Book Description
This comprehensive resource gives new teachers a wide variety of tested strategies, activities and tools for creating a positive and dynamic learning environment while meeting the challenges of each school day. For easy use, it is organized into 16 sections covering everything from motivation, lesson planning and classroom management, to behavior problems, meeting each student's needs, and building strong professional relationships with students, staff, and parents.


From the Publisher
Praise for First-Year Teacher's Survival Kit "Julia Thompson earns an A+ for her practical and comprehensive First-Year Teacher's Survival Kit. The veteran educator skillfully provides effective classroom-tested strategies to guide the new teacher through the possible problems and potentially stressful situations often encountered during that memorable first year of teaching This valuable resource provides a wealth of useful information that will help the teacher remain upbeat, confident, and motivated. First-Year Teacher's Survival Kit should be required reading for all new teachers!" * Jack Umstatter, English Teacher, Cold Spring Harbor High School (NY) Author of the forthcoming 201 Ready-to-Use Word Games for the English Classroom, Brain Games!, Grammar Grabbers!, Hooked on English! and other teacher resources. "Julia Thompson's First-Year Teacher's Survival Kit offers new teachers a variety of paths to help them not only survive but thrive. Her high professional standards are translated into clear, concise strategies written in a way that makes the challenges of teaching more manageable. Because I can think of no higher praise than I'd want Ms. Thompson to teach my daughters, I am pleased that her hard-earned wisdom is available to new and experienced teachers." * Dr. Margaret Hallau, Director, National Outreach, Research, and Evaluation Network Gallaudet University (Washington, DC) "The First-Year Teacher's Survival Kit is a comprehensive guide filled with practical advice for new teachers. From detailing how to work effectively with students, colleagues, and parents to maintaining balance in personal life, this Kit covers virtually every concern and problem a new teacher may have. It even includes numerous helpful resources, such as online forums and education databases. The First-Year Teacher's Survival Kit can help new teachers not only survive but flourish, setting the stage for a successful and rewarding career." * Gary R. Muschla, former Sixth-Grade Teacher, Appleby School (NJ) Author of Geometry Teacher's Activities Kit, English Teacher's Great Books Activities Kit, The Writing Teacher's Book of Lists and other teacher resources. "First-Year Teacher's Survival Kit offers a true insight into handling the challenges of our profession. As a university supervisor with student teachers for over 12 years, I would make Julia Thompson's book mandatory reading for beginning teachers. Her approach to planning and classroom management is very relevant to today's students. This book will enable the new teacher to have a foundation for a stable, rewarding first year." * Pamela J. Edwards, Supervisor, Teacher Education Services, Old Dominion University (VA) "I wish I had this Kit when I was starting out as a first-year teacher. It offers new teachers as well as experienced teachers a wealth of numerous tips and strategies, from managing time to creating a user-friendly classroom. There are suggestions for specific activities on how to start on that first day, including ice-breaking activities. The author's friendly voice speaks directly and clearly - you know that she wants every first-year teacher to succeed." * Cynthia Stowe, Consulting School Psychologist, Eagle Mountain School (MA) Author of the forthcoming Spelling Smart!, Let's Write! and other teacher resources. "I found Julia Thompson's First-Year Teacher's Survival Kit to provide it all. She has written a remarkable guide that any teacher will enjoy having. This Kit will help keep new professional educators focused on what is most important: the mutual positive development of their students and themselves." * Dr. David E. Hutt Superintendent, Buellton Union School District (CA) "This survival kit is one of the best that I've seen for new teachers. This experienced teacher knows firsthand what new teachers will encounter that important first year in the classroom. She provides practical strategies and ready-to-use materials to make sure that the common pitfalls of discipline, organization, time management, lesson planning, grading and assessment, working with other teachers, and job burnout are avoided. Thank you for writing this book!" * Darlene Mannix, Special Education Teacher, Crichfield Elementary School (IN) Author of Character Building Activities for Kids, Life Skills Activities for Secondary Students with Special Needs, Ready-to-Use Activities for Secondary Students with Special Needs and other teacher resources. "I can't think of anything this Kit doesn't have! It's common knowledge that the first year of teaching presents endless challenges and a plethora of questions. Thompson's First-Year Teacher's Survival Kit will prove to be an invaluable tool for new teachers. Seasoned teachers will love it for its new and innovative ideas. I would have one available for each teacher on opening day!" * Gloria Smith, Early Childhood Staff Developer, District 7, Bronx (NY) "Julia Thompson is a hero among teachers. She has skillfully created an invaluable survival kit for new teachers that is filled with a wealth of expertise and wisdom. First-Year Teacher's Survival Kit has successful strategies that will help navigate new teachers through virtually every problem or situation they may encounter. With this resource at their side, new teachers will be better prepared, more effective, more efficient, and more positive educators. Every new teacher of the 21st century should have and read this book! " * Sherry Cameron, Resource Teacher, Richard B. Wilson K-8 School (AZ) "First-year teachers - and veterans, too - will find an abundance of resources in this well-stocked survival kit. Julia Thompson's down-to-earth ideas are based on years of classroom experience, seasoned judgment, and a strong sense of professionalism. This book is like having a personal mentor to guide new teachers through the demanding process of becoming educators. Experienced teachers will also find fresh insights that can transform effective instruction from instinctive to intentional." * Elisabeth H. Fueller, Coordinator of Grants, Budget, and Resources, Isle of Wight County Schools (VA) "What an extraordinary book! With this one resource, Julia Thompson addresses the needs of all beginning teachers. Elementary, middle, and high school teachers - both new and experienced - can find beneficial information on every page. Not only are there tips on how to manage the 'science' of education - seating charts, lesson plans, daily routines - but also on how to master the 'art' of this profession with sections devoted to classroom management, motivation, professional expertise, and learning how to be part of a team of professionals. Beginning teachers need this valuable resource. Certainly, in my early years of teaching, I could have benefited immensely from having this book on my desk." * Pam Leigh, English Teacher, Spotswood High School (VA)


