I’ve been a teacher for close to 17 years, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. NOTHING beats the feeling when a student comes to you, looks you in the eye, and utters “Thank you” for the blood, sweat and tears you’ve put into helping them.

But I didn’t always feel this positively towards the profession. Teaching while rewarding, is at times emotionally and mentally taxing. There were times I thoroughly hated it, and thought of quitting.

Along the way I ran across various resources which changed the way I approached teaching, and they not only made me a far superior teacher, but brought a sense of joy to the job I so dearly love.

Today I’d like to share with you three resources which changed my life when it came to teaching:

1) Harry Wong: First Days of School — Best resource on classroom management

Classroom management can make or break a teacher. Yet it’s a topic which is given little importance in teaching courses. I know countless teachers who’ve quit the profession because they had classes which were so unruly and disrespectful it burnt them out.

I speak from experience too. I came EXTREMELY close to quitting around a year in when I felt I simply didn’t have the skills required to get the attention or respect of many of my classes.

Thank god a friend pushed Harry Wong’s book into my hands. For the first time I realised classroom management was a skill I could work on. It was the first time anyone had shown me the mindset needed to handle an unruly class, along with actionable steps how to win their respect.

This book is a must for anyone who’s had issues with classroom management. Dare I say without it I may not be a teacher today. It’s been that powerful for me.

2) TES forums

These forums have been around for a long time so I won’t say too much on them. Get in there and learn!

3) Michel Thomas in “The Language Master” — Best documentary on teaching

Michel Thomas is considered one of the greatest teachers to ever live. He was the man who helped 1000s of people — including A-list celebs such as Mel Gibson, Woody Allen and Barbara Streisand — learn to speak a foreign language from scratch to reasonably fluently in a matter of days.

But what Michel had to teach went beyond linguistics. He had an entire philosophy to teaching which can be applied to subjects as widespread as Maths, Music or Geography.

The british documentary “The Language Master” follows Michel as he enters a struggling school in the UK and applies his methodologies. Without giving too much away, the documentary is simply an insight into watching a master at work.

I’ve followed what Michel outlines in the documentary in my own classes and the result has been phenomenal. I’m no longer the same teacher I was before watching this. I’m more assured, confidence and effective in every way. I promise you — it’s that powerful!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0w_uYPAQic