A First-Year Teacher's Guidebook, 2nd Ed.

Rating:
Summary: No real substance
Review: I found the book to be full of surface level, common-sense platitudes that didn't really give me much more advice than I'd gotten from my college courses. I was looking for a book that would give me more substantial help in starting my first classroom (examples of classroom setup, reproducibles for classroom organization, etc.). This book did not fill my needs.
In addition, the book is written specifically for elementary teachers, although there is the occasional nod to those teaching sixth grade. As a middle school teacher, much of the advice within was not very applicable.

Rating:
Summary: No real substance
Review: I found the book to be full of surface level, common-sense platitudes that didn't really give me much more advice than I'd gotten from my college courses. I was looking for a book that would give me more substantial help in starting my first classroom (examples of classroom setup, reproducibles for classroom organization, etc.). This book did not fill my needs.
In addition, the book is written specifically for elementary teachers, although there is the occasional nod to those teaching sixth grade. As a middle school teacher, much of the advice within was not very applicable.

Rating:
Summary: Concerned Teacher
Review: I have a copy of Bonnie Williamson's Book The First-Year Teacher's Guidebook and it is one of the worst I have seen written. At one point it told the teacher to humiliate a student in front of the class to get them to conform. Scary book! Sorry, not for me or any of my fellow teachers. It should be zero stars.

Rating:
Summary: It is "OK"
Review: I was not impressed with this book. It was not as interesting or an informational as i had hoped. I read rookie teaching for dummies and i had really liked it It is not a bad book, it has some good ideas, they are just a little "fluffy". It is not good, it is not bad, it is just ok.

Rating:
Summary: Good for Readers
Review: If you're going to be a teacher, and you can read well, try Bonnie's book out. It can't hurt: At the least, the book will get the mental wheels spinning for soft education majors. Other reviewers (below) who gave this book 1-2 stars may well be from a union campaign. They know that if *some* teachers are actually prepared, then *they'll all* have to do some work! I say, "Let's raise the bar, folks! Teachers *should* read books, and teachers should be prepared. Let's leave the days of lazy, chubby, chit chat about sit-coms, 'not my job' teaching behind us!" Bonnie's book is a step in the right direction. I suggest it for all teachers who can read well.

Rating:
Summary: WHAT YOU DON'T LEARN IN COLLEGE
Review: should be the title of this book! As a recent college graduate, I mistakenly felt prepared to go into the classroom and "do my best" This book opened my eyes to the reality of what to expect and prepared me for it. I think Bonnie Williamson hit it right on the nose with her title, and I suggest you don't enter the classroom without it, better yet, don't accept a job without it, don't enter a teacher program without it! (smile) Really, it gives you a better outlook of the "teacher's world" and is an excellent preparation resource! Good luck and God Bless you! Oh yeah! Also, check out "The First Days of School" by Harry and Rosemary Wong (GREAT BOOK!) Yolunda

Rating:
Summary: they teach all this in college
Review: This book has helped to answer a lot of questions I had. I will definitely be keeping it nearby when I do my practicum!

Rating:
Summary: A word of warning
Review: This book only discusses teaching of grades K-6 (something not mentioned by any of the other reviewers). So, if you're planning to teach high school, you'd be best served by a different book.

Rating:
Summary: Not helpful enough...
Review: This book was a big disappointment - especially with the $17.95 price. I was looking for ideas on how to set up my classroom, manage my classroom and organize my room. Instead, this book spent too much time focusing on what to do when you are initially hired - such as meet with the building principal, tour the area, get familiar with your new school. Although this info is important, it really won't help someone get through the day to day aspects of teaching - which is what I was after.