Customer Reviews

The Unauthorized Teacher's Survival Guide

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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

For new teachers going into elementary school, this book is filled with good ideas and helpful advice. However, much of the writing is based on elementary students only. Most of the ideas would be considered too childish to use with middle or high school students. Also, many of the advice is clearly for elementary only (rewards for lining up in the hallway, giving students hugs, procedures for borrowing crayons, etc.) Looking at secondary teaching, I found this book disappointing.

As a newer teacher in Middle America, I found this compact book to be an extremely worthwhile investment of my time and money. This book has lots of examples and advice to handle those non-education scenarios that often "make or break" a new teacher. Great tips on dealing with other staff (not all will be helpful!), parents etc. This is a book that will help all teachers, especially newer ones like myself, thrive and survive. Buy it. Read it. Its worth it (as is First Days of School by Mary Wang).

As a preservice teacher, I have researched several dozen books of this nature, and I found this one to be the best. It is a compact size (for tucking into my book-bag or purse), and it has hundreds of real-world teaching tips, scenarios and situations for consideration. There's solid information on gaining insight into youself as a person and as a teacher, and down-to-earth and sensible information on how to be successful in the classroom from the start. I got a huge charge of self-confidence from reading this book.

This book is what I was looking for as a new teacher. It's the common sense things you learn as you go but reading this book teaches you them before your first day as a teacher. I wish I had it last year. It is also an easy read and won't take much time out of your busy teaching life.

As a first year teacher, I found this book to be filled with helpful hints to make any teacher's first year a success. I highly recommend it for any first year teacher who is just learning the ropes.

There is a negative tone set in the introduction, this book was not encouraging or uplifting, reading the whole book and didn't come away with new ideas or inspiration. This book repeatedly mentions the authors opinions without backing them up with experiences or research. I would have appreciated research to backup their statements or opinions. Also, I resented the (only) teacher of the year winner they recognized, that sitting in a desk and praying for a student each day, showering them with praise, worked to help the student... There is a section that lists everything you should have in a teachers desk, in the filing cabinet, etc... There didn't seem to be any unique suggestions I would think teaching experience would give them. Stapler and staples? No kidding. They jokingly mentioned handcuffs. Ha.Ha. I will not be keeping this book.

As a first year teacher, I feel that there is no resource that can truly prepare you for your first year of teaching. I just finished my first week and I feel like I am treading water. However, I am glad that I purchased The Unauthorized Teacher's Survival Guide. The information, ideas and resources they provide are useful. I have found the information on stress, discipline and time management located in third part of the book to be most helpful. One of the quotes from UTSG that stuck with me the most this week was "make friends before you need them." While can be easy for a first year to be intimidated by some of the more experienced teachers, you should remember that they can be your best ally and friend. If you are a first year teacher, consider purchasing this book because it will make your year go much better and you will be able to "survive!" I am told that it gets better after this year, so hang in there! :0)