I. Assume Your Professional Responsibilities
Section One: Know What It Means to Be a Twenty-First-Century Educator 1
Section Two: Develop the Practical Skills You'll Need to Manage a Classroom 35
Section Three: Collaborate with Others in Your School and Community 73
II. Establish a Learning Community
Section Four: Begin a Successful School Term 107
Section Five: Develop Positive Classroom Relationships 139
III. Promote Student Achievement
Section Six: Control Class Time 175
Section Seven: Manage Your Classroom 201
Section Eight: Motivate Students to Succeed 221
IV. Design and Deliver Effective Instruction
Section Nine: Choose Appropriate Instructional Strategies and Resources 259
Section Ten: Design Effective Instruction 279
Section Eleven: Deliver Engaging Instruction 303
Section Twelve: Meet the Needs of All of Your Students 331
Section Thirteen: Assess Your Students' Progress 365
Section Fourteen: Level the Playing Field by Covering Basic Skills 401
V. Maintain an Orderly Environment
Section Fifteen: Prevent Discipline Problems 427
Section Sixteen: Manage Discipline Problems 447
Section Seventeen: Learn to Solve Classroom Problems 483
DVD Contents xv
About the Author xix
Acknowledgments xxi
About This Survival Guide xxiii
I Assume Your Professional Responsibilities
Section One: Know What It Means to Be a Twenty-First-Century Educator 1
The Challenges of Our Changing Profession 2
You Can Manage Your Professional Challenges Successfully 3
Professionalism: The Powerful Force Underlying Everything We Do 4
Your Professional Responsibilities 5
Developing a Refl ective Practice 9
Teacher Worksheet 11: Template for Professional Self-Refl ection 11
Teacher Worksheet 12: Characteristics of Successful Teachers 12
Teacher Worksheet 13: Learning from Exemplary Teachers 13
Learning from Role Models and Mentors 14
Seeking Feedback on Your Professional Performance 15
Teacher Worksheet 14: Making the Most of Peer Observations 16
Using the Evaluation Process to Improve Your Teaching Skills 17
Teacher Worksheet 15: How Observers Will Evaluate You 19
Teacher Worksheet 16: Data Tracking Sheet 22
Maintaining Sustained Professional Growth 25
Teacher Worksheet 17: Are You in Charge of Your Career? 26
Teacher Worksheet 18: Track Your Professional Goals 30
Learning to Manage Your Stress 31
Best Practices Checklist 32
Time to Reflect: What It Means to Be a Twenty-First-Century Educator 33
Section Two: Develop the Practical Skills You'll Need to Manage a Classroom 35
Arrange Your Own Work Area 35
Become an Efficient Teacher 42
Teacher Worksheet 21: Meet Your Classroom Priorities 44
Teacher Worksheet 22: Teacher's Daily To-Do List 47
Teacher Worksheet 23: Checklist of a Teacher's Weekly Reminders 49
General Tips for Managing School Papers 50
How to Organize and Manage Student Information 53
How to Grade Papers Quickly 54
Tips for Managing Electronic Files 56
Tips for Managing E-Mail 56
How to Maintain Your Class Web Page 57
How to Save Paper 58
Optimize Your Use of the Photocopier 59
Prepare Your Classroom for Students 59
How to Protect School Resources 66
How to Request Repairs 67
Classroom Safety Issues 67
Best Practices Checklist 70
Time to Refl ect: Develop the Practical Skills You'll Need to Manage a Classroom 71
Section Three: Collaborate with Others in Your School and Community 73
Your School Community: A Network of Teams 73
Communities of Practice 74
Where Do You Fit in as a New Teacher? 75
Building Trust: The Importance of a Reputation for Integrity 76
Strategies for Effective Collaboration 77
Social Media Guidelines 80
The Importance of Perfect Attendance 81
The Support Staff 82
The Chain of Command 82
Collaborate Successfully with Administrators 83
Working Well with Parents and Guardians 84
