Teaching is a lifelong trial, but the first few years in the classroom are typically amongst a teacher's most challenging. Teach in the Positive Circle: Creating Opportunities for Growth and Reflection is an instrumental resource for new teachers entering the profession. This collection of real-world scenarios, checklists, and reflections provides practical guidance to make the first years successful. This book will help new teachers navigate relationships and understand themselves on a deeper level and the specific, positive tips will help in sustaining the energy necessary to maintain the enthusiasm and joy of the profession throughout their career. New teachers will find perseverance, balance, and confidence in daily interactions with different personalities. Teach in the Positive Circle also offers tips to set up a new teacher induction program as well as providing support to traditional and alternative teacher preparation programs, teacher cadet programs, and individual in-service teachers.
Julie West, a native Texas gal, has been a consummate and professional educator for seventeen years. She currently works as a Literacy Blended Learning Coach and a Reading Academy Cohort leader for the Terrell Independent School District. Prior to becoming a part of the Curriculum and Instruction team, she was a classroom teacher for fifteen years. You can gain tips and advice by following her on Twitter @Julie_West100.
Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1. The Start of Something New Chapter 2. Relationships and Connections Chapter 3. Diving Deep into Relationships Chapter 4. Self-Awareness Chapter 5. Professionalism Chapter 6. Intentions and Best Practices for Learning Chapter 7. Lesson Preparation Chapter 8. New Mindset and Self-Care Chapter 9. The Pessimist Syndrome Chapter 10. One, Two, Three: Evaluator and Me Chapter 11. Life Outside of School Chapter 12. New Teacher Growth in the First Year Chapter 13. Teacher Retention Chapter 14. Administrator: Friend or Foe? Chapter 15. Roll Out and Monitor Chapter 16. Management Chapter 17. Scenarios Chapter 18. Feedback Chapter 19. Parent Communication Chapter 20. Parent-Teacher Conference Chapter 21. Midyear Rejuvenation Chapter 22. Student Engagement Chapter 23. Gratitude and Educators Chapter 24. End of the Year Chapter 25. The Last Hour: Now What? Chapter 26. Final Thoughts Epilogue Bibliography About the Author
As we have returned to in-person learning in classrooms, never has the power of the positive relationship been more important. Optimism is an integral part of leadership in the classroom, the campus, and the district; Teach in the Positive Circle helps center us on the positive relationships critical to learning. A must-read for the beginning teacher or the seasoned veteran, Julie West's words will replenish you and inspire you! -- Georgeanne Warnock, superintendent of schools, Terrell Independent School District, Terrell, TX Building positive relationships is like a bank; a resource to be used when teachers and students encounter failure, not knowing, and misunderstanding and have high trust to seek help and move forward. This message is the power of Teach in the Positive Circle: Creating Opportunities for Growth and Reflection. -- John Hattie, emeritus laureate professor, Melbourne Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne, Australia; chair of the board of the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership Once you've recruited a new teacher, how do you keep them? Ideas, strategies, and resources are now at your fingertips with Teach in the Positive Circle: Creating Opportunities for Growth and Reflection. This book is not only for new teachers but for any school administrator working on the challenging task of teacher retention. Julie West provides concrete ways to support those new to the profession, whether from traditional education programs or people entering the field through an alternative route. -- Melanie Magee, deputy superintendent of leading and learning, Terrell Independent School District; 1994 Pulitzer Prize-winner in International Reporting Teachers are a valuable resource, and we must support them as they learn to navigate the adventures, trials, and victories in the classroom so they continue in the profession. Most importantly, teachers who discover who they are and how they build a legacy through their service to students and other educators provide the strongest, genuinely positive impact in generations of students and our society overall. This is the crucial message of Teach in the Positive Circle. -- Melissa Nichols, director of recruitment and retention, Terrell Independent School District, Terrell, TX Teachers face incredible challenges in the modern classroom, but the foundation for their success will always be rooted in identifying resources and strategies that encourage growth and development as professionals. Teach in the Positive Circle: Creating Opportunities for Growth and Reflection provides the tools to help build confidence and spur teachers onwards to accomplishing great things in the lives of their students. For every teacher wanting to build relationships that make an impact, this book will inspire them to lead with an invigorated commitment to student achievement. -- Chris Grey, assistant director, teaching and learning services, Region 10 Education Service Center, Richardson, TX
