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The early years of any student’s life, those first elementary school years, can be incredibly overwhelming and stressful, resulting in a slew of emotional, behavioral, and study problems that they rely on their teacher to help overcome. As a first year elementary school teacher, your role is more than just knowledgeable teacher; it is to become a mentor, a friend, and an older figure for young children to look up to. This can be overwhelming, and along with all of the other issues that face first year teachers, it can result in high turnover rates and problematic issues.
This thorough, well research book has everything first-year teachers in elementary school need to learn how to deal with including supplies, planning, parents, overcrowded classrooms, the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act, piles of paperwork, money shortages due to budget cuts, negativity from students and other staff members, at-risk students, students who are capable but choose not to work, and special needs students. You will learn how to ask principals and administrators for help, how to memorize names quickly, how to create seating charts, how to write lesson plans, how to follow a daily routine, how to help struggling readers, how to gain respect, how to get a mentor, how to develop and implement a grading system, how to discipline students, how to create assessments, how to find free things for teachers, and how to build your confidence. And of course, as a first year teacher to students learning how to interact with the world, you will learn how to converse with them on a mature level and help them overcome stresses and problems that they may face in life at school and at home.
Also, you will read about where to go for support, the reality of spending your own money on classroom supplies, mandated tests, technology solutions, and behavior management skills. We spent countless hours interviewing second year teachers, as well as veteran teachers, and have provided you with their proven techniques and strategies for surviving your first year as a teacher. This book will provide everything you need to effectively start teaching students that need a mentor, a teacher, and a friend at a young age and prepare you for your second year as you start becoming the inspiring force you always dreamed of being.
Foreword 13
Introduction 17
Part 1 The Job 21
Chapter 1 The Importance of Your Career 23
Characteristics of a Successful Teacher 26
Effects of Good and Bad Teaching 30
Chapter 2 Where You Want to Work 33
Where to Look For a Teaching Job 33
Online Schooling 34
Traditional Schooling 38
The Interview 53
Chapter 3 Understand Your Surroundings 65
Expectations of Administration 66
A Few Words on Excellent Administrators 72
Politics in Education 74
Teachers as Role Models 89
Coping With Budget Cuts 91
Working With Your Colleagues 94
The Moral Fiber of Your School 102
Part 2 Being a Prepared Teacher 107
Chapter 4 Your New Role 109
Tips For Planning Your Classroom 110
Lesson Plans For Your Students 116
Grading Papers and Creating Assessments 124
That Nasty Little Word - Homework 128
Chapter 5 Prepare for the Demands of the Job 135
Paperwork by the Pound 135
Preparing For a Substitute 139
Solutions For Technology Problems 142
Budget Cuts + Out-of-Pocket Expenses = Getting Creative 145
Chapter 6 Tips to Make Your Job Easier 155
Making the Best of Overcrowded Classrooms 155
Tricks for Memorizing Names 162
Surviving the Daily Grind 165
Finding a Mentor 168
Teacher Mentoring Programs 170
Part 3 Your Primary School Students 173
Chapter 7 The Mindset of Your Primary Students 175
Dealing With Student Shyness 176
Know Your Students 179
Your Students' Expectations 181
Working With Your Students 183
Connecting With Your Students 184
Managing Your Classroom Means Managing Your Students 192
Chapter 8 More than an Educator: Being What Your Students Need 197
The Surrogate Parent 198
The Confidant 198
The Social Worker 199
The Provider 199
The Doctor 200
The Psychologist 200
The Cheerleader 201
The Referee 201
The Emergency Worker 202
Teach by Example 203
School Versus Home 204
Chapter 9 Working with Parents and Students with Behavior Problems 209
Meeting With Parents 211
Uncooperative Teachers 213
Parents' Expectations of You 215
How to Handle Behavior Problems 216
The Gifted Student 226
The Authority Challengers 227
The Disruptive Student 229
The Stubborn Student 231
The Overly Emotional Student 233
A Diverse Classroom 234
Maintaining Diplomacy With Parents 237
Part 4 Taking Care of You 245
Chapter 10 Preventing Teacher Burnout 247
The Importance of Family and Friends 251
Finding an In-House Confidant 252
Maintaining a Positive Attitude 253
Chapter 11 Ending The First Year Successfully 255
The Significance of Reflection 256
The Secrets of Success 260
The Student's Perspective of Teachers 264
Conclusion 267
Appendix: Sample Lesson Plans 269
Resources 287
Lesson Plans, Activities, Software, Games, Worksheets, and More 287
Professional Development 289
Bulletin Board Ideas 290
Electronic Grade Books 291
Interview Questions for Teaching Jobs 291
Bibliography 293
Author Biography 307
Index 309
jamiehenneman
Posted August 1, 2012
Green’s book is well thought out and addresses a number of items outside of the classroom that affect success: location, administration and politics. While most people think about a teaching career in terms of the actual classroom, students and curriculum, Green does a good job of addressing the factors “they don’t teach you in school.” Chapter 2 highlights the differences between teaching locations (rural, urban, charter school, online school) and Chapter 3 has some helpful advice about working with administration, achieving tenure and the impacts of government policy like “No Child Left Behind.” Mandated testing, teaching styles and cuts to school budgets are also addressed. However, I appreciate that Green also delved into some very practical classroom applications like how to manage space, the importance of homework, how to prepare for a substitute and budgeting for supplies. The last section of the book focuses on the mentality of grade school students and their needs. It talks about how to address behavior problems and how to prevent burnout. The appendix includes sample lesson plans and a list of helpful websites. Overall, I really enjoyed this book because it contained so much important, practical advice that usually has to be learned the hard way. Green relates that sage advice that only the experienced teacher can give.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 15, 2011
This book was extremely helpful and I am so glad that I decided to read this one in particular. How to Be Successful in Your First Year of Teaching Elementary School by Tena Green is an informative book that is exceptionally well organized. During my senior year of high school this coming year, I plan on shadowing one of my past elementary school teachers for my senior project. My recent English teacher suggested that I read a book during the summer that would help prepare me for my journey this coming year. I have always wanted to be an elementary school teacher and I plan on studying Childhood Education in college next year. This book will not only help me during this year, but also in the years to come. My favorite part of the book and probably the most helpful chapter was Tena Green's suggestions regarding how to learn all of the students' names quickly and correctly. Green suggests writing all of the students' first and last names on a piece of paper, and then jotting down notes about their personalities and appearances next to their names. This book also covered preparing for interviews, dealing with the students' different personalities, and tips for planning classrooms and lesson plans. I rate this book five stars and I recommend this book to anyone who is beginning their career as a teacher or is generally interested in the teaching field.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.MarleneJ
Posted May 25, 2010
I always thought the most important quality a qualified teacher should have is patience, but as Tena Green explains, it really is the ability to connect with the students. Before reading her book, I would have argued this point to infinity, based solely on my experiences in school and first hand knowledge of unruly children.
