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Teacher Under Construction: Things I Wish I'd Known!: A Survival Handbook for New Middle School Teachers (Paperback)

~ Jerry Parks (Author)
Key Phrases: management loophole, proactive habit, middle schoolers, Wish I'd Known, Teacher Under Construction (more...)
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Teacher Under Construction: Things I Wish I'd Known! is an indispensable survival manual for any teacher wishing to enter the wonderful world of middle schoolers! It provides practical, essential, and usable information to help new teachers set up and run a classroom, motivate students, and understand the unique setting that is "middle school". Crucial elements discussed include:

  • Behavior management that works!

  • The most important lesson a teacher will ever learn...

  • Parent conferencing checklist

  • Helpful Internet websites for teachers only!

  • Room essentials!

  • Surviving opening day!

  • The 5-10-15-20 rule of time management

  • The M.A.S.T.E.R.Y. Principle of successful teaching

Teacher Under Construction: Things I Wish I'd Known! is designed for Pre-service and new teachers. Helps are presented in a handy, quick-reference format. This is the book every experienced middle school teacher wishes they'd had their first year of teaching!

"Jerry has succeeded in describing the delicate balance between the technical-organizational aspects of teaching, and the relational, humanistic characteristics of the profession. It is gratifying to know that 'common sense' still plays a big part in the field of education."
--Dave Shepard, Middle Matters, former vice president of the Kentucky Middle School Association

"...an incredible blueprint for someone starting his or her career! Not only that, but...a great resource for teachers trying to improve their teaching and classroom management skills...needs to be used in college teacher-prep programs."
--Tommy Hurt, Principal, The Georgetown Middle School

"Dr. Jerry Parks truly understands teaching and learning at the middle school level. Teacher Under Construction: Things I Wish I'd Known! is a wonderful reading for beginning and experienced middle school teachers!"
--Dr. Dallas Blankenship, Superintendent, Scott Schools, Georgetown, KY

About the Author

Jerry Parks earned a B.S., M.A., & Ed.S degrees in Education from Eastern Kentucky University. He is a National Board Certified Teacher, and regular speaker at the National Middle School Association conferences. He is currently department chairman, and instructor of social studies at Georgetown Middle School in Georgetown, Kentucky. Dr. Parks has two previously published works: With Joseph in the University of Adversity: The Mizraim Principles, a study of the life of Joseph the Hebrew, and So, You Want to be an NBPTS Certified Teacher?, a guide for teachers considering the National Board Certification Process.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 110 pages
  • Publisher: Weekly Reader Teacher's Press (October 27, 2004)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0595330940
  • ISBN-13: 978-0595330942
  • Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.4 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #84,991 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category: (What's this?)

    #81 in  Books > Nonfiction > Education > Education Theory > Aims & Objectives

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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Search Inside This Book:
Inside This Book (learn more)
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
management loophole, proactive habit, middle schoolers, middle school classroom
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Wish I'd Known, Teacher Under Construction
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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Customer Reviews

17 Reviews
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 (15)
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Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (17 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful, easy reading, indispensable, November 12, 2004
By Maddy (Nebraska) - See all my reviews
Teacher Under Construction is an absolutely indispensable book for anyone wanting to teach in the middle school. Mr. Parks has clearly and accurately captured the necessary elements for setting up and running a successful classroom, and has done it with wonderful insights and stories that help illuminate his points.

The book is broken into easy to read chapters that take one essential element of middle school, and breaks it into workable pieces. Tips, ideas, and easy to follow instructions help the reader apply these truths to their own classrooms. This book deals with the practical elements as well as the theoretical and hierarchical elements of teaching. It is refreshing to see that common sense is still alive! Mr. Parks' helpful teachings are as useful as they are practical.

Mr. Parks has written and included a poem at the beginning of the book titled, "What is a Middle Schooler." What a wonderful poem! He has captured the essence of the middle school child, and portrayed him/her with wonderful word pictures, contradictions and just enough feeling that those of us who know and love the middle school child will recognize and embrace him/her within that poem.

