Introduction 1

Part I: Developing Your Teaching Style 9

Chapter 1: Building Your Teaching Skills 11

Chapter 2: Understanding Teaching Styles – and Developing One That Works for You 27

Chapter 3: Making the Most of Your Communication Skills 43

Part II: Teaching a Class 59

Chapter 4: Preparing and Teaching High-Quality Lessons 61

Chapter 5: Getting (and Keeping) a Class Engaged 81

Chapter 6: Getting the Most Out of Your Students 97

Part III: Managing a Class 121

Chapter 7: Structuring Your Teaching and Your Teaching Space 123

Chapter 8: Building Better Behaviour 149

Chapter 9: Creating a Positive Classroom Atmosphere 171

Chapter 10: Handling Challenging Situations 189

Part IV: Dealing with Different Kinds of People 209

Chapter 11: Getting to Know Your Students 211

Chapter 12: Working as Part of a Team 237

Chapter 13: Building Bonds with Parents 257

Part V: Succeeding Beyond the Classroom 277

Chapter 14: Climbing the Paper Mountain 279

Chapter 15: Getting Involved in Extra-Curricular Activities 293

Chapter 16: Evaluating and Furthering Your Teaching Skills 305

Part VI: The Part of Tens 315

Chapter 17: Ten Great Ways to Engage with a Group 317

Chapter 18: Ten Key Strategies for Handling Difficult Behaviour 325

Chapter 19: Ten Tips for Dealing with Stress 333

Chapter 20: Ten Best Book and Website Resources for Teachers and Trainers 339

Index 343

Be the teacher that they remember

Are difficult pupils disrupting your lessons? Is paperwork taking up all your time? Are you looking for new ideas to keep your class interested? If so, you've come to the right place. This lively guide covers everything from delivering fantastic lessons to dealing with challenging situations and managing your time outside the classroom. Whether you're an experienced teacher or are just starting out, this friendly handbook will help you get the most from both your pupils and your career.

• Develop a confident teaching style – improve your communication skills and find the techniques that work best for you

• Prepare and present engaging lessons – structure effective lesson plans and get the most out of your students

• Manage a class effectively – encourage good behaviour and create a positive classroom atmosphere

• Deal with different types of people – build good relationships with your students, their parents and your colleagues

• Succeed beyond the classroom – deal with the paperwork, get involved with extra-curricular activities and develop your career

'Don't let the title fool you; this is an essential guide for any aspiring teacher. Sue Cowley uses her experience and insight to provide a comprehensive and informative resource, packed with excellent advice and brilliant suggestions for making both teaching and learning effective. A must for any teacher's bookshelf!' – Peter Hadfield, Principal Lecturer in Education, University of Bedfordshire

Open the book and find:

• Body language techniques for projecting authority

• Advice on effective lesson planning

• Ways to appeal to different learning styles

• The best methods for assessing and grading your pupils

• Helpful time-management techniques

• Guidance on establishing discipline and dealing with confrontation

• How to deal with parents' evenings

• Ten top stress-busting tips