Secrets for Secondary School Teachers

Copyright © 2004 by Corwin Publishing

First Skyhorse Publishing edition 2015

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018.

Skyhorse Publishing books may be purchased in bulk at special discounts for sales promotion, corporate gifts, fund-raising, or educational purposes. Special editions can also be created to specifications. For details, contact the Special Sales Department, Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or
[email protected]
.

Skyhorse® and Skyhorse Publishing® are registered trademarks of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.®, a Delaware corporation.

Visit our website at
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Cover design by Michael Dubowe

Print ISBN: 978-1-62914-746-8

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-63220-119-5

Printed in the United States of America

Contents

Preface

About the Authors

  1.   Learning Your Way Around the School

Orient Yourself

Make Friends With the School Secretaries

Rules and Regulations

Meeting Your Department

Your Classroom

Custodians

Building Orientation

Safety Concerns

School Traditions

Lunch Options

Meeting Others

Induction Programs

Take a Breath

  2.   Organizing Your Room

Inventory Resources

Flow and Movement

Bulletin Boards, Wall Space, and the Ceiling

Equipment Checklist

Supplies Checklist

Makeup Work

First-Aid Supplies

Supplies for Traveling Teachers

Other Considerations

  3.   Knowing Your Students

Collecting Information

Introductions

Students’ Cultures

Gender

Sexual Orientation

Diverse Abilities

Learning Styles

Multiple Intelligences

Gifted and Talented Students

Special Events

Student Relationships

  4.   Dressing for Success

First Impressions

Clothing Considerations

Spirit Days

Image

Clothing as an Instructional Tool

  5.   Beginning and Ending Your Class on the First Day

First Contact

Movement

Setting the Rules

Some Sample Rules

Theories and Models of Classroom Discipline

Class Syllabus

Get to Work

Ending the Period

Time Considerations

A Cheat Sheet

  6.   Developing Plans for Instruction and Assessment

Long-Term Planning

Unit Planning

Daily Lesson Plans and Assessments

Integrating Input From Testing

Final Thoughts on Planning

  7.   Managing Time and Paperwork

Attendance

Grades

Paperwork Considerations

The Mailbox

Planning and Calendars

In the Beginning

Forms

Organize Your Workspace

Managing Time

At the End

  8.   Avoiding Boredom—Theirs and Yours

Capturing and Maintaining Interest

Attitude and Values

  9.   Eating Lunch

Choices, Choices

The Consequences of the Decision

Final Advice

10.   Connecting With Students

Being Visible and Accessible

Listen, Don’t Talk

Reach Out to Students

Some Quick Interventions

Things to Consider When Connecting With Students

Connecting With Difficult Students

11.   Communicating With Parents

The Importance of Parent Involvement

Building Parent Relationships

Contacting Parents

Open House

Face-to-Face Contacts

Ongoing Contact

Understanding Limited Responses From Parents

Recruiting Parents as Allies

12.   Dealing With Difficult Students

Classroom Management

Guidelines for Engaging Students

Students With Attention Deficits

Avoid Direct Confrontation

Implementing a Discipline Policy

Taking Action

Processing the Experience

When the Student Returns

Respect

13.   Getting Involved in Activities

Activity Adviser

Class Sponsor

Coaching Athletics

Honoring School Traditions

Other Traditions

14.   Networking With Professionals

Support System

Consultations

Team Teaching

Paraprofessionals

Working with People in the Community

You Are Not Alone

15.   Using a Substitute

Of Necessity

Meeting Substitutes

Providing Information

Substitute Lesson Plans

16.   Taking Care of Yourself to Minimize Stress

Being Evaluated

Things to Expect

Other Sources of Stress

Take Care of Yourself

Develop a Support Group

Internet Support

Finding Balance

17.   Planning for Your Future

Become What You Wish for Your Students

Travel

Continuing Education

Professional Organizations

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

Reflect on Your Future

Look for Change

Resources for Further Reading

Index

Preface

E
xcitement. Curiosity. Apprehension. No, make that
terror
! These are just a few of the reactions that new teachers have as they anticipate their first year in the classroom.

The book work is done. The closely supervised field experiences and student teaching are over. No more taking tests or writing papers—now you are the one who gets to grade them!

You now have the freedom to organize your own life, away from the confines of the university. You will develop the lesson plans and implement them. Finally, you will start earning money doing something you hope you will truly love. You will be responsible for molding impressionable minds in positive directions. It will be so great, you think, creating the kind of classroom that you always wanted as a student—a place where real learning takes place, where kids have fun, where there is order and support, where differences are honored, and yet everyone works together as a team.