What Parents and Guardians Expect from You 85
Prevent Miscommunication with a Transparent Classroom 86
Teacher Worksheet 31: How Effective Are You at Creating a Transparent Classroom? 89
The Importance of Keeping Contact Records 90
Teacher Worksheet 32: Contact Documentation Form 91
Be Positive with Parents and Guardians 92
Take Care to Interact Professionally 93
Class Newsletters 96
Conduct Successful Conferences with Parents and Guardians 97
Best Practices Checklist 104
Time to Reflect: Collaborate with Others in Your School and Community 104
II. Establish a Learning Community
Section Four: Begin a Successful School Term 107
The First Day Is Important 107
Overcome Those First-Day Jitters 108
What to Do on the First Day: Your Priorities 109
First-Day-of-School Welcome Packet 111
Parent or Guardian Worksheet 41: Inventory: Please Tell Me About Your Child 113
Activities for the First Day 115
Teacher Worksheet 41: Planning Template for the First Day of School 117
Teacher Worksheet 42: Checklist for the First Day 119
Student Information Records 120
Student Worksheet 41: Student Information Form 121
Learn Your Students' Names Quickly 123
How to Get to Know Your Students 123
Student Worksheet 42: Inventory for Elementary Students 127
Student Worksheet 43: Inventory for Middle School Students 129
Student Worksheet 44: Inventory for High School Students 131
Create a Positive Group Identity 133
What You Can Expect During the First Week 135
Mistakes to Avoid at the Start of School 136
Best Practices Checklist 137
Time to Refl ect: Begin a Successful School Term 138
Section Five: Develop Positive Classroom Relationships 139
Develop a Positive Relationship with Students 139
Teacher Worksheet 51: How Appropriate Are Your Relationships with Students? 142
Teacher Worksheet 52: Are You a Good Role Model? 149
Help Students Learn to Relate Well to Each Other 157
Teacher Worksheet 53: Checklist of Social Skills All Students Should Master 167
Best Practices Checklist 173
Time to Reflect: Develop Positive Classroom Relationships 174
III. Promote Student Achievement
Section Six: Control Class Time 175
You Control the Time Your Students Have with You 175
How Teachers Waste Time 176
Teacher Worksheet 61: How Well Do You Use Class Time? 177
Principles of Effective Classroom Time Management 179
Raise Your Students' Awareness of Class Time 180
How to Handle Interruptions 181
Pacing Instruction 182
The First Ten Minutes of Class 183
Teacher Worksheet 62: Plans for Starting Class Effectively 186
Productive Transitions 187
How to Handle Requests to Leave the Classroom 191
Teacher Worksheet 63: Student Sign-Out Sheet 195
The Last Ten Minutes of Class 196
Teacher Worksheet 64: Plans for Ending Class Effectively 198
How to Use Any Time Left at the End of Class 199
Best Practices Checklist 199
Time to Reflect: Control Class Time 200
Section Seven: Manage Your Classroom 201
A Well-Managed Classroom 201
How to Focus Your Class on Good Behavior 202
The Importance of Clear Expectations 203
Procedures, Policies, Rules: When to Apply Each One 203
Policies You Will Need to Develop 204
Teacher Worksheet 71: Planning for Classroom Policies 205
Establish Procedures 209
Teacher Worksheet 72: Where to Find Help with Establishing Procedures 210
Suggestions for Establishing Three Necessary Procedures 211
Teach and Enforce School Rules 212
Creating Classroom Rules 213
Teacher Worksheet 73: Checklist to Determine If Your Rules Will Be Successful 215
Teaching Classroom Rules 216
Enforcing Classroom Rules 217
Enlisting Student Support for Class Rules 218
Positive or Negative Consequences? 218
Best Practices Checklist 219
Time to Reflect: Manage Your Classroom 219
