First Class Teaching: 10 Lessons You Don't Learn in College

by Michelle Emerson

The go-to book for new teachers who need practical strategies, not textbook theory

Are you a new teacher preparing to transition from college to the real-world classroom? First Class 10 Lessons You Don't Learn in College will help you dodge the struggle and burnout that many new teachers face.

Let’s be real—many of the strategies you learned in school are unrealistic and ineffective in a classroom. When faced with this challenge, what do you do instead? Pick up this book to bridge the gap and familiarize yourself with ways to prepare for stepping foot into the classroom. You’ll find relatable stories that will make you feel less alone and equip you with simple and effective strategies that you can implement immediately to make your first few teaching years a whole lot easier.

When you read First Class Teaching, you’ll feel like you’re connecting with a “teacher best friend.” Skip the cliched advice and discover how you can ignite your enthusiasm for the classroom, , get students engaged, build relationships, deal with a lack of planning time, and more.

Read relatable stories of real-life teacher who overcame burnout, poor student behaviors, difficult administration, and more. Learn strategies that you can implement right away to overcome the difficulties that often lead new teachers to burnout. Get excited about teaching with motivational insights and advice that’s more what is learned in college courses. Hit the ground running as a new teacher, thanks to these tried-and-true tips from experienced educatorWhether you’re overwhelmed as a recent college graduate in your first K-12 teaching job or a veteran K-12 teacher looking to rediscover your passion for the profession, First Class Teaching will give you novel ideas and strategies to implement in your .

Genres: Teaching, Teachers, Nonfiction

Kindle Edition

Published April 26, 2023

Reviews

[readingwithjaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for all my teaching friends! It had a lot of helpful advice and made me feel a little less alone in what I am struggling with :) I can definitely apply some of the lessons from the book in my own teaching.

[Vivienne Strmecki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personal PD. Definitely will reread and may even buy the physical book

[Manda Marigold · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contains anecdotes and advice from Michelle Emerson's teaching career. Michelle explains that this book is not a how-to guide on teaching. Instead, the book is a compilation of strategies or ideas that worked(or sometimes didn't) during her experience as a teacher. The main goal of this book is to make the transition from college to teaching easier.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It is engaging, relaxing, and funny. The audiobook was good, but it would have been better if it had been narrated by Michelle to add more to the reading experience. I am not the intended audience for this book. I only read it because I watch her YouTube channel. I may reread this book in the future.

[Mandy Wilkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Class Teaching is packed full of funny, inspiring, realistic stories and advice for new and veteran teachers. Each chapter focuses on one particular lesson that you don’t learn in college, but you need to know for a successful teaching career. No matter your level of experience as an educator, you will relate to the scenarios and also leave with some new ideas to improve your teaching craft. The author, Michelle Emerson, an accomplished teacher, YouTuber, podcaster, and business woman, clearly shows a passion for helping other teachers. Her book is the kind that you will want to hold on to and reread as you go through each school year. I can’t recommend this book enough!

[Chloe Cooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely amazing. I’ve seen so many posts and listened to so many people giving advice to new teachers, but this book takes the cake. Every single chapter was amazing. If I had a highlighter in my hand, I might’ve highlighted every word. This is definitely going to be a book I read again throughout the school year. There are so many good ideas to use in the classroom, as well as great, realistic advice to avoid teacher burnout. Overall amazing and I wish every new teacher read this book.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I WISH that I had this book in my back pocket when I left academia and entered the world of teaching. If you are looking for a realistic, honest, thought-provoking, and informative text on how to enter the profession, this is definitely the book for you. Even as an educator already knee deep into the profession, I learned so much from this book that will help me to continue to grow. 1000% recommend! ❤️

[Jaymie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve taught for over 10 years. This book was full of things that I already know/agree with about the teaching profession. However, my first year teacher self NEEDED this book! I highly recommend it to new teachers! It was a good refresher and full of encouragement/motivation for myself as well. Thank you, Michelle! I highlighted a lot in this book and feel so inspired!

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of practical tips and honest reflections that help this veteran teacher remember the challenges of those early years. This book will become a gift for my student teachers and mentors for years to come. Congratulations, Michelle!

[Katie M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book super helpful!! I now feel ready to teach for the first time this fall 😊

[Cynthia Kishbaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such great ideas and reminders for both new and veteran teachers. Michelle does a great job of giving ideas and advice on how to make teaching enjoyable.

[Jessica Totino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a Great Read for Teachers!

I absolutely loved First Class Teaching! Michelle Emerson writes in such a relatable and encouraging way—it honestly felt like chatting with a supportive friend who just gets what it’s like to be a teacher.

There were so many helpful tips and reminders, and I really appreciated how she talks about mindset and avoiding burnout. It’s not just about teaching better, but also feeling better while doing it.

I’d recommend this to any teacher who needs a little motivation or just wants to feel inspired again. Definitely keeping this one close for those tougher weeks!

[GJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid stuff on teaching.

"You are more than your profession. Prioritize your well-being more than your work."