A Pocketbook for Surviving Teaching and Instruction

This is NOT an academic text on Education, but rather a sometimes-light-hearted guide to the art of teaching with some asides for instructors in the corporate or industrial world. It is written in a simple, easy-to-understand manner and so would be suitable for parents wishing to know more about the teaching profession, especially if they are involved in home schooling. The text has been illustrated with some of the author’s cartoons with a chapter on the use of such art in the classroom.The author has attempted to include many ’tricks of the trade’ and skills such as using the chalkboard/whiteboard which are often not included in formal university teacher-training courses. Practical suggestions and examples of how the new teacher can prepare lessons and units of study are given, including how to use learning objectives, how to plan lessons and how to assess student performance. Influenced by the ’no-nonsense ’of Army Education training, the author has also included some very useful suggestions and information about skills in motivating students and incorporating sketches into teaching practice.Although the emphasis has been on teaching in schools, there is considerable information and advice included in this book which would be useful to the corporate or industrial trainer and for the parent using home schooling for their children.All of the information included in this useful book has come from over forty years practical experience in the classroom moderated by the author’s post graduate studies at the Master’s and Doctorate levels as well as his experience on several State committees assisting in the planning, implementation and assessment of school programs. He was honoured in 2008 as a Teacher of the Year for his long term work in schools, universities and in school and government leadership and management. 3