Includes bibliographical references (p.161-164).

Opening day -- What makes a good teacher? -- Effort-based ability -- The dreaded homework dilemma -- The impact of a teacher -- Effective listening -- Bullying prevention -- School safety -- Questions, questions, questions -- Parent teacher conferences -- Student led conferences -- Teacher observations -- Learning how to learn -- Teaching: art or science? -- Giving thanks -- In the middle -- K.I.S.S. -- The big rocks -- God bless us everyone! -- Managing the classroom -- Strategies for ESOL students -- Working with special needs students -- More classroom management -- Responding to learners -- Striving for great -- ESOL revisited -- Differentiation: inconvenient, but inescapable -- Test time -- PIRATES -- Professional learning communities -- Choosing positive -- Extraordinary teachers -- Making the connection -- "I" messages -- Teaching people, not content -- My parents' expectations -- A culture of success.