Introduction

At this exact moment the gym door exploded open and thunder rattled the building. In came a soaking-wet Cindy, the neighborhood dog who adored kids, loved to wander, and detested loud noises. The dog's sudden entrance diverted the attention of all 37 of my 2nd graders, but eventually I gathered the class together to proceed as normally as possible with scooter board hockey, our game of the day.

Such is the start of a day in the life of an elementary physical education teacher, and all of this before 9:00 a.m.! Who could imagine what else might be in store on this day? At lunch, the classroom teachers of my 2nd grade students arrived at my door, with wide-eyed children clutching their hands. "They were worried about you," Mrs. Stevens announced. "It sounds like you had quite a morning!" As if on cue, the youngsters let go of their teachers, ran toward me, and enveloped me with hugs of love.

Is there a more demanding and yet fulfilling profession on earth than teaching? Every day in the classroom brings love and learning. Students and teachers who care about one another and about you are a powerful part of a thrilling career.

The Purpose of This Book

Administrators hire the best teachers they can find for the positions they have available. Some teachers arrive with excellent training and years of experience that make the transition into the new job quite simple. Others enter the classroom as "boss" for the first time. They may be confused, scared, and ill-prepared for the real world of teaching. This book is intended to assist new teachers during the first days, weeks, and months of that crucial first year of teaching, to ensure that they are ready for the challenges of the job, equipped with the background knowledge and support that will maintain their enthusiasm while they develop the talents that will keep them in the profession for many years to come.

The tips and tales in this book come from my own experience, direct observation, or lessons taught and shared by teachers. Based on years of interaction with hundreds of colleagues and thousands of students, every idea has helped to improve classroom instruction and student learning. Although there is never one perfect answer for every situation, there are definitely guidelines that can help teachers and students succeed while avoiding potential pitfalls. Great teaching from the start of the school year to the end is the result of thorough planning, preparation, and dedication to being the best teacher possible. This book entertains, guides, and supports new teachers as they work to get everything just right.

In many ways, the new teacher launching a career is like a person standing in front of the map in the mall, looking at the big "You Are Here" label. You know where you are, you are fairly sure of how you got there, and now you have hundreds (maybe thousands) of choices and decisions to make as the first year of teaching unfolds and you realize the enormity of the job. New teachers have completed college and all of the requirements, and often teaching has been made to look quite simple. The teacher teaches, the students learn, day one leads to day one hundred, and so on throughout the year. During student teaching, students behaved, colleagues and parents respected teacher expertise, and confidence abounded. Now, on the job, the reality and responsibility of the assignment really hit home.

The Real World of Teaching

The real world of teaching may appear somewhat different than the dream world, especially in the beginning. The new teacher is now in charge of every facet of instruction, plus many other aspects of the job. That is why summer planning and advance preparation are absolutely essential. Administrators are often overwhelmed with the many other demands of running the school, and although they would like to spend hours in every classroom, that is an impossibility. The guidelines in The New Teacher's Companion give new teachers much-needed assistance as they launch their career.

Although teachers may have a kind and caring spouse or significant other, completely supportive children, and newfound, helpful teaching colleagues, when the bell rings and they enter the classroom, they are, in many ways, completely alone. That independence is one of the benefits of teaching, but it can also be extremely frightening. Teaching entails vast responsibility for instruction that supports the growth and development of every learner. Research confirms that the teacher makes the greatest difference in the learning success of students. Can any school or administrator risk not having excellence in every classroom from the outset? Would any teacher wish to be less than fully equipped and qualified for the job?

The most positive starts come from independent preparation, planning, and research on instruction and learning, coupled with discussion and sharing with administrators and colleagues. By reading this book, jotting down notes, determining goals for achievement in learning, and dreaming about making a difference in the lives of children, new teachers set themselves up for success. The teaching profession, overflowing with stress and intense responsibility, packed with hundreds of daily challenges, is neither simple nor easy. But it is richly satisfying. Theory is great for expanding thinking, but practical tips and real-world anecdotes such as those offered in this book are invaluable.

