The Cornerstone: Classroom Management That Makes Teaching More Effective, Efficient, and Enjoyable

by Angela Watson

Do you constantly repeat instructions? Are you fighting a never-ending paper battle? Strong classroom management is the cornerstone of effective teaching, and this book will help lay the foundation for everything you want to accomplish professionally:

-Designate a place for EVERY type of classroom material

-Turn needy, disorganized children into self-reliant, responsible students

-Develop and teach ANY classroom procedure

-Train the class to follow along, stay on-task, and work together

-Use fun teaching techniques that help you assess student learning

-Eliminate homework hassles and parent miscommunications

-Prevent burnout by enjoying and growing with students

-Construct a self-running classroom that frees you to teach!

Using actual classroom photographs, forms, and dialogue examples, The Cornerstone will show you how to design instructional routines that facilitate learning. It will guide you through each step of communicating and reinforcing your expectations. Learn how to create a vision for your classroom and TEACH for it!

Genres: Education, Teaching, Professional Development, Nonfiction, School

720 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 3, 2008

Reviews

[Ms. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cornerstone is perhaps the only book I would give to a student teacher. This book is about all the other parts of the job: everything from what to save from year to year to how to take a class to the drinking fountain. I wish I had read this before my first year. I plan to reread at least parts of it every summer.

[Juju · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible all-inclusive manual for both new teachers and veterans. The subjects range from how to organize your classroom to how to deal with students with high behavioural needs. I absolutely recommend this book as well as Angela Watson's (née Powell) podcast Truth for Teachers and her 40 Hour Teacher Workweek.

[Jarrett Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arguably one of the better books for classroom management. Reads like a reference book, not a novel.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mainly read this for the chapter on avoiding the paper trap as that has always been a struggle for me as a teacher. So many papers and so little time you know?! So, in my opinion, The Cornerstone has wonderful pictures, tips, and strategies for staying organized in this teacher world! I feel much more assured than these past 6 years, that I will be able to tame the paper trap that overtakes everything.

But I also loved that this book gave some interesting tips on things that I have felt I was strong with, but still had some tiny issues happen here and there such as end of day dawdling or getting drinks at the wrong times, etc. These are the little things that I appreciate having simple tips for in a book like this.

A lot of it was for new teachers (I'd say 2/3-3/4 of it). But frankly, any veteran teacher would benefit from this book. I bet any teacher could find at least one chapter or section that would benefit he or she in the classroom. I bet!

I also truly appreciated that Powell offered this book in eBook format!

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so far up to Part 3 in this handy Kindle edition, and as an early-ish teacher (five years), let me say I wish I had had this book as a set text when I was studying my teaching degree, and I wish I could have had its author as my first year mentor. At least this title, and its supporting website, runs a close second. Finally! Practical ideas and solutions for all the everyday issues that arise in the classroom!

I will write a full review when I finish reading, but my early impression of

The Cornerstone: Classroom Management That Makes Teaching More Effective, Efficient, and Enjoyable is that is detailed, do-able and delivered in a friendly, understanding tone.

A useful, practical reads for teachers.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It’s like a teacher manual for best practices in classroom management and more. I bought this book when I had been teaching about 10 years. There were so may good ideas and practical suggestions that I tried to do them all. Of course I couldn’t do it. So I took a few strategies and tried them. Amazing difference and very helpful. After about 20 years of teaching and trying strategies slowly, I came across my favorite strategy for this: How do you keep students from coming up to you, following you around the room, and coming to your desk? The strategy worked after a week of practice! I highly recommend this book. I’m retired now and gave the book to a new teacher. Hopefully she’ll pick it up one day and start using some of the strategies.

[Shanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many useful tips in this book! Angela Watson must be a great teacher because she has solutions for almost every typical classroom concern, and you can tell she genuinely cares about her students and loves her job. Written in a very down-to-earth tone, this book is like talking to a teacher friend. Honest, practical, and my favourite teaching book so far!

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really helpful book, especially for new teachers. She has advice for any potential problem you might encounter in the classroom, really specific strategies to reinforce positive behavior in students. She also has a lot of great tips on staying organized as a teacher, things you definitely won't learn in any teaching program. I can't wait to implement these ideas in my classroom.

[Myra · Rating 3 out of 5]

She's a little too rigid in her ways of managing her classroom. She also made a reference to "urban" schools which is really her code for black kids. Unfortunately, her comments are not rare; therefore, I was still able to take away some helpful ideas.

[Amy Brundeen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best teaching books I've read (twice)

This book is very practical and encouraging. She doesn't sugar coat the challenges of teaching, and actually tells you HOW to implement her ideas in an actual classroom.

[Wendy Waldt · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite teaching books! Re-reading it before school starts.

[Jessica Caldwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book. It has so many great tips for any classroom.

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books that's good to flip through before the year begins, just to remind you of the little things. It gives a little motivation.

[Trista · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has many great ideas for classroom management and teacher organization. Very helpful and affirming.

[Beth Lind · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book full of good advice for teachers.

[Jelena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good title for a wonderfully written teacher book. Reading this book my very first year of teaching was extremely helpful. Thank you!

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for primary grades. Great organization tips.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book for new teachers! I have and will refer to it often!

[Judy Stanford]

Best book ever for teachers!