The new elementary teacher's handbook : flourishing in your first year / Kathleen Feeney Jonson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Jonson, Kathleen Feeney.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

First year teachers--United States--Handbooks, manuals, etc.

First year teachers.

Elementary school teaching.

Elementary school teachers.

United States.

Elementary school teachers--United States--Handbooks, manuals, etc.

Elementary school teaching--United States--Handbooks, manuals, etc.

Genre:

Handbooks and manuals.

Physical Description:

xv, 231 pages : illustrations ; 29 cm

Edition:

Second edition.

Place of Publication:

Thousand Oaks, Calif. : Corwin Press, [2002]

Summary:

By providing desperately needed, yet often unavailable, practical advice, this easy-to-read, updated resource empowers new teachers with the tools necessary to succeed and feel prepared, confident, and comfortable. It is teeming with helpful hints, examples, and time-saving solutions. New features include classroom-tested techniques for maximizing technology, coping with the pressures of accountability and high standards, and managing multicultural, demographically diverse students.

Contents:

Chapter 1 You Are Not Alone 1

Fitting In 2

Strategies to Help You Fit In 3

Getting to Know Your School 4

Norms and Expectations 5

Establishing Relationships to Help You Succeed 6

The Principal 7

Mentors 8

Other Classroom Teachers 10

Classified Staff Members 10

Volunteers 12

Specialists Who Work With the Entire Class or Grade Level 13

Specialists Who Work With Individuals or Small Groups 14

Substitute Teachers 14

Key Terminology and Special Programs 15

Taking Initiative and Reaching Out 16

Resource 1.1 School Roster 17

Resource 1.2 School District Roster 18

Resource 1.3 School Information Checklist 19

Resource 1.4 Education Terms 21

Resource 1.5 Programs for Students With Special Needs 23

Resource 1.6 Sample Cover Letter for a Substitute Folder 24

Resource 1.7 Feedback Form for a Substitute Folder 25

Chapter 2 Organizing Your Classroom and Yourself 26

What to Do and Think About Before the Children Arrive 26

Setting Up Your Classroom 27

Physical Equipment 27

Supplies 27

Organizing Room Space 28

Bulletin Boards 30

Desk Placement 32

Obtaining Teacher Manuals and Materials 36

Using the Teacher Manuals 38

Setting Up a Literacy-Rich Classroom 38

Finding Time and Balance in Your Personal and Professional Life 40

Set Priorities and Find Shortcuts 42

Sources of Stress 43

Tips for Relieving Stress 43

Resource 2.1 One New Teacher's Time Management 45

Resource 2.2 Time Management for the Busy Teacher: Things to Do Today 46

Resource 2.3 Library Corner Introduction: Sample Lesson Plan 48

Resource 2.4 Introduction to Checking Out Books: Sample Lesson Plan 49

Resource 2.5 Introduction to Book Records: Sample Lesson Plan 50

Chapter 3 Learner-Friendly Classroom Management 52

What Is Your Classroom Management Style? 52

Routines 55

Daily Routines for the Start and End of the School Day 55

Interruptions 55

Other Routines During the School Day 56

Student Movement as You Vary Teaching Activities 56

Procedures During Small-Group Instruction 58

Implementing a Pattern for a Smooth Start Each Day 59

Daily Schedule 60

Increasing Your Efficiency With Class Monitors 61

Tips for Moving Ahead With Clear Communications 62

Classroom Signal 62

Giving Directions 63

Keep Your Classroom Running Smoothly While You Are Busy 63

Sponges 63

Reviewing Classroom Management Routines 64

Setting Expectations: Your Goals for the First Days of School 65

Getting to Know Your Students 66

Students' Getting to Know You and Each Other 66

Classroom Organization and Management 66

Resource 3.1 Sample Daily Class Schedule 68

Resource 3.2 Sample "Freeze and Listen" Signal 69

Resource 3.3 Sponge Activities 70

Resource 3.5 Start-of-Year Activities: All About Me 73

Resource 3.6 Start-of-Year Activities: People Hunt 74

Resource 3.7 Start-of-Year Activities: Interest Inventory 75

Chapter 4 Preparing Lesson Plans and Units That Engage Students 76

Planning Is Important! 76

Steps to Effective Lesson Planning 77

Using Materials in the Teaching Manuals as a Guide 80

Extending and Enriching the Basic Curriculum 82

A Word About District, State, and National Standards 84

Basic Instructional Approaches 85

Whole-Group Presentations 85

Individualized Learning 87

Small Groups 89

Cooperative Learning 90

Learning Centers 91

Computer Technology and Instruction 91

Time on Task 94

What Is Engaged Time? 95

At-Risk Students: Effective Classroom Instruction 97

Suggestions for Helping Students With Special Needs 98

Children With Diverse Language and Cultural Backgrounds 99

Ethnicity 99

Transiency 100

Family Status 101

Poverty 101

Teaching to Diversity 101

More Information on How Student Populations Are Changing 102

Second-Language Learners 102

Cultural Diversity in the Classroom 103

Curriculum Planning for Multicultural Classrooms 105

Planning Integrated Units 105

Planning Instruction and Designing Learning Experiences for All Children 107

Resource 4.1 Outstanding Read-Aloud Books for Kindergarten Through Sixth Grade 108

