The Everything Classroom Management Book: A teacher?s guide to an organized, productive, and calm classroom Book

Foreword ix

The Top Ten Things Every Teacher Should Know about Classroom Management xii

Introduction xiii

1 What is Classroom Management? 1

The Five Critical Classroom-Management Domains 2

Academic Instruction 2

Time Management 7

Discipline 9

Relationship Building 10

Job Protection 12

2 Get Organized 14

Create a Daily Schedule 15

Get an Organizer or Palm Pilot 19

Grade Papers the Smart Way 21

Basic Forms No Teacher Should Be Without 24

Hygiene and Health 28

Go to Sleep! 28

3 Preplanning 30

Become Familiar with Your School Facility 31

Organize Your Classroom for Maximum Efficiency 32

Make Sure Your Classroom Equipment Works 36

Stock Adequate Supplies 38

Have Enough Papers 42

Research Your Students' Cumulative Files 42

Plan Your Lessons 43

4 Every Little Detail Counts 44

Dress Professionally 45

Meet your Next-Door "Buddy" Teachers 46

Organize Tasks for Your Teacher's Aide 47

Check Your School's Message Boards 49

Ask Your Principal to Evaluate Your Classroom 50

Your Final Classroom Walk-Through 51

5 Class Begins 54

Public Speaking 55

Establish and Reinforce Your Rules 56

Model Good Manners and Common Courtesy 60

Praise Students Constantly 62

Learn Your Students' Names in Five Days 64

Get Library Cards for Your Students 65

6 The Everyday Routines 67

Get Kids to Participate in Lessons 68

The Necessity of Homework 70

How to Handle Restroom and Water Breaks 72

How to Send Kids to the Nurse 75

What Recess is Really For 76

What is Cooperative Learning? 77

Bilingual Education 78

Individualized Education Programs 80

7 Do What the Pros Do 82

Maintain Student Portfolios 83

Identify Possible Problems andSpecial Needs 84

Take Online Classes for Professional Growth 88

Prepare Your Class for Substitute Teachers 89

Solutions When Textbooks Run Short 91

Spending Your Own Money on Supplies 93

How to Survive as a Floater 94

8 Master Teacher Information 96

Grow Eyes in the Back of Your Head 97

Start a Reading Rewards Program 98

Wield Humor Like a Professional Comedian 101

Use Acting Techniques to Dramatize Lessons 102

Motivate Tired, Bored, and Timid Students 103

Enliven Your Lessons with Cross-Curricular Techniques 105

Jazz Up Your Lessons with Music 106

9 Using Technology 108

Using Computers 109

Surf the Internet to Instructional Excellence 111

Use E-mail to Communicate with Virtually Everyone 112

Learn to Love Answering Those Voicemails 113

Theatrical Effects with the Overhead Projector 114

PowerPoint 116

VCRs, DVD Players, and CD Players 117

10 Powerful Time Savers 119

Advanced Forms That Pros Use 120

Delegate Responsibility Whenever Appropriate 129

Harness the Power of Parents, Volunteers, Student Aides, and Teacher's Aides 132

11 Discipline: End Problems Before They Begin 134

Establish Your Rules Immediately 135

There Can Only Be One Boss 136

Call Parents Early and Often 137

Keep the Principal Apprised 142

Be Fair, Firm, Honest, and Consistent 144

Apologize and Make Restitution Whenever Appropriate 146

12 Problem-Free Classrooms 149

Minimize or Eliminate Classroom Disruptions and Definance 150

Harness the Power of Administrators 154

Show Mercy Whenever Appropriate 156

Control Your Class During Fire or Civil-Defense Drills 157

Discreetly Handle Dress-Code Violations 160

Put an End to Fights 161

13 Legal Issues 162

Spanking 163

Assault 165

Battery 167

Molestation 168

Inappropriate and Illegal Relationships 171

The Duty to Report Possible Child Abuse 173

14 Relationship Building 175

Students: Show Them You Care 176

Parents 178

Other Teachers 179

Administrators 180

Perform Beneficial Tasks for Your School Board 181

Befriend Secretaries, Custodians, Techs, and Librarians 181

Utilize Friends, Family, Community, and PTA/PTSA 183

Participate in Your Teachers' Association 183

15 Cover Your Assessments 184

Assess Students Equitably 185

Try to Create a Prejudice-Free Environment 186

Respect Local Practices and Traditions 187

Become Familiar with District Regulations 189

Learn Something about Education Law 190

16 Job Protection 192

Document Everything in Writing 193

Make Teachers' Associations Work for You 194

Survive Teacher Evaluations 197

Join Your District's PAR Program 198

Strikes and Job Actions 198

Lawyers: Generally a Last Resort 200

17 Extra-Curricular Duties 202

Yard Duty 203

Staff Meetings 204

Chaperoning a School Dance 205

Graduations and Awards Ceremonies 205

The Power of Festivals, Sales, and Bazaars 206

Hold a Class Party 207

Field Trips: A Class Bonding Opportunity 208

Class Newspapers or Websites 210

18 A Discussion of Private Schools 211

Teachers' Rights: Public Versus Private Schools 212

The Issue of Uniforms 213

Scholarships 214

The Merits and Demerits of Boarding Schools 216

The Pros and Cons of Religious Schools 217

Are Charter Schools the Future? 218

19 Organizing School Clubs and Sports Teams 220

Solicit Students' Ideas for Clubs and Teams 221

Publicize Your Club or Team 223

Maintain Professionalism 224

The First Meeting 225

Money-Collection Issues 227

Discipline and Nonparticipation Issues 228

20 What to Do During Emergencies 229

Snow Days 230

Fires 231

Earthquakes 232

Hurricanes or Tornadoes 234

Attacks and Lockdowns 235

How to Handle Medical Emergencies 236

21 Alternative Careers in the Education Field 240

An Administrative Career 241

School Psychologist 243

Speech Therapist 244

School Nurse 245

District-Office Positions 246

A Total Career Change? 248

Appendix A Additional Resources 249

Appendix B Glossary of Essential Teaching Terms 255

Appendix C Sample Student Contact Form 273

Appendix D Sample Substitute Lesson Plan 277

Appendix E Sample Emergency Substitute Lesson Plan 279

Index 281