First Year Teacher [Kindle Edition]

Randy Howe (Author)

Book Description

 

First Year Teacher is an invaluable resource for newbie teachers. It offers hundreds of tips, warnings, and anecdotes from experienced educators--all in one warm and charming package.

Benefit from their wisdom:

"Principals love a heads-up on both good and bad news. It only makes you look good if you keep the principal in the loop. Don't hide in your classroom!" —Fifth grade teacher

Learn from their mistakes:

"Don't put off returning phone calls of a pushy parent. The longer you wait, the longer they have to think of new questions!" —U.S. History and Government teacher

And remember that humor conquers all:

"When you're having a hard day, remember why you became a teacher in the first place. My neighbors wouldn't listen to me talk about environmental science, so I had to find a captive audience!" —Environmental Science teacher

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Randy Howe received his Masters of Professional Studies in Special Education from Manhattanville College and his administrative certification from Teachers College at Columbia University as a part of the Future School Administrators Academy. He is the author of two books and writes a weekly philosophy article for McGraw-Hill's Higher Education.

Product Details

• File Size: 1726 KB
• Print Length: 268 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1607140659
• Publisher: Kaplan Pre-College Trade (May 1, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007ZFYBLM
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,919 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #3 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Education & Reference > Schools & Teaching > Education Theory > Philosophy & Social Aspects
  • #48 in Books > Education & Reference > Schools & Teaching > Education Theory > Philosophy & Social Aspects

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Will prove to be an invaluable and enthusiastically reference book September 16, 2009

By Midwest Book Review

Format:Hardcover

While everyone who aspires to the teaching profession must and should take a full course of instruction classes (including field assignment experience) from an accredited college or university to obtain their teaching license, there is still more the novice teacher must know in order to have a successful 'first year' classroom teaching experience. That's why "First Year Teacher: Wit And Wisdom From Teachers Who've Been There" is so critically important. Knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by Randy Howe in a newly updated and expanded third edition, "First Year Teacher" is a compact 239-page compendium of succinct, practical, experienced and memorable advice from teachers of every grade level and subject area. These sage bits of advice and ideas cover everything from the daily realities of classroom instruction, to the importance of first impressions, the role of paperwork and prioritizing, being student oriented, working with parents, relationships with faculty and administration, dealing with prejudice, as well as issues with respect to professional growth and advancement, organizations and resources. Of special note is the final chapter on 'The ABCs of Success'. Thoroughly 'user friendly' and a source book that will be referred to advantage time and time again by the novice classroom teacher, "First Year Teacher" will prove to be an invaluable and enthusiastically reference book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars From an active 14-year teaching veteran, this is great! February 4, 2012

By Allan Sherwood

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Yes, I've been "on the other side of the desk" for 14 years. You name it, I've experienced it: staffs that were bad and excellent, great and horrible principals, back-stabbing and lifesaving coworkers, fantastic and sadistic parents, lunch duty, bus duty, locker duty, all that. I was even told off by a principal for NOT using MY OWN cell phone to call parents (this was when I could only afford it "for emergencies" early last decade...).

Each chapter has EXCELLENT quotes from experienced teachers, anecdotal and proven advice, and poignant details you will be glad for. Example, in chapter two, "Starting off on the right foot", it suggests you ask the principal (or other teacher) for a copy of any handbook, parent notes, etcetera, that you may be accountable to. I can say I didn't think of this one at first and was left behind for a bit.

Chapters include:
1. Reality Check
2. Starting Off on the Right Foot (starting the job and the year)
3. Planning, Paperwork, and Prioritizing,
4. It's All For the Students (management, etc)
5. Teaming Up with Parents
6. Communicating with Your Colleagues (more important than you can imagine... Teaching isn't "the lonely profession" anymore)
7. Dealing with Prejudice (not always external, and not about race)
8. Professional Growth (having a mentor teacher, continuing education, professional conferences and classes)
9. Organizations and Resources (professional tools and helps)
10. Final Words of Wisdom (neat stuff)
Conclusion: ABCs of Success (ties it up)

This book goes a long way to soothing the nerves of the first-year teacher. I can say, if I'd had this book, I'd have read it cover-to-cover several times my first semester.... It is the complement to Harry Wong's seminal The First Days of School: How to Be an Effective Teacher. While that one was more instructive (and I devoured it, too), First Year Teacher shows that everyone, yes everyone, goes through the same stuff. Again, this book is not meant to be "instructive"; it's more a "shot in the arm" to inoculate against Failure with the Vaccine of Experience. You can learn all about teaching your first year, and then you read THIS book while you're doing it. Read more ›

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of great advice and perspective June 30, 2012

By Mark J. Welch

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you're planning to start teaching (or student teaching), you'll find this a very useful collection of very specific advice (along with lots of other advice and insight). Start reading it now, because once school starts, you won't have time. I think I would have benefitted greatly from reading this book during the year I was substitute teaching, before starting my credential program (again, once that started, this just wouldn't have fit into my schedule).

At just 99 cents, it's a great value, and I recommend it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny and Insightful...everyone should read as an eyeopener March 1, 2012

By MawMawof4

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

My daughter is a k-5 teacher and has taught several years but we have really enjoyed reading this together, riding in to school. As much of it as we have read...It is a very true picture of teaching at a view from the 1st year, "Oh, my, what have I gotten into?" person's viewpoint. Parents could benefit by reading and see how a teacher feels.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for Teachers to be in programs! February 10, 2012

By hatsune85

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

In a program, soon to graduate, and found this little book to be the best little book of wits for new teachers to be! Perfect as a graduation present or for those who want to wit-up themselves while in practicum. A must for all new teachers or teachers in training!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great May 5, 2013

By teannajean

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Love it. Very informative for a new teacher! Excited to learn from this book. Definitely worth looking at. I like it.

3.0 out of 5 stars okay, for beginners April 7, 2013

By val bilar

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

the book was okay. I was hoping for something with more depth to use with children. Most of what this book contains I already knew from experience. I think "beginners" would find the book interesting.

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Insightful March 13, 2013

By BettyB1217

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

It helped to ease my mind about going into this field. I will definitely go back to it when I start my first year of teaching.

More About the Author

Randy Howe is a special education teacher at The Sound School in New Haven, CT. He is married to Alicia Solis and has a daughter and a son, as well as a cat and a dog, as well as a white picket fence.

Randy has written more than 20 books for Kaplan and Globe Pequot Press (GPP), as well as five "Brainiac" trivia card box sets. Among his best sellers are "Teacher Haiku," "The Quotable Teacher," "Spelling Bee Brainiac," "Nifty 50 States Brainiac," "Flags of the Fifty States," and "First Year Teacher." In 2010, Kaplan published "One Size Does Not Fit All," a collection of stories from teachers based around the theme of diversity in the classroom which Randy collected and edited.

Randy's website is http://www.randyhowe.org/ and he tweets as fitzhowe.

In 1989, Randy graduated from Fox Lane High School. In 1993, he received his Bachelor of Arts from Hobart College and two years later was awarded a Masters of Professional Studies in special education by Manhattanville College. In 2001, he earned his administrative certification from Teachers College, Columbia University. Later that year, he began writing a weekly philosophy column for McGraw-Hill's college division and published by his first book.