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!

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