Your First Year: How to Survive and Thrive as a New Teacher

by Todd Whitaker, Madeline Whitaker Good, Katherine Whitaker

Overview

Learn all the essentials for making your first year of teaching a success! In this bestselling book, renowned educators Todd Whitaker, Madeline Whitaker Good, and Katherine Whitaker offer step-by-step guidance to thriving in your new role, developing classroom management skills, and overcoming the challenges that many beginning teachers face.

In a practical, reader-friendly style, the Whitakers help you learn how to establish procedures and rules, build relationships, maintain high expectations and consistency, and manage your own emotions in the classroom. They also show how to plan effective lessons and how to work with peers, administrators, and parents to foster collaboration. Each chapter offers specific examples and vignettes from different grade levels.

This updated edition contains additional guidance on classroom management and dealing with challenging student behavior, two areas that can affect job satisfaction. Importantly, you’ll learn how to make tweaks or hit the "reset" button when something isn’t going as planned. In addition, there is also a special new feature called "Think About…," which helps you reflect on how you will consider topics such as representation and inclusion as they pertain to your classroom. You can use these reflection questions independently or with a mentor or new-teacher colleague.

New teachers are special and needed, and the practical advice in this book will provide valuable support for your professional and personal journey.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781032281247
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	06/29/2023
Edition description:	2nd ed.
Pages:	156
Sales rank:	71,903
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Todd Whitaker is a leading presenter in the field of education and a professor of educational leadership at the University of Missouri. He has written over 60 books including the bestseller What Great Teachers Do Differently.

Madeline Whitaker Good is at the University of Missouri working toward a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis. She taught elementary and middle school for five years.

Katherine Whitaker is the Director of Board Development for the Missouri School Boards’ Association. She taught both middle and high school mathematics for ten years in Kansas City, Missouri.

Table of Contents

Section I Before the Students Arrive: Structure, Structure, Structure 1. Setting Up and Organizing Your Classroom Furniture Materials 2. Developing Your Procedures 3. Developing Your Rules 4. Lesson Planning and Instruction Lesson Planning: Down to the Minute Instruction: Focus on Engagement But What About Curriculum? Section II The Students Are Here… Now What? 5. Classroom Management: Prepare Your Mindset Relationships High and Clear Expectations Consistency Can We Maintain Consistency, But Still Change? 6 Revisiting Expectations 7. Managing Your Students Managing Yourself When Students Follow the Rules When Students Don’t Follow the Rules8 Creating Your Management System Planned Consequence System Implementing Consequences Individual Case Study The "What If" Situations A Final Note 9. Mid-Flight Corrections Tweaking: Be Your Own Control Group The Reset Button Section III Working with Adults 10. Working with Administrators Administrative Support 11. Working with Peers Peer Support 12. Don’t Be Afraid to Repair: Students, Co-Workers, Principal 13. Parents: Friend Not Foe The Best They Can Build Relationships Before You Need Relationships What Do I Say When I Call a Parent? 14. The Empowerers The Empowerers and Navigating the Waters Finding Your Empowerer What About Everyone Else? 15. Be a Sponge Soaking It Up Observing Others Attending Meetings Getting Observed Yourself Don’t Be Afraid to Say No Section IV Reflect, Refine, and Grow 16. It Always Starts with You Trust Your Gut 17. What’s Next? You’ll Start Year Two Undefeated Reflection Guide

Editorial Reviews

The authors of Your First Year have done an amazing job with this book. The book presents strategies and ideas in an easy-to-use format. This book is an amazing tool for ANY teacher needing help with classroom procedures, students, parents, and co-workers!” —Sara Cope, Principal and Former Teacher, BonDeCroft Elementary, Sparta, TN

“Loaded with common-sense best practices, the authors give remarkable insights into classroom management. This book will be a catalyst for helping new educators hone their craft of teaching at any level or content area through the use of proven strategies and reflective questions. Your First Year models equitable instructional practices while giving timely advice through real-life examples.” —Gail A. Epps, Program Manager, New Teacher Induction, Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland

"Your First Year is not only an essential "must read" for new teachers, but is also an inspiring reminder to experienced teachers about the nuts and bolts of a classroom that support learning. The Whitakers have managed to translate volumes of research on effective pedagogy into a very practical and useful book that I imagine will be found in the teacher's library well-worn from constant reference." —Phillip S. Rogers, Executive Director of the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC)

"Your First Year is designed to bring out the best in new teachers. It is a great combination of practical application and research-based practices that goes beyond the typical classroom set-up and procedures by exploring how to troubleshoot when things don't go as planned. As a principal, I would want my new teachers to read this book to guide them on their first year of teaching. With the Whitakers' book to guide them, new teachers will be primed for a successful school year, and students will be the winners." —Jayne Ellspermann, Principal of West Port High School, Ocala, Florida and President, National Association of Secondary School Principals (2016-2017)

“Your First Year is a book all teacher candidates and first year teachers should be required to read. The sound and practical advice in structuring and managing the classroom is invaluable, and the important interaction tips will help keep more of our young teachers in the classroom. Without a doubt, this book contains the essence to survival and becoming an effective teacher.” –Dr. Charles Kent Runyan, Professor, College of Education, Pittsburg State University

"The advice the authors provide is positive and encouraging, and serves to prevent some potential (and predictable) problems in the classroom. It is also a great review/reference guide for veteran teachers who are seeking to tune up their current teaching practices."—Linda Biondi, MiddleWeb, middleweb.com

"The first year of a teacher's career is really important - new teachers need support and reassurance to start off successfully and to cope with the pressure that year brings. The book is relevant for primary and secondary teachers as the author has worked with his daughters - Madeline, an elementary teacher, and Katherine, a secondary teacher. This means readers have the assurance that the step-by-step guidance is based on experience [...] It is a succinct book and that's perfect for new teachers who will have plenty to do without ploughing through masses of information to find relevant points." - Sarah Brew, Parents in Touch

From the Publisher