Letters to a New Teacher

Jennifer Orr is a National Board Certified elementary school classroom teacher. In her nearly thirty years in the classroom she has taught kindergartners through fifth graders. She is the author of Demystifying Discussion: How to Teach and Assess Academic Conversation Skills, K-5 and the coauthor of We’re Gonna Keep on Talking: How to Lead Meaningful Race Conversations in the Elementary Classroom.

• 1. Letters on Classroom Management and Routines 2. Letters on Behavior Challenges 3. Letters on Classroom Space 4. Letters on Instructional Strategies 5. Letters on Assessment and Data Collection 6. Letters on Collaborating with Others

"As a second-year teacher, reading Letters to a New Teacher felt like finding answers to questions I did not know yet how to ask. Jennifer Orr's letters offer thoughtful, intentional advice. I wish I could carry this in my pocket each day, a compass to guide me within my classroom."— Rory Monaco, Fourth-Grade Teacher“Most new teachers want nothing more than the time and space to ‘talk shop’ with an OG. They want to know what to make of what they are seeing in their classrooms. They want to know what ‘went wrong’ with a lesson. They want to know how to have better interactions with parents and administrators. They want to ask questions that might seem silly but are so important - like ‘How do I get kids to act right during my lunch coverage?’ and ‘How do I manage bathroom breaks?’ - and not be judged. Sometimes, they just want a reminder that ‘getting good’ is a process, and to be assured that they are well on their way. In Letters to a New Teacher, Orr does all of this and more - making it one of the most useful PD books out there. Orr answers important questions with the calm steadiness of a veteran teacher, and the patient love of an invested mentor. And, by the way, it’s not just for new teachers. In reading it, even this ‘old dog’ picked up a few ‘new tricks.’"— Matthew R Kay“In an educational landscape teeming with hardship, Letters to a New Teacher beams with possibility. Orr’s warm, clear, and instructive voice helps us remember that teacher work is more than just meeting a challenge; it is also an adventure in which educators have the opportunity to choose on their own path.”— Kass Minor, Author, Teaching Fiercely: Spreading Joy and Justice in Our Schools “Jennifer Orr empowers new teachers in this volume of creatively written missives, honoring their ‘…energy, enthusiasm, and fresh thinking…’ as she brings them into the fold with the generous spirit that embodies our profession.She responds to a series of real questions and challenges put forth by new teachers with empathy, understanding, compassion, connection, and actionable suggestions while reassuring them they are thinking through the same things experienced teachers continue to think about each year.Jennifer’s rationales regarding the importance of reflection and intention around the dilemmas of practice are pedagogically sound, student centered, practiced over nearly thirty years of teaching, and they pave the way for greater independence for the new teacher and ultimately for students.”— Charlene O’Brien, Faculty - Elementary Education Program, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA“This book has been an incredible read that has truly opened my eyes to helpful tricks for the classroom. Having real life examples of how to deal with issues in the classroom helps me find solutions as well as not feel so alone when problems arise.”— Josephine Schrum, Future teacher