You Have to Go to School...You′re the Teacher!

Renee Rosenblum-Lowden has taught children and adolescents for more than 25 years in the New York City school system. Currently, she is sharing her love for teaching by presenting seminars and keynote speeches to new and veteran teachers throughout the country, as well as student teachers at various universities. She uses a sense of humor while arming them with great strategies for making classrooms safe and fun—while always being in control. She has devel­oped a curriculum called Prejudice Awareness, using consciousness-raising techniques and incorporating her training in conflict resolu­tion. She was selected by the NYC Board of Education to train teach­ers in this subject.Ms. Rosenblum-Lowden has conducted workshops for improving com­munication with children and adolescents, using non-confrontational strategies for parents and teachers. Having taught family living and sex education classes, she has unique insights into the needs of her stu­dents. Ms. Rosenblum-Lowden did her undergraduate work at Long Island University and studied at The New School for Social Research and New York University. She continues to be a social activist. She is a transplanted New Yorker who is now living in Colum­bia, Maryland, with her husband Michael and their dog, Susie B. Anthony.Felicia Lowden Kimmel grew up in Brooklyn, NY. She began her career in education as a high school ESOL and English teacher in San Francisco, before returning east to teach in the Washington DC area. She was selected to lead a Peer Mediation program at Annandale High School in Fairfax County, Virginia. Her program received a great deal of attention and national praise after the tragedy at Columbine. She was spotlighted as a panelist for NPR′s "All Things Considered", as well as a featured guest on WPGC′s "Stop the Violence". After several years in this capacity, she joined the high school′s guidance department, while still continuing her involvement in conflict resolution. Felicia has also worked with school districts faculties on understanding prejudice.Currently, Felicia is working as a school counselor in Montgomery County, Maryland. She lives in Olney with her husband Troy, their two daughters, Isabella and Lexi and their dog, Maggie.

