All Book Prices Slashed Permanently

My first book Ten Cheap Lessons celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, and the follow-up Teaching is Not a Four Letter Word just celebrated its 8th.

I have been humbled and amazed that even years after I stopped actively updating this blog, people have still been downloading or buying physical copies of both.

As a thank you and as a Christmas gift, I've permanently reduced the price of all digital versions of the books to $1.99. The print versions of each book range from $5-7.

These prices are available now through my Lulu bookstore and will be reflected on Amazon and other online outlets in the coming weeks.

Enjoy, and once again, thank you!

The Hardest Time of the School Year

I always felt like October was the hardest part of the school year. The honeymoon period at the beginning of the school year always seemed to peter out around this time, as students would begin to push boundaries like never before.

If your school is on a six week grading period like the ones in my region, the first report cards are just being sent out, and how your kids react to them affects their behavior. If they passed without much effort and are content with it, they might slack off and goof around because things seem too easy. If they failed and have a history of struggling in school, they might already view your class as a lost cause and try to give up.

For students and teachers, this is often the middle of the longest uninterrupted period in your school calendar, with no holidays or special events to break things up until Thanksgiving.

If you're already seeing the signs (or already struggling), I'm with you. I've been there. My short book Teaching is Not a Four Letter Word: How to Stop Worrying and Love the Job was written for just this time of year.

It's a simple, straightforward collection of the best advice I could give to new and struggling teachers, and I believe you'll find help to get you through October and beyond.

It's available as a paperback, PDF or eBook from Lulu or as a Prime-eligible paperback or Kindle version on Amazon.

Independence Day Sale On My Books At Lulu.com

Here's a holiday coupon code for 25% off any order at Lulu.com: FIREWORKS.  It's a great chance to add either of my books to your summer reading pile. It's good until 11:59pm this Friday, so use it quickly!

Have You Read One Of My Books? If So, I Need Your Help

I know a lot of people have read one or both my books on teaching, Ten Cheap Lessons and Teaching is Not a Four Letter Word: How to Stop Worrying and Love the Job.  Between the number sold and those I've given away, there's roughly a thousand of you out there.  Here's my problem:

0 reviews for Ten Cheap Lessons on Amazon, only 1 on Lulu.com.

2 reviews for Teaching is Not a Four Letter Word on Amazon and 0 on Lulu.com.

I don't know about you, but I rarely buy anything online that has few or no reviews. So no matter where you got your copy of my books, you can help me out by logging in to either site and posting a brief review.

Positive or negative, I'd like you to share your thoughts with others who might be interested.  Any feedback I receive will help me reflect, improve and hopefully be able to publish better work in the future.

Ten Cheap Lessons: Lulu.com, Amazon.com.
Teaching is Not a Four Letter Word:  Lulu.com, Amazon.com

Notes on Teaching: A Short Guide to an Essential Skill [Giveaway]

I'm no conspiracy nut, but I think the authors of Notes on Teaching: A Short Guide to an Essential Skill,  Shellee Hendricks and Russell Reich, must be somehow reading my thoughts. They've managed to put together a book that's one of the best companion pieces to this blog that I've ever read, including my own books.  There are 184 "notes" in Notes on Teaching, grouped by topic and with each going into detail without being too long winded or overwhelming.

A few examples that I particularly loved:

174. Put away the jargon. We rightly try to use the correct language and vocabulary to teach concepts, but we often get lost in it and forget to actually teach the concept and develop the vocabulary along the way.

159. Open your door. In a world where separate offices and cubicles are being replaced by more open concepts across industries, this is an important lesson to you can teach your students by example.

114. Notice what they [students] want you to notice. In other words, pay attention to your kids. I've been reflecting on my career for a while now, and showing your students you care in as many ways as you can is one of the best ways to get them engaged and on the right track in and out of your classroom.

172. Be an eternal student. Perhaps the best advice she (and I) could give you for any career.

Of course, I didn't agree with everything (Never use sarcasm), nor did I think everything was particularly realistic for everyone (Clean the slate daily).  Yet I found little to quibble with, and came away thinking Notes on Teaching is a more explicit version of my own book, Teaching is Not a Four Letter Word. We both offer straightforward advice culled from years of practice, observation and professional learning, but there's enough to compare and contrast that you will certainly get a lot out of Hendricks and Reich's work.

RCR Creative Press sent me a review copy that I want to give away to a teacher (or future teacher) that wants it.  If you're interested, email teachforever@gmail.com with the subject "Notes on Teaching giveaway" by 11:59pm CST on Wednesday. I'll pick a random winner and send them the book! Good luck and thanks for reading.

