Classroom Survival & Success for New & Developing Teachers

Table of Contents

Introduction 1
Who is this book for?
How to use Better With Nuts

I Schools & Teaching, Some Basic Information 6
1 Types of Teaching Positions 6
2 Schedules & Periods 9
3 A Teacher's Plan-book 11

II Physical Classroom 14
1 About this Chapter 14
2 Shopping List 15
3 Classroom Decoration 30
4 Furniture 40

III Administration & Faculty 42
1 About this Chapter 42
2 The Principal & Assistant Principal 43
3 Other Teachers 45
4 Testing 47
5 Tracking 50
6 Anecdotals 52

IV Classroom Management 54
1 About this Chapter 54
2 Don't Smile Until Christmas 58
3 Honeymoon Period 59
4 Student Investment 60
5 The Point Chart 61
6 The Point Chart for Out-of-Classroom Teachers 68
7 The Point Chart for Kindergarten & 1st Grades 71
8 Good Kid Letters 72

V Routines & Procedures 76
1 About this Chapter 76
2 Quiet/Attention 78
3 Raising Hands 80
4 Numbering Students 82
5 Student Jobs 83
6 Pencils 88
7 Line-Up 91
8 Hall Passage 96
9 Bathrooming 101
10 Paper –Collection & Distribution 106
11 Journal Writing 107
12 Morning Routines (K & 1) 110
13 Schedule Changes 112
14 Written Assignments 113
15 Do Now 116
16 "I'm Done!" & the Class Law 118
17 Homework 120
18 Cleaning Up 126
19 Probability Bowl 129
20 Quizzes/Tests 131
21 Read-Alouds 133
22 Study Habits 136
23 Vocabulary/Spelling Words 138
24 Fact Cards 140
25 Contracts (Student) 141
26 Transitions 142

VI Discipline & Classroom Management 146
1 About this Chapter 146
2 After-Lunch Chaos 147
3 Tickets 151
4 Time-Out Essays 154

VII Parents 156
1 About this Chapter 156
2 Community Presence 158
3 Initial Contacts & Letters 159
4 Language & Translation 161
5 Parent Teacher Conferences 163
6 Throughout the Year 168

VIII Special Activities 170
1 About this Chapter 170
2 Food in School 171
3 Birthdays & Parties 173
4 Birthday Days 179
5 Bees 180
6 Two Games: Buzz & Categories 183
7 Two Art Activities: Magic Pictures & Origami 188
8 Song Lyrics 191
9 Awards Luncheon 193

IX Odds & Ends 194
1 About this Chapter 194
2 Book Reports 194
3 Teacher Clothes 195
4 Computer (A Must!) 195
5 Exercise Breaks 196
6 Fonts 196
7 Goodie-Can 197
8 Language (Yours) 197
9 Actions Speak Louder . . . 198
10 Lights-out (Read-alouds) 198
11 Listening & Pencils 198
12 Manipulatives 198
13 The Power of Music 199
14 Purple Snits 199
15 Sitting in Kids' desks 199
16 Tape-loops 200
17 Toys 200
18 Zippers & Shoelaces 200

X Day 1 & Week 1 202

Appendix I 218

Questions for Veteran Teachers: Before the First Day of School; The First
Week of School; The First Month of School

Appendix II 228
Welcome Letter, Supply List Letter, Appointment Process Letter, Student
Behavior Contract; Class Rules & Behavior Contract Letter (for Parents),
First Month Letter, Good Kid Letter, Homework Notebook Page, Time-
Out Essay

Index 238

Thank You 242

About the Author Back Cover