The new school year is, first and foremost, an opportunity for a new start. If you're among the fortunate ones who had a vacation and time to reflect this summer, you've surely considered ways to be more effective in the classroom and make life easier at home this year. There are many ideas and activities that fit the bill, but there's one that…

In the days before computers, passing on information to substitutes was difficult. Now teachers can individualize their lesson plans to guarantee that substitute teachers and the students will both have a good day. This article provides some plan-ahead procedures that have worked for the author.

Discusses ideas to help teachers ease the anger and fear of children confronted with a new school situation. Suggests that transition from preschool to kindergarten can be difficult, as many students face for the first time limits to their activities. Also discusses another problem for students, the change from self-contained classroom to one with…

Details nine tips for teachers assigned to take over a classroom in the middle of school year: be flexible; remember nervousness is natural; achieve effective classroom management; be prepared for paperwork; do not alter a lesson plan to fit that of the previous teacher; expect the unexpected; make friends on the staff; and keep a sense of humor.…