Maintain an Orderly Environment


Section Fifteen: Prevent Discipline Problems 427


Punishment Is Not the Way to Prevent Problems 427


Self–Discipline Is the Key 428


Be Aware of the Causes of Most Discipline Problems 429


Easily Avoidable Mistakes Many Teachers Make 429


Teacher Worksheet 151: How Effective Are You at Preventing Discipline Problems? 431


Your Role in Preventing Discipline Problems 432


Teacher Worksheet 152: Preventing or Minimizing Discipline Problems 433


Be Positive: Nothing Creates Success Like Success 434


Become a Consistent Teacher 434


Become a Fair Teacher 435


Withitness: One of the Most Valuable Prevention Techniques 436


Teacher Worksheet 153: What Is Your Level of Withitness? 437


A Crucial Step in Preventing Discipline Problems: Monitoring 438


How Students Can Get Help Quickly 439


Earn Your Students’ Respect 440


An Unexpected Tip: Be a Good Listener 440


Early Intervention Strategies 441


When You Should Act 442


Harness the Power of Positive Peer Pressure 443


Best Practices Checklist 444


Time to Reflect: Prevent Discipline Problems 444


Section Sixteen: Manage Discipline Problems 447


Myths About Discipline 448


Control Your Anxiety with Proactive Strategies 448


Behaviors You Should Not Accept 449


What Do Your Supervisors Expect from You? 451


Respond Instead of Just Reacting 451


Teacher Worksheet 161: Classroom Management Techniques to Avoid 454


How to Avoid a Lawsuit: A Teacher’s Legal Responsibilities 455


Teacher Worksheet 162: Behavior Incident Report 458


Due Process Procedures 459


Cultivate Grace Under Pressure 459


Great Advice: Don’t Take It Personally 460


You May Be the Troublemaker461


Think Before You Act 462


Don’t Give Up on Your Diffi cult Students 463


How to Deal with a Diffi cult Class 463


How to Cope with a Student’s Chronic Misbehavior 465


How to Hold Successful Conferences with Students Who Have Misbehaved 465


Put Detentions to Good Use 467


Manage Referrals to an Administrator with Confi dence 469


Handling Four Common Types of Student Misbehavior472


Best Practices Checklist 480


Time to Reflect: Manage Discipline Problems 481


Section Seventeen: Learn to Solve Classroom Problems 483


Questions to Consider When You Are Trying to Solve Classroom Problems 484


Take a Problem–Solving Approach 484


Teacher Worksheet 171: Work Through Classroom Problems 486


Problems Associated with Individual Students 487


Problems Associated with Enforcing School Policies or Rules 493


Problems Associated with Behavior During Instruction 497


Problems Associated with Students’ Relationship with Their Teacher 501


Best Practices Checklist 503


Time to Reflect: Learn to Solve Classroom Problems 504


A Final Word 505


Index 507


How to Use the DVD 529