This book has enough within its covers that I would recommend it for even seasoned teachers. It's a great refresher course for those of us who have taught in the middle school setting, and need to revive our own classrooms a bit. Practical, easy to read, and even entertaining, I recommend this book to anyone teaching at the middle school level.
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24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars "All new teachers should read before stepping into the classroom....purchased for my staff", August 5, 2005
By Principal, (Mason Middle School) - See all my reviews
I have read "Teacher Under Construction: Things I Wish I'd Known!" and loved every word of it! I think all new teachers should read your book before stepping into the classroom for the first time. The principles are good for experienced teachers as well. I purchased copies of the book for my staff. I would like to use them for an in-service at the beginning of school...
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22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A book you must have, August 2, 2006
*Update* I am now entering my third year of teaching and still suggest this book as a top read for any new middle school teacher. It by far is really the only book out there that covers everything you will face in the classroom. After now having two years of experience I can tell you most classroom management books do not deal with the pitfalls of teaching seventh and eighth graders. This is a must have book for all middle school teachers!

*Review* I got this book after being disappointed by Harry Wong's "First Days of School," feeling that it did not relate to middle school teachers and was very outdated. I abolutely loved "Teacher Under Construction." It wasn't overdone but was a concise resource for a new teacher. I found it also extremly relevant and timely. My book is already dogeared and highlighted and I have made a lot of notations of things I want to do in my classroom. I could not suggest this book enough for new middle school teachers.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A simple, practical, compilation of caveats, suggestions, strategies, and motivation techniques ..."

While I am not currently a teacher, I have worked with educational supervisors in my career, and helped to train more than a few teachers entering the middle school foray... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Aisha Sue Davenport

1.0 out of 5 stars Uncritical, Unresarched Propaganda
I am a full-time English teacher and I also teach university students who wish to be secondary school teachers. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Amy Dee

3.0 out of 5 stars very general info, for the very new teacher
I purchased this book largely because of the unanimously positive reviews. I just finished my 3rd year teaching, but this was my first year at middle school. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Kirsten Roos

5.0 out of 5 stars "A huge help in my preparation"

I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed this book, "Teacher Under Construction". I am seeking my first teaching position right now and this book was a huge help in my... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Stephen Gasteneau

5.0 out of 5 stars "Awesome!"
This is an AWESOME overview of teaching in a junior high! Spend 2 days reading this, and you'll save yourself 5 years worth of trial-and-(lots of) error! Read more
Published 21 months ago by Donna N.

5.0 out of 5 stars Just what I needed
I taught 7th grade for the first time last year as a veteran high school teacher and learned by trial and error some of the things discussed in this book. Read more
Published on October 4, 2007 by Paul Eid

5.0 out of 5 stars "A must-have gem for the new or initially-licensed middle-school teacher. Your pedagogy classes don't cover this..."

NOTE: I am submitting this as a copy of the review from AvanteGuard Teacher's website, since it is what I might say. Read more
Published on August 11, 2007 by Darci

5.0 out of 5 stars "Got this college student prepared. Thank you!"
Dr. Parks' book "Teacher Under Construction" is great! I am currently in college now to major in mid-level social studies and English. Read more
Published on August 6, 2007 by Suzanne

5.0 out of 5 stars "This is practicality par excellence...a must for every new middle school teacher!"
Far removed from educational philosophy and pedantic educational theory, this little gem is a mine of practical teaching helps for new middle school teachers, drawn from the... Read more
Published on August 3, 2007 by Dr. Elizabeth Delong

5.0 out of 5 stars "Truly, written by an author with a Middle Schooler's heart! 'What is a Middle Schooler?' alone is worth the price!"


After reading the reviews on here, but having a hard time locating this book in bookstores, I ordered it at my local bookstore in order to give it to my... Read more
Published on October 8, 2006 by Darcy C.

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