Resource 4.2 Assessment of Classroom Time on Task 111

Resource 4.3 On-Task Behavior 113

Resource 4.4 Effectiveness Survey: Managing Use of Classroom Time 114

Resource 4.5 Unit Planning Web 116

Resource 4.6 Unit Construction Checklist 117

Resource 4.7 Unit Planning Form 119

Chapter 5 Preventing Discipline Problems 121

Managing and Monitoring Student Behavior 121

School Discipline Policies 122

Establishing Rules 122

Tips for Establishing Consequences 126

Using Preventive Discipline 126

Dealing With Misbehavior 128

Motivating Your Students 129

Praise 130

Instructional Variety Is Important 132

Questions to Consider for Improving Motivation 132

Homework as a Learning Tool 133

Homework Tips 133

Contracts Can Help You Manage Student Behavior 134

Changing Inappropriate Behavior of Individual Students 135

Increase Positive Interactions 135

Be Consistent 137

Resource 5.1 Sample Homework Log 138

Resource 5.2 Sample Behavior Contract for a Primary Student 139

Resource 5.3 Sample Behavior Contract for an Intermediate Student 140

Resource 5.4 Sample Homework Contract 141

Chapter 6 Assessing Student Learning and Performance 142

Schoolwide and Districtwide Testing Programs 142

Your Classroom Assessment Program 144

Performance-Based and Authentic Assessments 145

Classroom Observations of Children 145

Checklists and Scales 147

Questionnaires and Surveys 148

Oral Questions and Interviews 148

Portfolios and Records of Student Work 148

Guidelines for Preparing Written Tests 152

Using and Assigning Letter Grades 153

Suggestions for Using Any Assessment Tools 155

Tips for Assessing Student Learning 155

Resource 6.1 An Overview of Learning Objectives for Elementary Students 157

Resource 6.2 Reading Log 171

Chapter 7 Developing Partnerships With Parents 172

Getting to Know Parents 173

Contacting Parents 175

Dealing With Many Different and Sometimes Difficult Parents 176

Conducting Parent Conferences 178

Suggestions for Getting Through the Conference 179

Back-to-School Night and Open House 182

Back-to-School Night 182

Open House 184

Building Relationships With Parents 185

Resource 7.1 Sample New School Year Letter to Parents of K-1 Children 186

Resource 7.2 Sample New School Year Letter to Parents of Children in Grades 2-3 187

Resource 7.3 Sample New School Year Letter to Parents of Children in Grades 4-6 188

Resource 7.4 Sample Letter Asking for Parent Help 189

Resource 7.5 Sample Parent-Teacher Conference Letter 190

Resource 7.6 Sample Letter Informing Parents About Homework 191

Entire Class Is Misbehaving 192

Students Are Apathetic About Poor Performance and Grades 193

Students Are Not Bringing in Materials for Projects 194

Students Are Not Cleaning Up After Themselves 195

Students Are Not Doing Homework 195

Students Are Slow to Shift From Task to Task 196

Students Are Unruly or Noisy in Lines 197

Students Call Out Answers 197

Students Come Late to Class Every Day 198

Students Finish Work Early 198

Students Have Messy Desks 199

Students Hide Candy and Food to Eat in Class 200

Students Hit and Push Other Students 200

Students Keep Tattling 201

Students Misbehave on Playground 202

Students on Contract Are Not Improving Behavior 202

Students Talk Back to Teacher 203

Students Talk While Teacher Is Presenting Lessons 203

Students Throw Temper Tantrums 204

Teacher Has Hall Duty and Still Must Supervise Class 205

Teacher Has to Share Classroom With Another Teacher/Class 205

Teacher Helps Limited-English-Proficient Students 206

Teacher Helps Student Deal With Death in Family 207

Teacher Uses "Marble Jar" and Similar Class Reward Systems 208

Teacher Uses Rapport-Building Strategies 209

Resource 8.1 Bubble Gum Machine 211

Resource 8.2 Mystery Person Certificate 212

Chapter 9 Your Own Professional Development 213

Reflecting on Your Practice 213

Thinking About Teachers as "Professionals" 214

Professional Development Through Inservice and Graduate Study 216

Professional Development Through Regional and National Conferences 217

Your Teaching Portfolio 218

Strategies for Success in Your First Year and Beyond 222

Resource 9.1 Professional Associations for Teachers 227.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 229-231).

ISBN:

0761978720

0761978739

OCLC:

47658791

Online:

Table of Contents