The New Teacher Toolbox

A one-stop resource for all your first-year teaching needs!
With tips for everything from establishing an ideal classroom environment to making it through teacher evaluations, this practical volume helps you plan ahead with confidence, keep your perspective, and prepare for the unexpected. Written in a conversational tone, this completely revised edition introduces techniques by grade level, includes an expanded section on Internet use, and provides field-tested strategies on how to: Encourage student participation and critical thinking
Establish fair grading practices
Modify instructional methods and curriculum for students with special needs
Increase parent involvement
Manage stress and maintain sanity

Scott M. Mandel is a National Board-certified teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District. He has worked as a teacher, administrator, and inservice leader for more than 25 years. The author of nine teacher education books, Mandel is also the founder and director of the Teachers Helping Teachers Web site. He received his PhD in curriculum and instruction from the University of Southern California.

"An extremely practical and user-friendly time-saver. Rather than beating around the bush with pages of statistics, philosophies, best practices, and methodologies, this toolbox cuts to the meat of the real questions burning inside new teachers. I strongly encourage any new teacher who is feeling the stress of the first year to take a few minutes and read up on some of the issues that may be contributing to that stress. This book covers just about every issue or concern that one might have and will only save time in the end. In fact, all teachers, new and experienced, could benefit from the quick fixes presented in this plentiful yet to-the-point toolbox."