The Organized Teacher: A Hands-On Guide to Setting Up and Running a Terrific Classroom [Paperback]

Steve Springer (Author), Brandy Alexander (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 22, 2005

Usable as a hands-on guide from the very first day of school, The Organized Teacher addresses the practical needs of firstyear teachers of grades K-8. It covers everything they need to know, from classroom management and school procedures to streamlined record keeping and state standards. The book includes helpful reproducible checklists and instructive illustrations, along with invaluable advice from experienced professionals.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

A life-saving guide to maintaining your sanity during your rookie teacher year

Nothing's more daunting for a first-year teacher than the moment when the cold, hard reality of classroom life strikes. It can come in many forms--from the unruly student to pesky state standards--but one thing's for certain: That moment will come, and more will follow. The Organized Teacher takes you beyond theory and into hands-on classroom management.

Designed for use from Day 1, this blueprint for classroom success sees you through your first year by getting right down to the nitty-gritty of "in the trenches" teaching. Among hundreds of valuable tips, The Organized Teacher provides:

• Advice on everything from desk arrangement to unit planning
• Sample room setups, from kindergarten to fifth grade
• Tried-and-true behavior-management strategies
• Practical advice on creating student portfolios
• Checklists and signs in reproducible 8-1/2-by-11-inch format
• Templates and samples of math and writing rubrics

As a new teacher, you'll have to deal with an extraordinary number of tasks, rules, and standards--not to mention the ubiquitous "human factor." This guide will help you make a smooth transition from the cozy comfort of school to the unpredictable, always-eventful profession of teaching.

About the Author

Dr. Kimberly Persiani-Becker is an assistant professor of curriculum and instruction at Cal State University.

Steve Springer has taught and developed training programs in the Los Angeles school district for twelve years.

Brandy Alexander has taught in both public and private schools; he is the recipient of a Golden Apple award for classroom excellence.

Product Details

• Paperback: 284 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (July 22, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071457070
• ISBN-13: 978-0071457071
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #33,162 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Exercise & Fitness > Alexander Technique

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best tool for new teachers!, February 25, 2006

By 

Ms. Asis - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Organized Teacher: A Hands-On Guide to Setting Up and Running a Terrific Classroom (Paperback)

I've presented "Getting Started" teacher workshops and have had to assemble a list of useful info from a variety of teacher resources. However, this book is so comprehensive and user friendly that I suggest this as THE starting point for all early career teachers before moving on to other resources. It's also great for veteran teachers who want a fresh look at how to organize the classroom.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not Appropriate for Middle School, July 3, 2009

By 

April Pendergrass "tennessee teacher" (Oneida, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Organized Teacher: A Hands-On Guide to Setting Up and Running a Terrific Classroom (Paperback)

This product led me to believe it was appropriate for grades K-8, unfortunatley this is not so. I am a middle school teacher and found this book only to be appropriate for grades K-5, but it focuses on the primary grades. If you teach above fourth grade, don't buy it.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Cornucopia of Resources for Teachers, May 29, 2008

By 

Jan Peczkis "Scholar and Thinker" (Chicago IL, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Organized Teacher: A Hands-On Guide to Setting Up and Running a Terrific Classroom (Paperback)

I focus mostly on matters not elaborated by the other reviewers. This book lists several characteristics of children of each of the elementary grades (K through 8), ideas for positive rewards for children of different ages, the deployment of classroom centers, methods of filing important information, indoor and outdoor games, websites for teachers, and much more. As an experienced educator, I tend to agree with the reviewer who suggests that this book is more applicable to the teaching of younger grades than older ones.