The Playbook for Middle School Teachers
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This book is a compilation of my best advice for new middle school teachers. I taught English in middle school for more than thirty years in both public and independent schools, and I want to share effective strategies with you to help you build confidence and achieve success. Had I known this information prior to beginning my own career, it would have made my career much easier to navigate. The experiences I am sharing are particular to my teaching experience, and they may not speak directly to yours; however, this playbook for middle school teachers is essential for managing your career and meeting the challenges of the profession.
The Playbook for Middle School Teachers covers significant events that occur throughout a typical school year to help you keep one step ahead of the students in order to survive your first year of teaching. Students are savvy about how unaware new teachers are regarding the shenanigans that students are ready to use on an unsuspecting neophyte. They collaborate before class on how to make teachers the brunt of their jokes. To be informed is to be prepared.
You will learn how to manage field trips, navigate Parents' Night, and handle conferences. I also address technological issues such as cell phones, social media, and the Internet. Technology is a major part of students' lives, and learning how to incorporate it appropriately or not into the school day is essential to your success and your students' success in middle school. In addition, you will learn the importance of listening to the wisdom of your experienced colleagues and how to handle bullying incidents and cheating situations. Finally, you will learn how to manage your career as a professional in the field of teaching.
Teaching is one of the most rewarding professions on the planet. It will not make you rich in worldly terms, but it will make you rich in wonderful memories. The liveliness of youth with their curiosity for learning and incredible energy will bring you joy for many years to come.
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About the Book
Even if you only taught middle school students on a trial basis in college, you already know: It’s not an easy job.
Lois Rinaldi, a longtime middle school teacher, gives you the competitive edge you need to succeed beginning with your first year in this playbook that provides guidance when communicating with students, parents, and administrators.
She shares a step-by-step approach to:
• prepare classrooms for maximum learning;
• conduct parent conferences with confidence;
• address technological issues with awareness and understanding;
• manage student behavior effectively; and
• employ useful strategies for career advancement.
The playbook covers all the major events of the school year, from preparing for the school year, to the first day of school, to meeting parents, and graduation. You’ll also learn how to deal with sensitive issues such as cellphone use, bullying, and cheating.
To succeed as a teacher, you need firsthand information about avoiding the pitfalls that trip up new teachers. Navigate the school year and your career with intelligence and confidence with The Playbook for Middle School Teachers.
About the Author
Lois Rinaldi taught English at King School, an independent school in Stamford, Connecticut, for twenty-eight years. She also taught at Greenwich High School in Greenwich, Connecticut; Wellesley Junior High School in Wellesley, Massachusetts; and Kosciuszko Junior High School in Enfield, Connecticut. She holds a BA from Elms College and an MA from Fairfield University.