Beginning Teacher's Field Guide: Embarking on Your First Years (Self-Care and Teaching Tips for New Teachers)

by Tina H. Boogren

Overview

The joys and pains of starting a teaching career often go undiscussed. This field guide dives deep into the personal side of teaching, offering crucial advice, empathy, and new-teacher support. The author details six phases every new or first-year teacher goes through (anticipation, survival, disillusionment, rejuvenation, reflection, and second anticipation) and outlines targeted classroom strategies, teaching tips, and self-care practices for each.

Transcend the emotional, mental, and physical problems teachers face in the classroom:

• Understand the feelings and teaching challenges of each phase during a beginning teacher's career.
• Practice self-care to combat beginning and first-year teacher stress and burnout; avoid the mental pitfalls that so often lead to teachers changing careers.
• Learn effective classroom-management strategies for new teachers and how to maintain positive relationships with students.
• Respond to prompts that will help you process and reflect on your first years' culmination.
• Utilize the prompts and journaling spaces throughout the book to reflect on your professional improvements and successes.

Contents:
Introduction: First Things First
Chapter 1: The Anticipation Phase
Chapter 2: The Survival Phase
Chapter 3: The Disillusionment Phase
Chapter 4: The Rejuvenation Phase
Chapter 5: The Reflection Phase
Chapter 6: The Second Anticipation Phase
Appendix A: End-of-the-Year Activities
Appendix B: Mementos
Epilogue: The Year in Retrospect
References and Resources
Index

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781945349560
Publisher:	Solution Tree Press
Publication date:	02/28/2018
Edition description:	Teachers G
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.60(d)

Table of Contents

About the Author xi

Introduction

First Things First 1

The Beginning Teacher's Journey 5

How to Use This Book 8

Chapter 1 The Anticipation Phase 13

The First Week of School 13

Classroom Strategies 16

Organizing Your Classroom's Physical Layout 17

Establishing Rules and Procedures 20

Understanding Students' Interests and Backgrounds 23

Self-Care Practices 24

Getting Adequate Sleep 24

Eating a Healthy Diet 26

Exercising Regularly 27

Reflections 29

Classroom Strategy Prompts 29

Self-Care Practice Prompts 30

Chapter 2 The Survival Phase 33

Mentorships Are Invaluable 34

Classroom Strategies 36

Focusing on Classroom Management 36

Displaying Objectivity and Control 38

Noticing When Students Are Not Engaged 40

Self-Care Practices 41

Practicing Mindfulness 42

Focusing on Relationships 46

Reflections 47

Classroom Strategy Prompts 47

Self-Care Practice Prompts 48

Chapter 3 The Disillusionment Phase 51

What a Difference a Year Makes 52

Classroom Strategies 55

Developing Relationships With All Students 56

Celebrating Students' Successes 58

Focusing on Positive Student Behaviors 60

Self-Care Practices 61

Practicing Gratitude 61

Practicing Kindness 64

Appreciating Humor 65

Reflections 66

Classroom Strategy Prompts 67

Self-Care Practice Prompts 67

Chapter 4 The Rejuvenation Phase 69

Playing Can Be Productive 69

Classroom Strategies 71

Demonstrating Intensity and Enthusiasm 72

Utilizing Physical Movement 73

Presenting Unusual or Intriguing Information 74

Maintaining a Lively Pace 75

Self-Care Practices 77

Developing a Growth Mindset 77

Picturing Your Best Possible Future Self 78

Reflections 79

Classroom Strategy Prompts 79

Self-Care Practice Prompts 80

Chapter 5 The Reflection Phase 83

My Favorite Lesson 84

Classroom Strategies 87

Employing Questioning Strategies 88

Demonstrating Value and Respect for All Learners 91

Self-Care Practices 92

Being inspired 92

Writing Yourself Permission Slips 94

Setting Aside Time to Reflect 95

Reflecting With Someone Else 95

Reflections 96

Classroom Strategy Prompts 96

Self-Care Practice Prompts 97

Chapter 6 The Second Anticipation Phase 99

The Lazy Days of Summer 99

Classroom Strategies 102

Self-Care Practices 103

Having Fun 103

Acting Like a Kid Again 104

Reflections 105

Classroom Strategy Prompts 105

Self-Care Practice Prompts 106

Epilogue: The Year in Retrospect 109

Appendix A End-of-the-Year Activities 113

Inviting and Disinviting Feedback 113

End-of-the-Year Letters 114

Survival Guides 115

Pay-It-Forward Promises 116

Reflections 116

Appendix B Mementos 119

References and Resources 131

Index 139

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Tina H. Boogren's field guide provides a concrete road map not only for survival as a beginning teacher but also for excellence."

—Robert J. Marzano, PhD, cofounder and CAO of Marzano Research, Colorado

"In this book, author Tina H. Boogren graciously offers beginning teachers space to grumble, cry, and celebrate as they journey through their first years in the classroom, providing practical advice for every step along the way. The helpful tips and reflection opportunities found in this book could benefit teachers at all levels of experience. Best of all, Tina's warm, encouraging voice reminds us of the value of our noble profession and that, no matter what happens, we've 'so got this.'"

—Cristie Watson, MEd, NBCT, sixth-grade language arts and social studies teacher, Gravelly Hill Middle School, North Carolina