Section Eight: Motivate Students to Succeed 221
The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy 221
Be Positive If You Want Positive Results 222
Lay a Solid Foundation 223
Motivate Your Students with a Variety of Methods 223
Extrinsic Motivation 226
Make Sure Intrinsic Motivation Is a Classroom Constant 228
Make Success Attainable 231
Teach Your Students to Follow Directions 232
Purposeful Learning 235
Teacher Worksheet 81: Assignment Checklist 237
Take a Goal-Oriented Approach to Learning 238
Student Worksheet 81: Setting and Achieving SMART Goals 239
Make Success Visible 241
Teach Students to Track Their Own Mastery of Material 241
Student Worksheet 82: Progress Tracking Chart 243
How to Survive the Homework Debate 244
Teacher Worksheet 82: Plan Successful Homework Assignments 248
Student Worksheet 83: Missing Homework Explanation Form 252
Student Worksheet 84: Class Log Page 256
Best Practices Checklist 257
Time to Reflect: Motivate Students to Succeed 257
IV. Design and Deliver Effective Instruction
Section Nine: Choose Appropriate Instructional Strategies and Resources 259
Take Advantage of the Advances in Educational Research 259
Why Small, Strategic Steps Are the Keys to Success 260
Overview of Just a Few of the Instructional Options Teachers Have 260
Classroom Technology Resources to Aid Your Instructional Practices 267
Useful Web Sites for Educators 273
There's an App for That! 274
Best Practices Checklist 275
Time to Reflect: Choose Appropriate Instructional Strategies and Resources 276
Section Ten: Design Effective Instruction 279
The Benefits of Careful Planning 279
Backward Design: Think Big, but Start Small 280
Cover the Curriculum or Teach Your Students? 280
How Prepared Should You Be? 281
Common Planning Problems 281
How to Find the Time to Plan 282
Your State's Standards 283
The Common Core State Standards Initiative 283
Assess Your Students' Prior Knowledge285
How to Begin Planning Instruction 286
Teacher Worksheet 101: Format for a Course Overview 288
Teacher Worksheet 102: Format for a Unit Plan 290
What to Include in Your Plans 291
Teacher Worksheet 103: Easy-to-Use Format for Daily Lesson Plans 294
Successful Learning for Nontraditional Schedules 295
How to Adjust a Lesson 296
Always Have a Backup Plan 296
Free Online Resources for Lesson Plans 298
Best Practices Checklist 300
Time to Reflect: Design Effective Instruction 301
Section Eleven: Deliver Engaging Instruction 303
Guidelines for Improving Your Classroom Charisma 303
Pitfalls That Plague Too Many Teachers 304
Improve Your Oral Presentations 305
How to Make a Point Students Will Remember 310
How to Help Students Stay on Track During a Lecture 311
Conduct Class Discussions That Engage Every Student 312
The Power of Play: Using Toys to Capture Attention 314
Games Your Students Will Enjoy 315
Use Graphic Organizers to Engage Students 318
Two Simple Techniques: Learning Cubes and Colored Dot Labels 320
Providing Models, Examples, and Samples 326
How to Make Seatwork Appealing327
Best Practices Checklist 328
Time to Reflect: Deliver Engaging Instruction 328
Section Twelve: Meet the Needs of All of Your Students 331
Differentiated Instruction to Support All Learners 331
Teacher Worksheet 121: Individualized Instruction Worksheet 335
Teacher Worksheet 122: A Planning Tool for Differentiation 338
Students Who May Need Special Care 346
Best Practices Checklist 362
Time to Reflect: Meet the Needs of All of Your Students 363
Section Thirteen: Assess Your Students' Progress 365
Data-Driven Instruction: Summative and Formative Assessments 365
How to Use Formative Assessments 366
Teacher Worksheet 131: Tracking Formative Assessment Data 368
Student Worksheet 131: Assignment Refl ection 376
