Advice from Veteran Teachers

Below is a collection of resources and tips for new teachers on a variety of topics, from teaching methods to assessment. You'll find great advice from experienced educators in two formats: slideshows or text. We hope that every teacher who spends his or her days making a difference in the life of a child will appreciate these choice bits of wisdom from veteran teachers. A big thank-you to all of the teachers who contributed their sage advice to help make the lives of other teachers easier!

Slideshows: Tips for New Teachers Classroom Organization Tips Slideshow Being well organized will help save you precious time and energy. Here are some creative organizational tips to help you toward efficiency. General Advice for Teachers Slideshow Enjoy reading the wisdom of experienced teachers on how to become an effective, caring teacher. These tips work for all kinds of situations and ages of students. Lesson Planning Advice from Veteran Teachers Browse the wisdom of experienced teachers on how to best plan and execute lessons – the core of your professional world. These tips span all subject areas and grade levels. Tips from Veteran Teachers on Dealing with Parents Enlisting parents in their child's education is one of the hardest yet most rewarding undertakings for teachers. Here are some practical tips from veteran teachers on managing these challenging relationships. Behavior Management Tips for the Classroom Enjoy a collection of terrific tips and advice from experienced educators on behavior management. We hope that every teacher who spends his or her days making a difference in the life of a child will appreciate these choice bits of wisdom. General Teaching Tips Helpful Bits of Advice from Veteran Teachers Veteran teachers share small bits of invaluable advice to make classroom life easier. Fire in the Classroom: Teaching Advice This excerpt from Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire will introduce you to Rafe Esquith and his advice on being a successful teacher and transforming your students' education. Standards for Good Teaching Learn the ten basic standards for good teaching and how you can be a successful, effective teacher. You Are a Role Model: Teaching Advice Learn how to be a good role model in this excerpt from Rafe Esquith's Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire. Lesson Planning Advice from Veteran Teachers Use these great tips to help minimize the time spent lesson planning. Replace Fear with Trust: Teaching Advice In this excerpt from Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire, Rafe Esquith explains how to establish a sense of trust with your students, instead of instilling fear in them. Student Orientation Understand some general rules about what makes a great teacher. Children Depend on Us, So Be Dependable: Teaching Advice Rafe Esquith, gives advice on being dependable in your classroom, in this excerpt from Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire. This advice will help you as you try to establish trust with your students. First Day at the Secondary Level Get ready for your first day teaching at the secondary level with these tips on everything from outlining the syllabus to starting a fun and hands-on project. Gimme Some Truth: Teaching Advice This excerpt from Rafe Esquith's Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire will instruct you on how to create a save haven for your students in your classroom. He will explain how to remove the element of fear from your classroom so you and your students have a more enjoyable learning experience.

Staying Organized Classroom Organization Tips from Veteran Teachers Use these tips from experienced teachers to get your classroom organized and keep it that way for the whole year. Time Management Tips for Teachers This advice will help you prioritize basic classroom tasks so that you can spend more time teaching and less time dealing with paperwork. Too Many Tasks, Not Enough Day If you feel overwhelmed by the number of tasks you have to do each day in the classroom, read these tips on how to organize those chores and make your job easier. Routines and Schedules Set up a routine for your classroom procedure on the first day. Your students will feel organized and the days will run more smoothly. Classroom Management Tips Behavior Management Tips from Veteran Teachers A helpful list of tips about how to make a classroom full of students run smoothly. Classroom Management and Success as a Teacher These classroom management basics will help you reach your goal of becoming a successful teacher. Use the tips to gain control of your class and increase overall learning. Positive Classroom Behavior Read ideas and find resources on establishing and maintaining acceptable behavior in your students. Discipline Must Be Logical: Teaching Advice In this excerpt from Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire, Rafe Esquith discusses discipline and how punishments should fit the crime. Tips for Achieving and Maintaining Discipline There are certain steps you can take to ensure that your students are disciplined and behave in an appropriate manner. Find those tips here. More Popular Classroom Management Resources Advice for Parent-Teacher Interactions Parent-Teacher Communication Advice from Veteran Teachers Communication with parents is an essential part of teaching. Here is a list of helpful suggestions from experience educators. Hosting a Successful Open House Your students' parents are powerful allies and can make your job much more manageable. Learn some tips on how to foster a positive relationship with parents and host a successful open house. Parent/Teacher Relations Handy suggestions for creating and maintaining positive parent/teacher relationships. Additional Resources New Teacher Resources Discover everything a beginning teacher will need for a successful school year, from tips for your first day, to classroom-management advice, to printables and lesson plans that will support your curriculum all year long. Back-to-School Headquarters Return to school this fall prepared to conquer any questions you or your students might have about the school year. Our resources range from teaching students the school's layout to assessment tips. Getting to Know Your Students Get to know new students through icebreakers, name games, and first-day celebrations. Our activities and advice will help teachers develop classroom community and establish positive relationships.