Your Mentor

A Practical Guide for First-Year Teachers in Grades 1-3

"I would love to put this book in the hands of my new K-2 teachers! The clear and explicit directions for setting up a behavior plan, creating a weekly newsletter, and planning for the first day of school are just what new teachers need to get off to a great start."

Nancy D. Beasley, Principal Selwyn Elementary School Charlotte, NC

"I plan to use this text as an outstanding example of "best teaching practices." Mary Roberts is a skilled writer who communicates to beginning and veteran teachers the requisite skills for successful teaching. I urge school leaders to use the book as a guide for exemplary classroom teaching." John A. Brown, Associate Professor, The Citadel (The Military College of South Carolina) Department of Education, Division of Leadership Mary Presson Roberts remembers her first year of teaching fourteen years ago and the less than positive experience she had to overcome as she struggled alone to become the dedicated and excellent teacher she is today. Your Mentor: A Practical Guide for First-Year Teachers in Grades 1-3 is Roberts' way of making sure other new teachers have the support they need when they need it. This practical, easy-to-implement guide was developed by surveying student teachers, substitute teachers, returning teachers, emergency credential teachers, and teacher educators. Their wide-ranging responses to what they wanted to see included in a teaching reference covered setting up a classroom, developing themes, instructional presentation, student assessment, parent communications, field trips, and more. Your Mentor was written as a stand-alone reference guide when no other support is available or as a supplement to existing school support programs. Actual samples of lesson units, themes, and communications with parents are included along with easy-to-follow, classroom-tested suggestions for: - Lesson plans - Record keeping - Using technology in the classroom - Planning special events - Developing and maintaining professional credentials and portfolios This book will be a valuable reference tool for those in their first few years of teaching, teachers returning to the classroom, and students considering the teaching profession. It will serve as daily companion—like the experienced teacher we all want and need.