Surviving the First Two Weeks of School

You have just graduated with a degree in education, and are ready for your first classroom! Or are you? You might even be a second or third year teacher with a few lingering jitters. Did you know that in addition to creating spectacular lessons, you need to be an interior designer, manager, relationship builder and more. How do you survive the first few weeks of school, so that the rest of the year is a powerful learning experience for all? In "Surviving the First Two Weeks of School", you will get tips on the many roles of teachers, organizing your classroom, creating learning centers, involving parents and family, and team-building activities to help “break the ice” of this new beginning. Importantly, learn more about building a community of learners: a group of people who value, support, and respect each other in their individual and group learning experiences. A must have resource for new and not-yet veteran teachers - no matter the grade!

You have just graduated with a degree in education, and are ready for your first classroom! Or are you? You might even be a second or third year teacher with a few lingering jitters. Did you know that in addition to creating spectacular lessons, you need to be an interior designer, manager, relationship builder and more. How do you survive the first few weeks of school, so that the rest of the year is a powerful learning experience for all? In "Surviving the First Two Weeks of School", you will get tips on the many roles of teachers, organizing your classroom, creating learning centers, involving parents and family, and team-building activities to help “break the ice” of this new beginning. Importantly, learn more about building a community of learners: a group of people who value, support, and respect each other in their individual and group learning experiences. A must have resource for new and not-yet veteran teachers - no matter the grade!

Stephanie M. Hamilton has over 30 years experience in education. She has taught special and elementary education; and undergraduate and graduate level education coursework. Stephanie’s experience in ELA includes managing several federal reading grants including Reading First Ohio and Expanding the Reach. Since 2010, she has been writing ELA articles and web-based student lessons focused on the Common Core Standards. Stephanie has used the tools in the Toolkit while designing or delivering professional development to educators across the country. She supervised and coordinated the delivery of SBRR (scientifically based reading research) professional development and technical assistance to 42 Title I schools in six states. Stephanie has consulted to state and local agencies on education reform, teacher training, after school programming, parenting, and youth leadership training. She has presented nationally, state-wide, and locally on education-related topics. Stephanie has co-authored a series of social studies supplementary texts as well as contributed articles and lessons to several Web sites, primarily Learners Online. Stephanie was a member of the Praxis Reading Specialist National Advisory Committee and is a volunteer lesson reviewer for IRA’s ReadWriteThink.org website. She holds a B.S. in Special and Elementary Education from Bowling Green State University, and an M.Ed. in Educational Administration: Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development from Ashland University.