Bookstore Find

I recently purchased a book that I found on a table for teachers at a bookstore. I know there are many books like this, in fact, I had to decided between this and another similar book. I chose this one based on its page appeal. I don't always like reading books that have a page of words, so I usually enjoy the books that you can open to random pages and read a quick anecdote or sentence of advice. That is exactly what this type of book is. With that said, here are some ideas, strategies, and inspirations that I opened the book to and want to share. I made my own comments in asterisks after each tip (if you care to read).

180. Enjoy your students. It's the only way to survive as a teacher. They will disappoint you sometimes. They may even break your heart at times. More often, they will surprise, amaze, and delight you. Those are the moments that make it all worthwhile. ***I completely agree with this. Even though my students drive me crazy some days, I truly enjoy their sense of humor, energy, diverse personalities, and everything else that makes each kid unique.***

252. Document all your disciplinary actions. Notes and records are important in today's litigious society. A good paper trail can lead you out of a lawsuit. ***I was told this when I first started. So far, I've not needed to use my documentation in a formal setting, but it's nice to tell the principal exactly when you called and discussed an issue with a parent.***

271. Whenever students line up, always stand at the back of the line. It's better to see what's going on ahead of you than to trust what's happening behind you. ***I knew this already, but I usually hang out in the middle of the line and it never fails that the end of the line is playing and making noise. It's a simple concept to help keep a better eye on everything.***

372. Know your community. It makes a difference in what you teach and how you teach it. ***This is one of the biggest things I think about daily. Knowing the background of the students helps you not teach over them, but to them. Don't assume they have the background knowledge.***