The First-Year Teacher's Survival Guide: Ready-To-Use Strategies, Tools & Activities for Meeting the Challenges of Each School Day (Jossey-Bass Survival Guides) [Paperback]

Julia G. Thompson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 29, 2007 | ISBN-10: 0787994553 | ISBN-13: 978-0787994556 | Edition: 2

The best-selling First Year Teacher's Survival Kit gives new teachers a wide variety of tested strategies, activities, and tools for creating a positive and dynamic learning environment while meeting the challenges of each school day. Packed with valuable tips, the book helps new teachers with everything from becoming effective team players and connecting with students to handling behavior problems and working within diverse classrooms.

The new edition is fully revised and updated to cover changes in the K-12 classroom over the past five years. Updates to the second edition include:

• New ways teachers can meet the professional development requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act
• Entirely new section on helping struggling readers, to address the declining literacy rate among today’s students
• Expanded coverage of helpful technology solutions for the classroom
• Expanded information on teaching English Language Learners
• Greater coverage of the issues/challenges facing elementary teachers
• More emphasis on how to reach and teach students of poverty
• Updated study techniques that have proven successful with at-risk students
• Tips on working effectively within a non-traditional school year schedule
• The latest strategies for using graphic organizers
• More emphasis on setting goals to help students to succeed
• More information on intervening with students who are capable but choose not to work
• Updated information on teachers’ rights and responsibilities regarding discipline issues
• Fully revised Resources appendix including the latest educational Web sites and software

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The First-Year Teacher's Survival Guide, Second Edition

The completely revised and updated edition of the best-selling First-Year Teacher's Survival Kit offers beginning teachers a wide variety of tested strategies, activities, and tools for creating a positive and dynamic learning environment while meeting the challenges of each school day. The book is filled with valuable tips, suggestions, and ideas for helping teachers with everything from becoming effective team players and connecting with students to handling behavior problems and working within diverse classrooms.

This new edition has been updated to reflect recent changes in the K–12 classroom and includes the most current information to

• Meet the professional development requirementsof the No Child Left Behind Act

• Help struggling readers

• Implement technology solutions for the classroom

• Teach English language learners

• Reach and teach students in poverty

• Work effectively within a nontraditionalschool-year schedule

• Use graphic organizers creatively

• Set goals to help students succeed

• Intervene with students who are capable butchoose not to work

• Understand teachers' rights and responsibilities regarding disciplinary issues

Praise for the Second Edition of The First-Year Teacher's Survival Guide

"Every new teacher of the twenty-first century needs this book! Julia Thompson has skillfully created an invaluable survival guide filled with a wealth of expertise and wisdom to help new teachers through almost every problem they may encounter."
—Sherry Cameron, sixth-grade resource teacher,Richard B. Wilson K–8 School, Tucson, Arizona

"Julia Thompson's First-Year Teacher's Survival Guide offers new teachers time-tested, practical, and innovative advice on how to manage critical aspects of a teacher's life. Thompson uses her own expertise and high standards to show novice professionals how they can not just survive, but thrive. Best of all, her own love of her students shines on every page."
—Margaret Hallau, director, National Outreach, Research, and Evaluation Network at the Laurent Clerc NationalDeaf Education Center, Gallaudet University

"This book should be mandatory reading for all beginning teachers! Julia Thompson has created an invaluable resource that will empower new teachers with its wealth of practical information, classroom-proven strategies, and wise advice."
—Robin Gardner, Uniserv director,Virginia Education Association, Richmond, Virginia

About the Author

Julia G. Thompson has been a public school teacher for more than twenty-five years. She has taught a wide variety of subjects including English, reading, special education, math, geography, home economics, physical education, and employment skills. She is the best-selling author of Discipline Survival Kit for the Secondary Teacher.

Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 2 edition (June 29, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787994553
• ISBN-13: 978-0787994556
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 1.1 x 10.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,986 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Best-selling author Julia Thompson has been a public school teacher for more than 25 years. She has taught a wide variety of subjects including English, reading, special education, math, geography, home economics, physical education, and employment skills. Her students have ranged from reluctant seventh graders to gifted college students. Thompson currently teaches English in Fairfax County, Virginia, and she is an active speaker, consultant, teacher trainer and workshop presenter. She has also lead workshops nationally for the Bureau of Education and Research. Thompson writes an advice column ("Dear Julia") for classroom teachers on TheApple.com, a web site for K-12 educators. Author of The First-Year Teacher's Survival Guide and Discipline Survival Kit for the Secondary Teacher, she also publishes a website (juliagthompson.com) offering tips for teachers on a wide variety of topics.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Book May Replace Harry Wong, December 4, 2007

By 

ELH (Hattiesburg, MS) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The First-Year Teacher's Survival Guide: Ready-To-Use Strategies, Tools & Activities for Meeting the Challenges of Each School Day (Jossey-Bass Survival Guides) (Paperback)

Though a fan of Harry Wong's "The First Days of School" I was recently shown this text by a colleague of mine. She had received an extra review copy in her mailbox and we were talking about texts to use in our related college classes.

I spent an afternoon in this book, thinking, "Wow I wish I'd had this as a first year teacher." This is basically a "big book" of short articles, essays, lists, and anecdotes covering every aspect of classroom teaching.

The text is beautifully designed, logically organized, and well-written. This book explains so many of the practical aspects of teaching. Aspects that will quickly determine a young teacher's success in the classroom (and in many cases the duration of their career in it).

For twenty bucks, even veteran teachers should have a copy on the shelf.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! Buy this book before school begins!, August 18, 2007

By 

Luann Scott "Veteran Educator" (Windsor, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The First-Year Teacher's Survival Guide: Ready-To-Use Strategies, Tools & Activities for Meeting the Challenges of Each School Day (Jossey-Bass Survival Guides) (Paperback)

I could only wish I had owned a copy of this book when I began teaching thirty one years ago. Thompson handles every aspect of the teaching life with clarity, with humor, and with clear and direct suggestions. Her approach is directed enough that even a beginner can follow her guidelines, yet she offers even the most seasoned veteran new things to consider. Bravo!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not Just For New Teachers!, July 30, 2007

By 

Rick "The Science Guy" (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The First-Year Teacher's Survival Guide: Ready-To-Use Strategies, Tools & Activities for Meeting the Challenges of Each School Day (Jossey-Bass Survival Guides) (Paperback)

Don't be fooled by the title. Julia Thompson's book provides valuable information for teachers of all experience levels. This book is like having a mentor sitting next to you in your living room. I don't care how well you know your subject, when was the last time you actually had another teachers opinion on rearranging the classroom? New teachers you will gain a valuable insight on the little things college classes miss, and us old vets will still learn new tricks. Intelligent, Thorough and on Topic!