Always a Lesson: Teacher Essentials for Classroom and Career Success - Paperback

by Gretchen Bridgers (Author)

Step-by-step advice to help teachers master classroom management, lesson design, student engagement, and beyond

Always a Lesson: Teacher Essentials for Classroom and Career Success is the book that can turn every good teacher into a great teacher. The art and science of teaching can be difficult to navigate. There are moving pieces that change how teachers should approach instruction, like unique student needs year after year, curriculum changes, updated research on best practices and more. It's essential that teachers of all levels continue to learn and develop their craft so that they can best manage these moving pieces. Using personal stories and tangible next steps gained from her experience as a teacher and teacher leader, author Gretchen Bridgers can level-up your teaching, filling the gap left between traditional teacher-training programs and the real world.

With high teacher turnover rates in the wake of the great resignation that occurred post-COVID, teachers need support more than ever. Always a Lesson offers a systematic process for strengthening the skillset of any teacher. The sequence of what teachers work on is the key to move through obstacles and increase effectiveness. No matter their level of expertise, Bridgers takes the stance that all teachers are learners. By applying the principles and strategies in this book, novice to veteran teachers will see a positive impact on student learning and their proficiency as an elite educator.

K-12 teachers, teacher mentors, instructional coaches, school administrators, and anyone else with an interest in improving teacher retention will thank their lucky stars for this book.

Back Jacket

BOLSTER YOUR CONFIDENCE IN THE CLASSROOM WITH PRACTICAL TOOLS AND PROVEN TECHNIQUES

Teacher-preparation programs provide new teachers with a basis of knowledge, but that basis is often missing a crucial element. The result is a wobbly foundation, and new teachers often feel as though collapse is right around the corner. Always A Lesson fills in those gaps, shoring up that foundation so you can feel solid and confident as you build your teaching career. Short and to-the-point, this book takes you straight to the information you need to know and the steps you need to take, without a lot of fluff or filler. Perfect for K-12 teachers (and their mentors) and as a resource in teacher-preparation programs, this powerhouse of a book will start new teachers off on the right foot, empower early-career teachers to go from good to great, and reduce turnover in our schools.

"This book is the perfect buddy read by every student teacher and mentor! Gretchen has an uncanny ability to support new teachers while simultaneously sparking renewal in their mentors!"
--MELISSA EMLER, Chief Learning Officer, Modern Learners

"Always A Lesson serves as an indispensable guide for instructional coaches and mentors, articulating the Teacher Success Pathway with precision. It lays out a strategic framework for coaches and mentors to identify and focus on key areas for teacher development, ensuring efforts directly amplify teacher proficiency and student success. Gretchen's insightful approach equips coaches with the tools to effectively prioritize and advance teaching excellence."
--NICOLE S. TURNER, Author and CEO of Simply Instructional Coaching Inc.

Author Biography

GRETCHEN BRIDGERS is owner and chief consultant of Always A Lesson, which provides the support and guidance educators need to develop into their full potential. Gretchen is a two-time National Board Certified teacher. She also serves educators through her blog, her Empowering Educators podcast, coaching, keynote speaking and professional development sessions.