The Author xi

Introduction xiii

ONE Dear Teacher: An Open Letter 1

TWO Are You Teacher Material? 5

Super, Excellent, or Good? 7

Earn Some Extra Credit 10

Those Who Can’t Teach Can Still Do 12

What Is Teaching All About? 13

THREE Do Your Homework 17

Choose Your Persona 19

Dress the Part 21

Train Those Little Puppies 22

Control Your Classroom, Not Your Students 24

Plan for Bathroom Breaks 26

Your Optional Agenda 28

Face Your Own Prejudices 29

Respect Yourself 33

Grades: Percentage? Curve? Coin Toss? 37

Covering Curriculum Is Not Teaching 40

There Is No Such Thing as a Casual Remark to a Child 42

FOUR The Big Three: Preparation, Preparation, Preparation 45

Prepare Your Room 46

Prepare Your Paperwork 67

Prepare Yourself 80

FIVE Start with a Smile 91

Day One: Start with a Smile 92

Grab Your Students by Their Brains 97

Stop the Teacher-Versus-Student Attitude in Its Tracks 98

Teach Your Procedure for Oral Responses 103

Be Prepared for “Test the Teacher” 104

Create a Daily “Do-Now”Activity 108

Introduce Students to Each Other 111

Establish Routines and Rituals 114

Take Time to Think 119

Do Some Diagnostics 120

Welcome Handouts and Folders 121

Delegate Some Authority 123

Demonstrate the Power of Choice 124

Review Maslow's Hierarchy 126

Introduce Metacognition 129

Show Your Gratitude 132

The Hard Part Is Over—We Hope 132

SIX Discipline Is Not a Dirty Word 135

Define Your Philosophy 136

What Goes Around Does Come Around 138

Cowboy Philosophy 140

Rules Versus Procedures 142

Rules for Creating Rules 143

Identify Your Bullies and Outcasts 145

Characteristics of Successful Discipline Policies 146

Twelve Steps to Better Discipline 153

If You Have to Have Detention,Make It Worthwhile 162

Keep Records 163

Consult the Experts, but Trust Your Instincts 163

Emergency Meltdown Disaster Plan 164

SEVEN The Three Rs: Reading, Reading, Reading 171

What's the Problem? 172

What the Solution? 174

And Now for Something Completely Different 190

Shakespeare for Reluctant Readers 192

Use Music to Introduce Poetry 198

EIGHT Light and Learning 201

Can't Read—or Won't Read? 201

Seeing Is Believing 205

Scotopic Sensitivity 206

Signs and Symptoms of Light Sensitivity 209

Scientific Support 209

Shedding More Light on the Subject 211

NINE Foods for Thought 215

The Big Fat Problem 216

Mother's Milk Versus Formula 219

Doctor's Orders 221

Other Major Nutritional Villains 221

We Need to "Use Our Noodles" 227

TEN Top Twelve Motivational Strategies 231

Help Students Believe Success Is Possible 233

Adjust the Attitudes 235

Alter Student Self-Perceptions 238

Catch Kids Being Good 241

Reach Out to Parents and Guardians 242

Be Your Own Guinea Pigs 243

Request Frequent Feedback 245

Chart Student Progress 245

Go Right-Brain 249

Make Mistakes Mandatory 253

Connect Through Private Journals 255

Introduce Ethics 258

ELEVEN The Posse Update 261

Where Are the Dangerous Minds Kids Today? 262

"Raul" 263

"Gusmaro" 263

"Callie" 264

"Emilio" 265

Heidi 266

Octavio 267

Eric 267

Shonta 267

Nick 268

Isabel 268

My Take on the Movie 268

TWELVE Twenty Years from Now 271

The Good News 274

Appendix 279

My Excellent-Eleven Book List 279

Recommended Web Sites 282

Index 287