• PrefaceAcknowledgmentsAbout the AuthorsPart I. Tips for New and Student Teachers1. Odds and Ends for BeginnersPut Loved Ones on NoticeYour Students Didn′t Sleep Last Night Either!The Mentor TeacherDress Like a Grown-UpStudents Do Get CrushesOverplanFlexible Personal ExpectationsEveryone Else′s Plans Are BetterThe Clerical Work BluesAsk Teachers for HelpObserving Other TeachersTeacher NegativityJust Say NoPart II. Beginning a Winning Year2. They′re Not Here YetGet to School EarlyOrganizing the RoomPut Up DiplomasSay CheeseDon′t Be Caught Unprepared or LateFriendly, But Not BuddiesFirst Name Versus SurnamePersonal Records Debate3. They′re HereThe Rush to SeatsSeating IdeasDon′t Seat by Height or GenderDealing for GroupsRecord Keeping QuestionnaireNow and Later CardsWhat Is Your Favorite Subject?The First Day "Sneaker"Fun IntroductionsYou′ve Got MailTangible Class Guidelines and RulesLet Students Set Rules and ConsequencesYou Own the LimelightYou Can Always Ease UpSit With Your StudentsGreet Students at the DoorDocument?Document?DocumentYowks! 5 Minutes LeftEnd the First Day on an Up Note4. They′re Gone and You Survived!Everything Can Be RedoneYou′re Not a ShrinkYou Can′t Win `Em AllGo Home and Chill OutPart III. Helping Students Be Responsible5. Establishing RoutinesCreatures of HabitThe Standardized NotebookThe "Do Now"/ ?Warm Up?The Aim of "Aim"Class Wrap-UpsWhen to Give Out WorksheetsYou Teach, Not VideosWho Dismisses?6. Have Them Come (and Stay) PreparedYou Are Not the Supply StoreBless the Bargain StoresCollateral, PleaseStrings AttachedCreative PencilsThe Sharpener CoverPencils = Charity?You Owe Me a favor?SwappingScrap Paper7. Homework StrategiesThe Importance of HomeworkThe Homework SpotNumbering HomeworkCollecting HomeworkHand in a Blank SheetSign on the Dotted LineHomework BuddiesH-O-M-E-W-O-R-KOops PassHomework Penalty (With Room for Redemption)Homework Helper?You8. Bathroom BreaksThe Sign-out Book?Can You Wait a Minute? ?The Visual PassSecret CodeBathroom CouponsRespecting the RestroomIt′s That Time?9. Empowering StudentsWe Make Our Own ChoicesThe Right to PassThe SanctuaryTacit ApprovalOne Is a Rat?Ten Is PowerThe "Many Kids Told Me" FibDon′t Call HomeSoftening the Call HomeTons of QuizzesOffer ChoicesConfer for Grades"Class"?The Collective NounIndependent Reading, With Twinkies!Go With the RollIncorporating FadsDid They Learn What You Taught?Role Reversal/Role-Playing?Am I Boring??Classroom Suggestion BoxA Fun Way to Limit SlangDon′t OvercorrectStudent Revenge: Your Personal Evaluation"Help, I′m Being Observed!"I Bragged About You10. Setting ConsequencesEvery Act Has a ConsequenceCoupons/Tickets/Marbles/ ?Money?Sweets or No SweetsStart With a 99%Conduct SheetsTorture SheetsWhen to Call HomeAvoiding Confrontation11. Preventing ShowdownsGoing on AutomaticEverything Is EmbarrassingHumor, Not SarcasmThe Biggest No-No: "Only Kidding""Shut Up!"?Not!"I Told You So"Avoid ArgumentsGlobalizingChoose Your BattlesStart All OverBeware of Empty ThreatsNo Spur-of-the-Moment RulesSet Up Winning SituationsPlagiarismDon′t Force Students to LieMake Rules Specific: Narrow Them DownNo SidesTime-OutNo ComparisonsNever Attack PersonallyDistractions12. Alternatives to YellingThe ?Teacher? LookThe ?Excuse Me? SmileThe Lowered VoiceThe Art of GesturesClap, ClapHurry, Shut Out the Lights!Praising OneInitials On BoardVisual Commands"I Am Waiting"The Bellhop BellStop TeachingThe Tardy QuizEarly Bird SpecialAn Imaginary FriendWord of the DayR-E-C-E-S-S13. Knowing Your AudienceGroup DynamicsDivision of LaborDon′t Play "I Gotcha"Deceiving LooksKids Have Bad Days, TooNegative Attention SeekersGood Kids Can Do Bad ThingsHold Students to Different StandardsToo Much Push on Sports"Can We Really Be Anything We Want?"Audio or Visual?Check the SensesRespect PrivacyA Secret Is a Secret, Unless...Ignore ReputationPermissive Versus Overly PermissiveCultural DifferencesWhat Language Is Spoken at Home?Quality, Not QuantityConfusing Neatness With ResponsibilityDescribe a Fight to a Potential PugilistThe Sound-Off MinutePart IV. Showing You′re on the Same Team14. Communicating Like a ProAcknowledge FeelingsNever Deny PerceptionUse "I" Messages"Let′s" Instead of "You"Interchange Gender PronounsLimit the "You Shoulds"One-to-OneHow to ListenMake Limits Total Rather Than PartialState Rules ImpersonallyVague AllegationsDescribe What You See (or Don?t See)Pick a Rule and Stick to ItStay Simple: One Word or Sentence Will DoThe Desk DrummerWould You Talk to an Adult That Way?Don′t FuturizeParaphraseDon′t Mix Criticism With PraiseCursing ? Yes or No?Forced Apologies Not AcceptedThe Double MessageWhat Would Another Teacher Tell Me?15. Being FairAdmit When You Are WrongAdmit When You Don′t Know SomethingNever Break a PromiseNever Demand a Promise"I′m in a Bad Mood""This Hurts Me More Than It Hurts You"No "Boys Will Be Boys"Etiquette PitfallsPlease and Thank YouGauge the Amount of Homework16. Bonding Strategies"I′m on Your Side"Being Vulnerable: Share a GiggleRelating Your Own ExperiencesStaying NeutralThose Special Few Minutes15 Seconds of FameCreative ExcusesBend the RulesJournalsRead Aloud to Your StudentsGiant CalendarCelebrate BirthdaysCatch the Spirit"I Thought of You"Morning MeetingsClass SolutionsDecorating Your Room?AgainThank Them for the Joy They BringWhen All Else Fails, Buy PizzaPart V. Building Confidence Through Earned Praise17. Self-Esteem StrategiesPraise, Praise, Praise?But Don′t OverpraiseAcknowledge ImprovementsOvergradingConfidence GradingEnthusiastic Credit When Credit Is DuePut-Ups, Not Put-DownsRespect UniquenessLeaders Need to FollowDon′t Rush to CorrectCall Home for the "Average" Student"I Knew You Could Do It" (and More)A Little White Lie"You′re a Late Bloomer"TrackingSome of Us Can′t SpellWonderful Comments on PaperPost All Students′ Work"I Got a 97%! What Did You Get?"Part VI. Safety18. Personal, Physical, and Professional SafetyTo Touch or Not to TouchFace the DoorNever Release a Student to a StrangerNever Throw a Student Out of Your RoomDon?t Break Up FightsScreen the VideosYour School′s Emergency PlanThe CafeteriaKeep the Door OpenYou Are Neither a Pharmacist nor a DoctorDo Not Drive Your Students in Your CarReport Every AccidentTrust Your Gut Feelings and Follow InstinctsGo Home Already!Part VII. Using Your Support System19. Working With ParentsMeet Parents Right AwaySend Home an IntroductionAccommodate ParentsInform Parents Early OnTear on the Dotted LineParents and the InternetGetting Parents InvolvedSpecial Relative DayCall Both ParentsStudents at Parent Conferences?Teacher as MiddlemanParent/Teacher Conference ManagementAssuring ParentsThe Defensive ParentParents and HomeworkChildren as Dream FulfillersParents Knowing More Than YouThe Blame GameDon?t StereotypeBeware of the Answering Machine-*6720. Working With the School Support TeamCover Your Back?When to Consult Your School Counselor or PsychologistConflict ResolutionCooperative Teacher InputBuddy TeacherOther Teachers? SuccessesConfronting Other TeachersNo Gossiping About Your StudentsTeacher CompetitionDo You Float?Field Trip ProtocolHelping Substitute TeachersPreparing Your Students for Your AbsenceEvaluating Substitute TeachersPartnerships With Local Shops, Libraries, and BookstoresGetting Along With the "Boss"The Teachers′ UnionKeep Those Skills SharpThe Really Important PeoplePart VIII. Parting Shots21. See You Next Year!Is Teaching What You Really Want to Do?Keep in TouchThe PortfolioHoliday "Blahs"Burnout PreventionOnly a Few More Months ′til Summer VacationSuggested ReadingsIndex

"Rosenblum-Lowden’s energy alone lit up the room, and with her inspiring words, experienced advice, and genuine care, our students could not have been more moved. She is gifted with the way she shares her knowledge, and it is no wonder she is a sought-after presenter. She is a beacon for so many."