Practical, thoughtful and inspiring—36 weeks of wisdom for new teachers.


Every teacher has those moments, when the learning curve seems too steep, the workload feels too intense, and the faculty room coffee is too weak. But then there’s the moment when they open this book, and smile. Author Carol Pelletier Radford, a mentoring expert, has collected words of wisdom from experienced teachers across the country to help newer teachers thrive. She asked each of them, what is something you wished you knew when you were starting out as a teacher? The responses range from practical classroom management tips to reminders for self-care, and Radford has arranged them into weekly readings that provide advice from a chorus of seasoned educators to help those new to the profession thrive. Highlights include:





Start-of-the-year routines for a compassionate culture—and the best classroom management
Why consistency and embracing mistakes is important to students—now more than ever
How to design experiences that create student engagement—and energize you
Questions that help you guide a child toward positive behavior—with fairness, firmness and grace
Daily self-care mindsets and rituals—from calming walks to podcasts to learning to say no


When I Started Teaching, I Wish I Had Known... takes a teacher gently by the hand, through 36 weeks of the school year. Its practical strategies address lessons, feedback, building relationships, and so much more. But perhaps what this book does most brilliantly is speak to the person behind the teacher, reminding them that they are already gifted, because they are curious and kind.