The First-Year Teacher's Survival Guide

Julia G. Thompson served as a classroom teacher for forty years; she currently works as a consultant and teacher trainer. Through her blog (juliagthompson.blogspot.com) and Twitter handle (@TeacherAdvice) she offers tips for teachers on a wide variety of topics. She can also be reached through her website (www.juliagthompson.com).

I. Learn the Skills Necessary to Become a Professional Educator

Section One: Begin Your Professional Growth 1

Section Two: Develop Professional Productivity Skills 31

Section Three: Collaborate with Colleagues in Your School Community 65

II. Establish a Productive Classroom Environment

Section Four: Become a Capable Classroom Leader 81

Section Five: Start the School Year Productively 125

Section Six: Cultivate Positive Classroom Relationships 161

III. Teach the Whole Child

Section Seven: Meet the Needs of All Students 201

Section Eight: Adapt Instruction through Differentiated Instruction 237

IV. Use Effective Instructional Practices

Section Nine: Design and Deliver Effective Instruction 273

Section Ten: Measure Student Progress with Summative Assessments 329

V. Create a Well-Managed Discipline Climate

Section Eleven: Policies, Procedures, and Rules: The Framework of Classroom Management 355

Section Twelve: Prevent or Minimize Discipline Problems 373

Section Thirteen: Handle Discipline Problems Effectively 395

Section Fourteen: How-to Quick Reference Guide to Common Classroom Discipline Problems 451