Teacher Training Books

Thirty-three years of teaching experience has given Carol Keeney a bit of insight into classroom management. In BRAND NEW TEACHER: HOW TO GUIDE AND TEACH THE EARLY GRADES USING SCRIPTS, Keeney outlines an approach using scripts, as an actor would. Directed toward new teachers just entering the school system, Keeney provides a plan for capturing the class's attention from day one and maintaining it throughout the year. It is essentially a handbook for first-year teachers who tend to be left to their own devices and with no guidance are expected to instantly take control of a class of young children. The advice Keeney provides has been accumulated through her own trial and error process, in hopes that new teachers can manage to avoid some of the pitfalls that inevitably come before discovering a niche in the education world.

Part One is composed of two chapters that introduce the teacher to the value of scripts and emphasize how children seek approval in the expressions and mannerisms of the adults around them. Part Two is an organizational tool, four chapters providing lists of materials that may be needed, strategies for classroom layout and tips for creating effective bulletin boards. In this section, the teacher is building an engaging "set" for their "audience." Part Three contains some basic projects and games that can be adapted for different themes and subjects. What I found most helpful was that Keeney lists the instructions for the projects, then relates the benefits of each activity and the specific skills the children will learn. Each section begins with a list of comprehension questions to reinforce the information taught in the activity. The teacher can use these to get an idea of how well the lesson was received by the children and what is actually being retained.

Part Four brings us to the scripts. After creating an objective, setting the stage, and choosing some activities, the teacher must decide how they will execute the assignments in the most effective way. Keeney provides scripts for some essential lessons for early grades. The teacher can use the scripts exactly as they are provided to become familiar with the method, then use them as an outline for creating their own need-specific scripts. Keeney provides a full week's worth of scripts as a primer for teachers to begin building their own. Just as a script for a play or movie provides the actors with specific lines and motions, Keeney's classroom scripts provide the teacher with the same careful instruction. Keeney follows up with a chapter on challenges that might disrupt the script and ways to handle them.

Because the majority of Keeney's experience has been in early elementary grades, specifically first grade, all of the lessons and activities are created specifically for that age group and skill level. This makes it more difficult for teachers of higher grades to adapt the exercises to the abilities of their own students, but grasping the concept of scripts is a tool that can be used by instructors of all ages. It is no secret that children learn best when they are interested in the subject matter. Scripts allow the teacher to grab the students attention and build interest in the curriculum for optimum retention.

As a home schooling mother, I can personally attest to the value of scripts. When my own enthusiasm begins to falter, so does my children's. Even with a class of two students whose full attention should not be difficult to gain, boredom and distraction can set in. Scripts can rejuvenate the appetite for learning and serve as a blueprint for both teacher and student.

This is a delightful book for first year teachers. It is extremely helpful for that new teacher ( or even seasoned teacher). "Brand New Teacher" is filled with confidence building ideas presented in a unique way that keeps you smiling. This is a great gift idea for the new graduate or something for a new teacher to think of purchasing to help with the first year teaching jitters!

This book is filled with great ideas and words of wisdom to help you in your classroom. I would recommend it to both seasoned and new teachers. It is a great addition to any teacher's library.

"Brand New Teacher" has really helped me in preparing to be a great teacher. If your elementary education read this book! It helped me to discover the art or teaching. I think it will help new and experienced teachers in the classroom. I'm new to the profession and have found it very helpful. I have read lots of elementary education books. This text seems to be the most practical I've found. It is also an easy read. I highly recommend this book.

This book is visually appealing and filled with ideas to help the new teacher feel comfortable and confident in the classroom. The way the text and graphics are placed on each page, makes the reader want to continue reading the book. Any page you turn to in the book has another idea that could be very helpful, especially when the teacher is first starting out. I, a seasoned teacher, have found ideas in this guide that I would use in my class!

For a number of years now I have worked togehter with Dr Paul Schempp on different occasions. Most of all I have enjoyed his help when running traning camps for elite golfers of the Swedish National Team. Paul is the reason to why the camps now are extremely popular among the players simply becasue they are fun, enjoyable, highly educational and performance enhancing. Many of the things I have learned from working with Paul he shares in this book and I would recommend it to anyone who is involved in helping other people become better athletes. Or put another way - if you want to be a better coach - read this book!

Schempp provides a very applied, but research based approach to teaching sport and physical activity. This is a great book for those aspiring to teach in any activity setting - from public school physical education, to recreation centers, to youth sport contexts, or even those working with young adults and seniors in various physical activit or sport settings.

It is grounded in the real world of teaching and provides wonderful examples of teachers and coaches for others to emulate.

I recommend this book without reservation.


Thomas J. Templin

This book was easy to read and very thought provoking. Helps one get to the whys of education more than the hows. Would be a great book club choice so that once the thoughts are provoked conversations could take place and from there...real change.

Potential buyers should note that this book concerns itself with the ethics of teaching at the college level. It does not discuss high school, middle school or elementary education, and there's certainly nothing on the ethical challenges of special ed. The discussion of each case seems pretty sensible, but it's brief and so provides a starting point for discussion rather than real resoluton of problems.

This is the perfect book if you are an Instructional Coach or district leader/administrator and you are looking to start or improve your district's coaching program. As a soon-to-be Instructional Coach, this book allowed me to fully understand the true purpose of my new position. This book is filled with invaluable pieces of realistic advice from authors who "lived it"! It is a quick and easy read. I read it from front to back in only a couple of hours and have already referred to it several times. I feel excited and confident now that I have read this book. Buy it and enjoy!!!