Do you have a substitute folder? Or at the very least do you have a substitute information sheet with important information? If not, then you really need to consider creating one. Even if you are someone who never uses a substitute, emergencies can arise. It is not hard to create one. This article on creating a substitute folder will give you ideas of what to include. And one final thought, if at the end of each day you set your substitute folder on your desk then you are covered if an emergency should happen to arise.

New teachers are warned against giving lectures all the time. However, it is important to note that there is a time and a place for a good lecture. With that said, however, most lectures can benefit from the addition of questions leading to a Group Discussion situation. I've written two articles that look at the pros and cons of both lectures and discussions. Hopefully each of these can help you as you make choices for lesson plans throughout the year.

• Lectures: Pros and Cons
• Whole Group Discussions: Pros and Cons

Pretests are an extremely effective tool that should be used a lot more often than they are. Pretests help teachers in many ways, not only by helping inform teachers of how much students know before they begin a lesson or unit but also by helping them see how much students actually mastered at the end of a lesson. Further, pretests can help teachers in other ways. Read this article to find out how they can help and what to consider before designing them for your own use.

Classroom management and discipline causes the most fear and consternation in new teachers. However, classroom management is a skill that is not only learned but practiced daily. Here are ten tips that can lead to successful classroom management and discipline.