Format and Features

The book is written especially for new teachers who are excitedly preparing for their first job—and also for the administrators who just did the hiring—and the mentors and coworkers who want to make the new teacher's transition smooth. All student names and some adult names are pseudonyms. All individuals mentioned have greatly influenced my life and my teaching.

Each chapter begins with a brief summary of main ideas and a review of the main points of the preceding chapter, followed by sections titled The Challenge and Lessons Learned, which introduce the new chapter material with real stories as anecdotes. The story at the beginning of this chapter about my 2nd grade physical education class is an example of a challenge and a lesson learned. Sections I think of as true tales, marked with stylized puzzle pieces, are linked to the key points of a chapter and are woven into the text. Teaching is a deeply personal and moving profession, generating an abundance of amazing adventures and remarkable experiences. These stories serve as background information for teachers as they begin to accumulate their own teaching experiences.

The body of the chapter consists of tips and ideas to aid new teachers during the critical first year of the job. In addition to new teachers, administrators will find these tips and ideas to be a handy guide to support new professionals as they strive for teaching excellence—an important task, given the huge turnover of new teachers within the first five years of teaching. Although it is essential to modify and adjust the tips to match individual needs and particular teaching assignments, the essence of each focuses on excellence of instruction and the achievement of all students. Each chapter also has messages marked with a heart that are intended as additional gentle nudges toward excellence. Closing Advice at the end of each chapter summarizes key points and adds final insight. Lists throughout the book provide a handy way to check and double-check understanding and to guide planning and preparation.

At the end of the book is a list of References and Resources to further support learning and extend the knowledge of new teachers. The appendixes provide additional material for planning and preparation.

About the Chapters

Chapters 1 through 4 are intended to assist with initial preparation for teaching, including many tasks to be done before the first student arrives. The topics covered include the following:

• Developing a personal vision, beliefs, and goals for teaching
• Learning about and understanding school and district policies
• Establishing classroom rules that maintain discipline
• Deciding consequences for misbehavior and how they will be administered

Chapters 5 and 6 offer suggestions for organizing the classroom and planning for various procedures. Topics covered include the following:

• Determining appropriate rewards and awards to honor and promote learning
• Designing the layout and organization of the classroom
• Planning for every anticipated classroom procedure
• Organizing textbooks, trade books, instructional materials, and supplies for creating excellent lessons
• Creating seating charts, name tags, and other identifiers to start the year with ease

Chapters 7 through 9 cover topics that focus on the essentials of excellent instruction, including the following:

• Creating lesson plans that are clear, coordinated, and planned for student success
• Integrating daily lessons into unit plans that coordinate and sequence learning
• Understanding time management so that every minute in the classroom is well paced and filled with learning
• Knowing and using student engagement strategies to verify each student's learning and degree of understanding of every lesson component

Chapters 10 and 11 provide additional information for teachers to ensure that students have learned by reiterating the essential question: What do my students really know, and what are they able to do? The teacher uses the answers to this question to determine the following: What do I do now to advance the learning of students who "get it," and how shall I review and reteach for students who do not "get it yet"? Determining the answers to these questions involves the following activities:

• Assessing student learning and understanding, pinpointing misconceptions, and adjusting future lessons to meet student needs
• Creating minilessons to meet student learning needs
• Writing and asking deep-thinking questions to promote understanding
• Generating ways for students to respond to extend knowledge and create independent learners and thinkers
• Grading student work fairly and efficiently with adequate feedback to increase understanding
• Developing students who are able to self-assess and determine the next steps in learning as they move toward becoming independent learners

The book concludes with Chapter 12, a roundup of key ideas and final reminders for teaching excellence.

* * *

Teaching is a wonderful adventure. Great administrators want their teachers and students to achieve excellence. Students learn from great teachers, and great teachers continue to learn every day from their students, from research, from colleagues, from experience, and from the drive to reach and teach all the children with whom they work. Keeping in mind that no class, no subject, no student or group of students, and no day is ever the same, the key ideas in The New Teacher's Companion make high-quality instruction possible from the outset. Great teachers really do make a difference. No other profession can compete with the magic of teaching!