From the Back Cover
Ready -to-use Strategies, Tools & Activities for Meeting the Challenges of Each School Day "How do I begin my first day of teaching with confidence? How do I set up my classroom and establish routines that will save me time and work? What should I do to maintain discipline? How do I get students motivated and ready to learn? What can I do to avoid burnout? With this practical, on-the-job Survival Kit you'll have answers to these questions and more! Included are hundreds of proven strategies, professional tools, and ready-to-use materials to help you avoid pitfalls in discipline, organization, time management, lesson planning, grading, assessment, work relationships, student motivation, and job stress, to name a few. For quick access and easy use, the Survival Kit is printed in a large 8 1/4" x 11" format for photocopying of any page and organized into 16 sections, each brimming with useful suggestions and strategies. Following is just a sampling of what you can expect: BECOME A VALUABLE TEAM PLAYER - All Staff Members Are Your Colleagues. Working Well with Your Supervisors. Tips for Working with Difficult Colleagues. Conduct a Successful Conference. Tools for Teachers: Rate your Current Teamwork Skills. Evaluate Yourself as an Observer Might. CONNECT WITH YOUR STUDENTS - What Your Relationship with Your Students Should Be. Create a Professional Image. Mutual Respect, Mutual Courtesy. Tools for Teachers: What's Appropriate and What's Not? Student Inventories - Elementary, Middle, and Secondary. DESIGN & DELIVER EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION - Common Planning Problems First-Year Teachers Face. How to Meet and Exceed Your State's Standards. Strategies for Asking Engaging Questions. Teach, Don't Tell. Tools for Teachers: An Easy-to-Use Format for Daily Plans. Student Feedback on Today's Lessons. Learning Style Inventory. EVALUATE YOUR STUDENTS' PROGRESS & MOTIVATE THEM TO SUCCEED - 40 Ways to Let Your Students Know They Are on the Right Track. Alternative Assessments. 30 Quick Motivation Techniques. Tools for Teacher: What Do You Know About Assessing Student Progress? Student Grade Tracking Sheet. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR INSTRUCTIONAL TIME - 10 Principles of Effective Classroom Time Management. Guidelines for Handling Student Requests to Leave Class. Save Time by Establishing Class Routines. Tools for Teachers: Track How You Use Time. CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT THROUGH EARLY INTERVENTION - Create a Safe Environment for Your Students. Be a Consistent Teacher. Strategies for Minimizing Disruptions. Tools for Teachers: How Effective Are You at Preventing Problems? Behavior Modeling Chart. HANDLE BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS EFFECTIVELY - Behaviors You Should Not Accept. 15 Common Reasons for Student Misbehavior. When Should You Send a Student to an Administrator? Tools for Teachers: How to Determine if a Discipline Action Is Appropriate. Sample Behavior Contract. THE DIVERSE CLASSROOM - Gifted Students. Special Needs Students Who Are Underachievers. Tools for Teachers: What Do You Know About the Diverse Needs of Your Students? STRESS MANAGEMENT FOR EDUCATORS - Burnout Can Happen to You. 20 Strategies for an Educator's Tough Times. Tools for Teachers: Set Goals to Reduce Your Stress. What's more, you get practical tips from veteran teachers, journal ideas to help you grow professionally, and an appendix filled with timely resources plus useful Web sites. In short, First-Year Teacher's Survival Kit gives new as well as experienced teachers everything they need to survive and thrive in today's classrooms!


About the Author
Julia G. Thompson (B.A., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University) has taught various secondary courses in the public schools of Arizona, North Carolina, and Virginia for over 20 years, including geography, reading, home economics, math, history, special education, and graduate equivalency preparation. She is currently teaching English at Churchland High School in Portsmouth, Virginia.

FROM THE PUBLISHER