Journey to Success: The Essential Guide for the First Year of Teaching
Journey to Success: The Essential Guide for the First Year of Teaching
Danica Lewis, Shannon Schultz, and Terese Weiler (Authors)
Starting your first teaching job can be both exciting and overwhelming. This comprehensive workbook, rooted in the principles of Universal Design for Learning, is your essential guide to a successful first year.
Developed by veteran educators with years of experience mentoring new teachers, this resource provides monthly modules covering critical topics such as establishing an asset-based mindset, classroom management, differentiated instruction, and work-life balance.
Each module includes:
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An overview of common "roadblocks" new teachers face and strategies to overcome them
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Recommendations for targeted professional development to build your skills
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Personal growth activities to support your well-being
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Reflection questions to foster deep learning
Whether used independently or alongside a mentor, this workbook equips you with the knowledge, mindsets, and tools to navigate the ups and downs of your first year with confidence. Packed with practical advice and inspiring stories from those who have been in your shoes, this is an indispensable companion for any new teacher.
Get ready for an incredible year - this is your roadmap to an impactful and rewarding first year in the classroom.
About the Authors
Danica Lewis has over 20 years of experience in schools, serving as an elementary teacher, an instructional coach, and later as a school and district administrator, including school building leadership, early childhood leadership, special education leadership, and curriculum & assessment leadership in urban and suburban schools. Danica led the design and implementation of a comprehensive new teacher and mentor program as both a district-level and building-level administrator. She launched and led instructional coaching in a mid-sized urban district in order to improve student learning outcomes. Danica facilitates powerful professional learning around literacy, standards-aligned instruction and assessment, rigorous teaching, instructional coaching, and leadership. In 2017, the Wisconsin Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development recognized Danica as the “Instructional Leader of the Year” for the State of Wisconsin.
Shannon Schultz is a special education teacher. Shannon currently serves as an instructional coach for teachers of students K-12. As a special education instructional coach, Shannon’s assignment includes coaching and collaborating with general educators, special educators, reading specialists, and teachers of English Language learners. This collaboration and coaching focuses on utilizing the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to provide equitable, accessible, and engaging learning opportunities for all students. Shannon also enjoys providing professional development sessions and engaging in professional book clubs focused on Universal Design for Learning.
Terese Weiler is a Gifted and Talented Instructional Coach. She has taught second through fifth grades, served as an instructional support teacher as well as a math interventionist (MRIS). Terese earned her Gifted and Talented Coordinator license through UW-Whitewater in 2017. As a GT instructional coach, she collaborates with general and special education teachers to design appropriate instruction to high ability/potential students, in grades K-12. Terese also enjoys providing professional development sessions and engaging in professional book clubs focused on Universal Design for Learning.