Green's honesty gives pause and hope to a reader that teaching, while honorable and probably the most important profession, can be challenging. This book is a no-nonsense resource for anyone contemplating pursuing teaching as a profession. Chock-full of advice, the it should be a hit to both the novice and veteran teacher as it tackles a multitude of subjects, like how teachers should appreciate their students' diversity plus how to work hard and smart.
One thing I found to be missing was some form of an in-depth semblance of explanation on why there is still an achievement gap between urban and suburban children. I felt that such an extensive resource for teachers should at least touch on this widely reported phenomenon and why talented teachers have been unable to diminish its effects.
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Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.jlcarey23
Posted April 29, 2010
This book is a highly useful tool to anyone getting their degree in teaching, looking for a teaching position, or about to start their first day. Not only does this book go into great detail about what to expect on the first day with your students, but also prepares the reader for job interviews, who they might interact with in the faculty and supervisors, and tips on how to become part of a school's unique community. It goes into intensive detail about things that are beyond just teaching the students to read and write, like what tests the school district must pass in order to be accredited, and what the expectations of you are going to be as a new addition to their learning environment.
The author has gone that extra step to help the reader by including useful websites about how to find school districts in an unfamiliar area, the pros and cons about each school system type, and included real life testimonials from elementary school teachers that have gone through what the reader is about to go through. It gives a real life look at unpleasant situations like not getting along with co-workers, how to deal with budget cuts, mistakes other teachers have made in the past, like giving too much homework. It breaks down everything in to neat categories, from which school districts there are, types of parents you will come across, and types of students in the classroom, and gives ideas about how to handle each person or problem that is comfortable for the teacher.
The book is fast paced and is easy to understand. One of the best tools of the book is the eleven examples of lesson plans in the back. The table to contents is very well done, allowing the reader to use this book as a reference guide over and over if and when any situation comes up they are unsure about. This really is a book that explains everything a teacher needs to know that they didn't learn from a college classroom!
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Posted April 15, 2010
How To Be Successful In Your First Year Of Teaching Elementary School by Tena Green
What a fabulous resource! This book fills you in on everything you need to know for dealing with the parents of your students, other teachers, and of course, your students! You will not believe the amount of information that is packed into this volume!
Tena walks you through the entire journey of teaching. She begins her book with the high calling and privilege you face when you decide on the field of teaching, followed by tips on looking for a job and applying for that job. Next, she touches on your working relationship with those who work with you, and ideas for making the most of your classroom layout and plans. I really enjoyed this chapter. She covered ideas for your bulletin boards and getting you space into shape. Ms. Green also makes great use of lists she has composed for ideas and activities to use with your students!
The author explains the best possible solutions for surviving your day. And not just surviving, but excelling in all you do, from remembering your students names to setting goals and organizing you time. Don't miss chapter six!
Chapter seven and eight are also must- reads. These chapters deal with your students and why they think and act the way they do. Consider this information as a mini psychology class. Chapter eight describes incredible information you will want to know about reaching out to your students needs.
The final chapters of this marvelous book deals with parents and how to interact with them, tips for maintaining a good attitude, and ways to end the school year with happy feelings, despite the sadness you may encounter as you watch your children march out of the classroom one last time! (Encourage the students to talk about their favorite part of the school year while they enjoy a going away party!)
Just when you think the book is finished, you come to the appendix! I think it's the best part of the entire book! Eleven sample lesson plans, wonderful web resources, and an awesome bibliography make this book first rate! Being a teacher myself, I found this part of the book indispensible!
I give the book a SOLID 5 star rating!
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Overview
The early years of any student’s life, those first elementary school years, can be incredibly overwhelming and stressful, resulting in a slew of emotional, behavioral, and study problems that they rely on their teacher to help overcome. As a first year elementary school teacher, your role is more than just knowledgeable teacher; it is to become a mentor, a friend, and an older figure for young children to look up to. This can be overwhelming, and along with all of the other issues that face first year teachers, ...