Successful Teacher's Survival Kit (eBook)

Dale Ripley has over 35 years of teaching experience working with students in elementary, junior high-middle school and high school, in schools in the inner city, the suburbs and on a First Nations reserve. While Dr. Ripley has been the principal of several schools and served two school districts as their superintendent, the classroom was – and still is – his favorite place to be.

Preface: Fish Discover Water LastAcknowledgementsIntroduction: Establishing LegitimacyHow to Get the Most from this BookSection One: What You Need To Know and Do before School Even StartsIntroduction: The Importance of the Teacher and the Power of Positive ThinkingThe Question You MUST Answer First!Do Your Christmas Shopping in the Summer!The Stomach and the Brain – Have Food Available for Your KidsVomit, Coffee & Ketchup – Have a Change of Clothing Available for YourselfMints and Toothpaste – Essential Tools for Effective TeachingThe Best Teacher Prep Tool Ever Made – Large Capacity Flash DrivesWho’s the Boss? Probably the PrincipalWithout This – Nothing Else Really Matters: Lessons from a Student to a TeacherEstablish a Seating Plan That Allows Maximum Proximity to Your StudentsTick. Tick. Tick.The Problem of Pens, Pencils, Paper . . .How Sponge Activities Can Prevent All Kinds of Discipline IssuesFacebook, Twitter and TwitsThe Only Three Ways to Teach a ChildNo Matter Where You Go – There You AreIs Teaching Really Your Gift?Half Step, Full Step, Step and a Half: How Many Steps Will Your Kids Be Taking With You This Year?Section Two: What You Need To Do With Your Students on The First Day And During The First Week Of SchoolIntroductionYou Never Get a Second Chance to Make a First ImpressionPizza and Movies: The Best Investments You May Ever MakeWhy Procedures and Routines – The Way We Do Things in Our Classroom – Are Critical to Successful TeachingStart Teaching the Curriculum on Day OneTo Know Them Is To Love Them . . . Well, Most of the TimeWhy Should the Kids Listen to You? The Importance of Establishing Legitimacy.Fired Up? Ready to Go?Let Horton the Elephant Be Your Role ModelEven Monkeys Know When Something is UnfairWhen You Are Vastly Outnumbered, Fighting is UnwiseThe Importance of FaceNever Look Back When Asking a Student to Follow You Out of the ClassroomDon’t Just Stand There – DO SOMETHING!Knowledge Has ValueDid I Do That? Helping Students Keep Track of Their AchievementsAlways Have a Plan B.What Did You Learn in School Today?Section Three: What You Need To Do During The First MonthIntroductionEyes Open; Ears Open; Mouth ClosedThe Best Teachers You Will Ever HaveSecretaries, Custodians and Teacher AidesWho Knew? Ten Minutes is a Huge Chunk of TimeMaybe Not 50 Shades of Gray – But 49 For SureWhat’s the Difference Between a Classroom and a Petri Dish?Want to Avoid Classroom Chaos? Bait the Hook to Suit the Fish!How to Train a Tiger – The Art of Negotiating with Your StudentsPractice Saying, “I’m sorry” and really mean itGetting the Elephant to Go Where You Want It to GoYou Don’t Want to Send Kids to the Principal’s Office – At Least, Not OftenWhen You Bring a Problem to Your Principal, Always Bring a SolutionWhen Your Students Tell You Stories about Their FamiliesHow to Get Parents/Caregivers to Look Forward to Your Phone CallsParent’s/Caregiver’s and Emails – Managing ExpectationsDon’t Confuse Activity with AchievementWhat Do You Mean You Only Taught That Once? The 9 Laws of LearningIn Pursuit of Peppermints and PEZ™So You Reached the End of September – Time to Take a Good Look Around YouSection Four: What You Need To Do During the Rest of the YearIntroductionGreat Teachers are Great Storytellers with Great Stories to TellRemember the Starfish Story – You Cannot Save Them AllYou Must Learn to AdjustNot My Circus – Not My MonkeysRemember. . . There Is Always Enough Time To Do the Most Important ThingsLearn to Make Staff Meetings ProductiveLearn to Say “NO” NicelyMake the 80 - 20 Rule Work for YouBecome First a Good AnimalWho Do You Need to Forgive the Most?If Your Name is Johnny, You Must be BadI Am Not My Older Brother . . .Remember This About Your Students – They’re Not Done YetYou Can’t Free a Fish from Water - Your Students Live at HomeThey Already Have FriendsDo You Want to Hear a Joke?How to Use Music to Sooth a Savage BeastWhen You’re Sick, Tired, Cranky, or Having a Bad DayYou Are Rarely the Target – Even When They’re Aiming at YouEvery Artist Was First an AmateurYou Are Never DoneWhen You Stop Learning, You Are DoneYou Don’t Bring in an Elephant to Teach the Color GrayHow Do You Eat an Elephant?Why We Don’t Try to Teach a Pig to FlyThe IKEA Effect – The Pride We Feel in Work We Do OurselvesIf You Are Working Harder Than Your Students in Class, You’re doing It Wrong!The Virtue of FrustrationLet This Year’s Students Help Make Your Courses Better for Next YearSo You Reached the End of June – Time to Look BackSection Five: What You Need To Do During the Second and Third Years of Teaching, and Going Forward From ThereTwenty-Eight Essential Truths About TeachingLastly: The Secret to Success in TeachingThree Recommendations for Further ReadingReferencesAbout the Author