The Two Most Common Written Assessments: Tests and Quizzes 377
Create Useful Objective Questions 379
How to Grade Objective Questions Quickly 381
Conduct Rules for Quizzes and Tests 381
What to Do If Many of Your Students Fail a Test or Quiz 382
Types of Authentic Assessments 383
Keeping Track of Grades 388
Student Worksheet 132: Grade Tracking Form for Student Success 391
How to Personalize a Grade Report 392
What You Should Do When Students Challenge Grades 392
What to Do When You Suspect a Student of Cheating 393
How to Manage Cyber Cheating 393
Extra Credit Dilemmas and Solutions 395
Success with Standardized Tests 395
Best Practices Checklist 399
Time to Reflect: Assess Your Students' Progress 399
Section Fourteen: Level the Playing Field by Covering Basic Skills 401
Media Literacy Skills 402
Listening Skills 404
Speaking Skills405
Writing Skills 406
Vocabulary Acquisition Skills 407
Critical Thinking Skills 412
Reading Skills 417
Best Practices Checklist 424
Time to Reflect: Level the Playing Field by Covering Basic Skills 425
V. Maintain an Orderly Environment
Section Fifteen: Prevent Discipline Problems 427
Punishment Is Not the Way to Prevent Problems 427
Self-Discipline Is the Key 428
Be Aware of the Causes of Most Discipline Problems 429
Easily Avoidable Mistakes Many Teachers Make 429
Teacher Worksheet 151: How Effective Are You at Preventing Discipline Problems? 431
Your Role in Preventing Discipline Problems 432
Teacher Worksheet 152: Preventing or Minimizing Discipline Problems 433
Be Positive: Nothing Creates Success Like Success 434
Become a Consistent Teacher 434
Become a Fair Teacher 435
Withitness: One of the Most Valuable Prevention Techniques 436
Teacher Worksheet 153: What Is Your Level of Withitness? 437
A Crucial Step in Preventing Discipline Problems: Monitoring 438
How Students Can Get Help Quickly 439
Earn Your Students' Respect 440
An Unexpected Tip: Be a Good Listener 440
Early Intervention Strategies 441
When You Should Act 442
Harness the Power of Positive Peer Pressure 443
Best Practices Checklist 444
Time to Reflect: Prevent Discipline Problems 444
Section Sixteen: Manage Discipline Problems 447
Myths About Discipline 448
Control Your Anxiety with Proactive Strategies 448
Behaviors You Should Not Accept 449
What Do Your Supervisors Expect from You? 451
Respond Instead of Just Reacting 451
Teacher Worksheet 161: Classroom Management Techniques to Avoid 454
How to Avoid a Lawsuit: A Teacher's Legal Responsibilities 455
Teacher Worksheet 162: Behavior Incident Report 458
Due Process Procedures 459
Cultivate Grace Under Pressure 459
Great Advice: Don't Take It Personally 460
You May Be the Troublemaker461
Think Before You Act 462
Don't Give Up on Your Diffi cult Students 463
How to Deal with a Diffi cult Class 463
How to Cope with a Student's Chronic Misbehavior 465
How to Hold Successful Conferences with Students Who Have Misbehaved 465
Put Detentions to Good Use 467
Manage Referrals to an Administrator with Confi dence 469
Handling Four Common Types of Student Misbehavior472
Best Practices Checklist 480
Time to Reflect: Manage Discipline Problems 481
Section Seventeen: Learn to Solve Classroom Problems 483
Questions to Consider When You Are Trying to Solve Classroom Problems 484
Take a Problem-Solving Approach 484
Teacher Worksheet 171: Work Through Classroom Problems 486
Problems Associated with Individual Students 487
Problems Associated with Enforcing School Policies or Rules 493
Problems Associated with Behavior During Instruction 497
Problems Associated with Students' Relationship with Their Teacher 501
Best Practices Checklist 503
Time to Reflect: Learn to Solve Classroom Problems 504
A Final Word 505
Index 507
How to Use the DVD 529
