In Our Classrooms: A Veteran Teacher's Guide to Taking Care of Your Students and Yourself

by Anne Richter

Classroom successes start with you.



Teaching has never been a more difficult career, from the cell phone conflict, academic benchmark lags, the rising rates of student mental health issues, and the all-too-real threats of school violence. But few professions are as necessary—or as rewarding.



In Our Classrooms is your guide to navigating today’s teaching landscape. With more than thirty years of teaching experience, Anne Richter provides actionable advice on the essential elements of being a forward-thinking educator and reflects on the pedagogical aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic to prepare you for any future classroom crises before they strike. This book explores the fundamental aspects of being a teacher—such as finding your passion and establishing your own teaching style—investigates methods for responding to difficulties that will inevitably arise, and provides a lesson plan for self-care through it all. In Our Classrooms will equip you with the necessary tools to find the dedication, strength, and proficiency for this critical work.



This book is designed to empower you to be the very best teacher you can be so your students can be their very best. Learning to manage and mitigate all forms of crises, you will feel the confidence to take on any challenge that comes your way each day in your classrooms.

150 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 23, 2025

Reviews

[Carolyn Roy-Bornstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anne Richter has a master’s degree in public health and 35 years of teaching experience under her belt when, in March of 2020, Westchester County’s schools are shut down by Governor Cuomo when “patient zero” spreads COVID-19 to over 100 individuals. So starts this gripping tale of one woman’s lifelong love of teaching and her desire to impart her wisdom to us. While the pandemic brought myriad challenges for teachers tasked with not only keeping students academically engaged but also mentally and emotionally supported, it also affords the author time to reflect on her own “passion and purpose” and brings clarity to her priorities.
The book is structured in three sections (Class is in Session, Unsung Essential Workers, and A Teacher’s Guide to Self-Care) with four to five “lessons” in each. Each chapter or lesson ends with “Key Takeaways” for readers. She cites scientific research such as Carol Dweck’s concept of “growth mindset” to augment her ideas, statistics form the CDC and the Department of Education to back up her claims, and findings from interviewing K-12 teachers across America to paint a diverse picture of the state of the profession today.
Filled with practical tips about lesson planning and student engagement to professional opinions on cell phones in the classroom and mistakes we all made in our response to the pandemic, this book has an inspiring message (passion and purpose!) woven throughout and has something to offer teachers at every level.

[bookishworldreview · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a good reads giveaway and I was also super excited since I am in the teaching profession. This book has a lot of knowledge about both the teachers mental health and the students. Every chapter is a relation to Covid, but I think that’s what this book is kind of about. Learning things from that time, and tighing it into different Things are good to know when you are a teacher. I really appreciate this book and all the insight you gave me, especially the educational profession during Covid. It was a new insight into that time, and I learned a lot about another person‘s perspective during the pandemic.

[Nora Staal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a GoodReads Giveaway. This book is written by a K-12 teacher in the wake of the pandemic, remote teaching, and relentless school shootings in the US. Whatever you think of the politics of those things, I think we can agree it has become harder and more stressful to be a teacher in the US in recent years. I love that this book is aimed at addressing that by providing some support and encouragement to teachers. I teach adults, so I can’t fully speak to how well this resonates for K-12 teachers, but I am enjoying it.

[Paula Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full disclosure I got a free kindle of this book from goodreads giveaways in exchange for an honest review. I am also a vetern teacher.

I found the book readable, but also simpilistic. Also it was more about the challenges of teaching during and post covid than about taking care of your students and yourself.

#goodreadsgivaways #InOurClassrooms #AnneRichter

[Angela Taymor · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Our Classrooms is an incredibly practical and encouraging book for educators. Anne Richter’s decades of teaching experience shine through on every page, offering real-world advice on managing today’s classroom challenges with confidence, care, and compassion. This guide doesn’t just talk about teaching techniques — it helps you reconnect with why you entered the profession in the first place.

[Timothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting self-help book written by someone who was in the education field for more than three decades and designed to be explain the fundamental aspect of being a teacher especially after the recent events with COVID-19.

I received a copy via a goodreads giveaway.

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a teacher but I felt this book offered some useful and straightforward advice for teachers. I could never do it and I appreciate everything you do for our children.

[Rachel Joann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book on my kindle as a good reads giveaway! I really enjoyed most of this book, some of it seemed a little “look at all I’ve done!” But it didn’t fully ruin it for me.

[Darla Tassler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Offered good perspectives to build into habit for new teachers. Reminders for veteran teachers as well.