First-Year Teacher Handbook

Simple Strategies to Manage Your Classroom, Build Confidence, and Thrive as a New Teacher

De: Sienna Brooks

Narrado por: Jessica Lanterman

You’re not just a teacher—you’re the ringmaster of controlled chaos, the cheerleader for reluctant learners, and the human holding it all together with coffee and sheer willpower. Welcome to your first year.

First-Year Teacher Handbook is your no-nonsense, real-talk guide to surviving and thriving in the classroom when everything feels like it’s on fire. Designed specifically for new teachers (especially the ones still figuring out how to adult), this book delivers the support you didn’t know you needed—served with humor, heart, and hard-won advice.

Inside, you’ll find:

• Strategies for managing classroom behavior without losing your cool
• Tips for lesson planning that won’t take over your Sunday
• Ways to actually connect with your students—even the ones who test you daily
• A deep dive into setting boundaries, beating burnout, and saying “no” without guilt
• Real talk about crying in the copy room, surviving flop lessons, and showing up anyway
• Tools for building relationships with students, parents, and coworkers (without feeling fake)
• Encouragement to embrace innovation, stay grounded, and grow into the teacher you’re meant to be

Sound familiar?

• You’re overwhelmed by the workload and don’t know where to start
• You feel like everyone else has it figured out except you
• You’re constantly asking yourself, “Is it supposed to be this hard?”
• You love teaching—but you’re exhausted, discouraged, and low-key Googling backup careers

This book is your pep talk, your survival guide, and your reminder that you are not alone. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to keep showing up. Grab your copy of First-Year Teacher Handbook and step into your teacher era with confidence.

©2025 Sienna Brooks (P)2025 Sienna Brooks

Wish I Had This Before Day One!

As a new teacher, this handbook felt like a lifesaver. It tackles the real stuff classroom chaos, time management, and keeping your sanity intact. I loved how it didn’t sugarcoat anything but still made me feel capable and encouraged. There were plenty of tips I could apply immediately, especially around setting boundaries and building classroom culture. I’ll definitely be coming back to it throughout the school year. A must-have for first-timers!

Reassuring and Real Advice for New Teachers

First-Year Teacher Handbook by Sienna Brooks is like a calming voice in the storm for anyone stepping into the classroom for the first time. The book manages to be both practical and supportive, offering clear strategies that feel doable, even when everything feels overwhelming.
I found the sections on handling complicated parent interactions and setting personal boundaries especially helpful; both topics are rarely covered but deeply important for teacher well-being. Brooks shares advice with humor and heart, using relatable examples that reassure you you’re not alone.
Whether it’s managing behavior, protecting your weekends, or building confidence after a harsh lesson, this audiobook is packed with helpful tips and valuable perspectives. It doesn’t pretend teaching is easy, but it does remind you that growth is possible and burnout isn’t inevitable. A great listen for anyone embarking on their teaching journey.

Support Every New Teacher Needs

As a first year teacher balancing grad school and a new classroom during the rollout of No Child Left Behind, I often felt overwhelmed and underprepared. Listening to this audiobook reminded me of how important it is to have the right guidance early on. The practical tips felt like advice I wish I had when I started. The strategies are simple but powerful strategies for managing a room, building routines, and finding your footing with confidence.

The narrator delivered the content with warmth and clarity, which helped make complex ideas feel approachable. I especially appreciated how the tone was encouraging without being overly simplified. It felt like a mentor was walking me through each chapter.

This is a must listen for anyone stepping into the teaching profession. Even seasoned educators supporting new teachers will find value here. I plan to recommend it to every new teacher I meet.

The Mentor I Wish I'd Had

This book took me right back to my first year teaching middle school, and I wish I'd had it then. It absolutely nails the feeling of being completely overwhelmed, trying to juggle lesson plans, difficult parents, and that one kid who can derail an entire period with a single question. The advice isn't just theory; it’s the kind of hard-won wisdom you usually only get from a veteran teacher who takes you under their wing, covering everything from burnout to just surviving a flop lesson. Jessica Lanterman's narration is spot on, delivering the content with the perfect mix of empathy and no-nonsense encouragement. I’d recommend this to any new teacher who feels like they're just trying to keep their head above water.

Great Gift for Any Aspiring Teacher!

I read this before giving it to a friend who’s starting her teacher training. It’s practical, funny, and real. The author doesn’t sugarcoat how hard that first year can be, but instead offers honest advice and encouragement that feels like it’s coming from a seasoned mentor who’s seen it all. From managing classroom chaos and burnout to flopping in front of students and still showing up the next day, this book covers it all without being overwhelming. It’s the kind of guide that makes you feel less alone and more prepared, and I think any new or aspiring teacher would appreciate its humor, warmth, and no-nonsense tone. I gave it as a gift, but it’s the kind of book that stays with you, and one I’ll be recommending again.

So helpful!!!

Listening to First-Year Teacher Handbook made me feel a lot more prepared and less alone. The advice is clear, encouraging, and focused on real classroom situations. It covers everything from setting expectations to staying organized, and it gave me a better sense of what to expect in my first year. I especially appreciated the tips on building confidence and handling stress.

Class in Session

I gifted this audiobook to my daughter-in-law as she began her teaching career, and she found it incredibly helpful. It gave her clear, practical strategies for managing her classroom and building confidence from day one. She said it felt like having a mentor guiding her through those overwhelming first weeks. The advice was encouraging, realistic, and easy to apply—exactly what she needed to feel more prepared and supported as a new teacher. First-year jitters were gone!

This books get it!

I’m in my first year of teaching and honestly, most days feel like a blur of chaos and caffeine. This book didn’t sugarcoat anything, but it somehow made me feel a little more capable and a lot less alone. The advice is real, not preachy, and it made me laugh when I really needed to. If you’re a new teacher wondering if you’re the only one barely holding it together—you’re not. This helped me breathe again.

Respet all teachers

I've always thought other countries were no different, but perhaps because I live here, I'm deeply in awe of the incredible teachers we have today. This book, written by an experienced writer, provides a fascinating overview of the necessary preparations for beginning teachers, the pressure and stress they face from their students, and strategies for coping with burnout. It also provides insights into the preparations and challenges of becoming a teacher. What's more, it also offers strategies for success and building confidence. I believe this book is a valuable resource for anyone considering a career in teaching.

Teaching smarter with proven setups

What stood out to me (and what many educators also emphasized) is that these setups aren’t just helpful tips, they’re essential. Over the years, I’ve learned that structure isn’t about control, it’s about care and clarity. This book reinforces that truth and reminds us that a calm, productive classroom doesn’t happen by chance. It’s built through routines that support both students and teachers, and this guide captures that balance in a way that feels both practical and grounded!