Succeeding in the Secondary Classroom: Strategies for Middle and High School Teachers

"Practical, hands-on strategies to guide beginning teachers through their initial teaching experience. A roadmap to a successful journey."
Michael Johnson, Principal
Alameda High School
Alameda, CA

"Provides the practical support that new teachers need to help them succeed . . . and at the same time provides the theoretical support that all teachers need to help them become truly professional educators."
Marion McDowell
Former Deputy Superintendent
Sequoia Union High School District

Every day of the school year is the first day of the school year . . . for some teacher, somewhere. And whenever that first day occurs, the challenge is the same: to focus on everything and everyone―students, parents, colleagues, teaching associates, and school site administrators―and make it all work.

This new book of insights and ideas is designed especially for beginning secondary teachers who want to excel during that all-important first year. Included are strategies on:

• What to do before the first day of school, from planning classroom design to dressing for success
• Handling that first week of school
• Planning for classroom instruction
• Student recordkeeping
• Classroom management and discipline
• Working with colleagues, substitutes, and paraprofessionals
• Communicating with parents

. . . and invaluable insights on self-evaluation, school politics, and finding a balance between work, home, and colleagues.

Succeeding in the Secondary Classroom is a culmination of materials from master teachers who work with beginning teachers every day to help them succeed.

Harriet Arnold is a veteran educator who has served as an elementary school teacher, a middle school administrator, elementary school principal, director of personnel and staff development, and international consultant to schools. A graduate of San Francisco State University with a B.A. in Social Welfare, she received her Master of Education at California State University, San Jose, and her Doctorate with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of San Francisco. Her professional development projects have involved training for the Ministry of Education in the Bahamas and coordinator of the Sequoia Beginning Teacher Program.

Dr. Harriet Brown Arnold is a veteran educator who has served as elementary school teacher, middle school administrator, elementary school principal, director of personnel and staff development, and international consultant to schools. A graduate of San Francisco State University with a B.A. in Social Welfare, she received her Masters in Education at California State University, San Jose and her Doctorate with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of San Francisco. Her professional development projects have included training for the Ministry of Education in the Bahamas and coordinating the Sequoia Beginning Teacher Program.