HOPE IS ON THE WAY! I firmly believe that what will make you a master teacher is not the advice I give you; what will make you a master teacher is that you figure out how to solve those challenges on your own, in your own way. From the Preface As a new teacher you face numerous challenges. Right from the start you must learn how to manage a class full of restless students; develop productive relationships with fellow teachers, administrators, and parents; and design engaging lesson plans that will meet ever-increasing levels of accountability all while building a life for yourself in the process. It can be overwhelming and sometimes you can feel like you re all alone. And yet, you came to this profession because you want to make a difference. How do you juggle the demands of the profession and find your own voice, your own teaching style, your own teaching self? The good news is that you can do this. In this down-to-earth, inspirational book, bestselling author Robyn Jackson offers encouragement and real-world advice for navigating those difficult years as a beginning teacher. Sharing stories from her own humbling first years as a new teacher, Robyn helps you tackle challenges such as motivating students, planning effective lessons, building relationships with parents, bouncing back from embarrassing mistakes, and finding your own authority as a teacher. She also helps you find success outside the classroom with practical pointers for living on a teacher s salary and carving out time to have a life of your own. With candor and a good deal of wit, she gently guides you to develop your own teaching style and, ultimately, to find your own path toward mastery. Robyn speaks to new educators as a trusted mentor, one who knows how to navigate the tricky terrain of new teacherdom and knows how rich and rewarding the payoff will be. If you re new to the profession or know someone about to embark on a teaching career,You Can Do Thisis the essential roadmap to succeeding as a new educator both inside and outside the classroom.

HOPE IS ON THE WAY!"I firmly believe that what will make you a master teacheris not the advice I give you; what will make you a master teacheris that you figure out how to solve those challenges on your ownin your own way." --From the PrefaceAs a new teacher you face numerous challenges. Right from thestart you must learn how to manage a class full of restlessstudents; develop productive relationships with fellow teachersadministrators, and parents; and design engaging lesson plans thatwill meet ever-increasing levels of accountability all whilebuilding a life for yourself in the process. It can be overwhelmingand sometimes you can feel like you're all alone.And yet, you came to this profession because you want to make adifference. How do you juggle the demands of the profession andfind your own voice, your own teaching style, your own teachingself?The good news is that you can do this.In this down-to-earth, inspirational book, bestselling authorRobyn Jackson offers encouragement and real-world advice fornavigating those difficult years as a beginning teacher. Sharingstories from her own humbling first years as a new teacher, Robynhelps you tackle challenges such as motivating students, planningeffective lessons, building relationships with parents, bouncingback from embarrassing mistakes, and finding your own authority asa teacher. She also helps you find success outside the classroomwith practical pointers for living on a teacher's salary andcarving out time to have a life of your own. With candor and a gooddeal of wit, she gently guides you to develop your own teachingstyle and, ultimately, to find your own path toward mastery.Robyn speaks to new educators as a trusted mentor, one who knowshow to navigate the tricky terrain of "newteacherdom"--and knows how rich and rewarding the payoffwill be. If you're new to the profession or know someoneabout to embark on a teaching career,You Can Do Thisis theessential roadmap to succeeding as a new educator both inside andoutside the classroom.

Preface ixAcknowledgments xviiAbout the Author xix1 You Can Be YourselfDeveloping Your Own Teaching Style 12 You Can Have a LifeFinding Balance 153 You Can Smile Before ChristmasWhat to Do with Bad Advice 414 You Can Design Great LessonsHow to Tackle Planning 615 You Can Find Common GroundWorking with Parents 876 You Can Keep Things Running SmoothlyManaging Your Classroom 1117 You Can Bounce BackRecovering from Mistakes 1278 You Can Get BetterGrowing Your Own Teaching Style 1419 You Can ShineDistinguishing Yourself as an Educator 16110 You Can LeadBecoming a Master Teacher 181Questions for Discussion 193Index 199