The New Teacher Toolbox: Proven Tips and Strategies for a Great First Year

by Scott M. Mandel (Editor)

Overview

A one-stop resource for all your first-year teaching needs!

With tips for everything from establishing an ideal classroom environment to making it through teacher evaluations, this practical volume helps you plan ahead with confidence, keep your perspective, and prepare for the unexpected. Written in a conversational tone, this completely revised edition introduces techniques by grade level, includes an expanded section on Internet use, and provides field-tested strategies on how to:

• Encourage student participation and critical thinking
• Establish fair grading practices
• Modify instructional methods and curriculum for students with special needs
• Increase parent involvement
• Manage stress and maintain sanity

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781412971348
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	05/26/2009
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	136
Product dimensions:	7.10(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Scott M. Mandelis aNational Board-certified teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District. He has worked as a teacher, administrator, and inservice leader for more than 25 years. The author of nine teacher education books, Mandel is also the founder and director of the Teachers Helping Teachers Web site. He received his PhD in curriculum and instruction from the University of Southern California.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
About the Author
Introduction: What New Teachers Really Want to Know
Part I. The Room Environment and the First Weeks
1. Things to Do Before the School Year Begins
2. Arranging Your Classroom
3. Bulletin Boards
4. A Helpful Binder to Leave for Substitute Teachers
Part II. The Curriculum and the Students
5. Fairness and Critical Thinking in Classroom Discussions
6. Teaching Five Hours of Material in Only Three Hours
7. Keeping Students Interested
8. Teaching Test-Taking Skills
9. The Internet as the Ultimate Teacher Resource Center
10. Discipline Issues
Part III. Grading
11. Marking Papers and Promoting Self-Esteem
12. A Beginner's Guide to Figuring Grades
13. Rubrics
14. Grading for Classroom Participation
15. A Student Self-Esteem Check
Part IV. Parents
16. Parent Involvement
17. Parent-Teacher Conferences
Part V. Students Who Have Special Needs
18. Modifying the Classroom Curriculum for Students With Special Needs
19. Full-Inclusion Mainstreaming
20. Students With ADD/ADHD and Classroom Management
21. Preparing for a Special Education Class
Part VI. How to Maintain Your Sanity
22. Making It Through Your Teacher Evaluation
23. Ten Ways to Avoid Stress
24. Putting It All Into Perspective
Further Readings
References
Index

Editorial Reviews

"An extremely practical and user-friendly time-saver. Rather than beating around the bush with pages of statistics, philosophies, best practices, and methodologies, this toolbox cuts to the meat of the real questions burning inside new teachers. I strongly encourage any new teacher who is feeling the stress of the first year to take a few minutes and read up on some of the issues that may be contributing to that stress. This book covers just about every issue or concern that one might have and will only save time in the end. In fact, all teachers, new and experienced, could benefit from the quick fixes presented in this plentiful yet to-the-point toolbox."

Leslie Gaillard

Praise for the first edition:
"Mandel has written a very practical, informative manual for new teachers. His examples for classroom standards, incorporating a variety of activities for diverse students, and teaching test-taking skills are right on target. For answers to fundamental questions and stress relief, Mandel’s manual is a must!"

Johanna K. Lemlech