Get 15% Off My Books for International Talk Like a Pirate Day

Today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day, so it's only fitting that Lulu.com offer a coupon with the code PIRATA to get 15% off any order.

It's as good of an excuse as any to pick up either Ten Cheap Lessons or Teaching is Not a Four Letter Word.  If you're a new or struggling teacher, I think you'll get a lot out of both of them.  As one reader recently emailed to me, regarding Ten Cheap Lessons:

Just wanted you to know I loved your book!! It gave me some great ideas for this coming year! I also just downloaded your other book, Teaching is Not a Four-Letter Word. Haven't read it yet, but I'm sure I'll love it too!

Just enter the code PIRATA at checkout.  The coupon expires this Friday, September 21, 2012.

An Educator's Reading List for Surviving & Thriving, Part 2

This is part two of a recommended reading list that helped inspire and supplement the ideas in my book Teaching is Not a Four Letter Word.  These are, in my opinion, your must-reads for surviving and thriving in education.

Blogs
Seth Godin - Godin is a marketing and entrepreneurship guru whose ideas translate easily to what teachers need for the classroom.  Read Seth Godin Ideas Every Educator Should Read and 5 More Seth Godin Ideas Every Educator Should Read for examples.

Lifehacker - As I wrote last year: "Lifehacker has consistently been one of the most useful websites for me in and out of the classroom since I first started reading it.  It's a blog focused on productivity and efficiency--two keys for a long, successful career in education."  Read some examples in Five New Resources for Teachers from Lifehacker and find more in most weeks of Five for Friday.

Eduwonk - The best place to keep up with what's going on in education news, research and reform across the country, written by Andrew Rotherham (who is a co-founder of Bellwether Education Partners and writes the "School of Thought" column for TIME).  I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Rotherham a couple of months ago and his passion for quality research and writing about education is inspiring.  His colleague Sara Mead writes a thoughtful, well written education policy blog for EdWeek that's also worth your time.

Other Websites
Twitter - Even though most of my experience with the social media juggernaut began after my book was published, the power of Twitter to help you learn and grow is unmatched.  It's the most fully realized version of the personal learning network idea suggested throughout the book.

Facebook - If you haven't opened yourself to the possibilities of Facebook as a classroom resource, check out pages I used in my Algebra 1 and MMA classes this year.  That experiment is a realization of my dream to integrate social media into the classroom, and while it did not work out as I would have liked, it's a huge step in the right direction.  The most popular website in the world is also a great way to network with other teachers.

***

I tried to focus on the resources I used before (and since) I published the book, so of course there are many other resources I've learned about since then that are just as indispensible.  That, however, is a subject for another time.  Check out yesterday's post for more!

An Educator's Reading List for Surviving & Thriving, Part 1

I recently ran a workshop for new and preservice teachers at The University of Texas-Pan American (where I'm working towards a masters in Educational Administration) on some of the overarching themes and specific pieces of advice from my book Teaching is Not a Four Letter Word.

After the workshop, I kicked myself for not creating a recommended reading list with all the sources that inspired many of the ideas in the book.  I refer to these books, magazines and blogs all the time here on the blog, but haven't yet collected them together.  I've included links to relevant posts I've written about each source as well.  Enjoy!

Books
Teaching with Love & Logic: Taking Control of the Classroom by Jim Fay and David Funk. No single book has shaped me more as an educator than this classic.  It will revolutionize the way you manage your classroom and help you build strong relationships with your students, which is a base from which to do amazing things.  You can hear a bit about one of the main ideas in this video (skip to about 3 minutes in).

The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss. This one always gets a laugh when I mention it to colleagues, but if you put aside the central conceit and concentrate on the ideas that apply directly to what teachers do, you'll create a more sustainable way of life:

• Teacher Stress Relief: Lessons from The 4-Hour Workweek
• Teacher Stress Relief: The Low-Information Diet
• Teacher Stress Relief: Outsourcing Your Life

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't by Jim Collins. This book should be standard reading for anyone who wants to be a leader in the classroom and especially if you want to move into a school or district leadership role.  Collins draws examples from the business world, but the principles of good leadership don't change--indeed, the main ideas of this book have become recurring themes in my graduate school program in Educational Administration.

Magazines
Fast Company - FC is a magazine about entrepreneurship and business that will inspire to anyone who wants to help their students succeed and be prepared for the 21st century.  They write about the nature of creativity, power of design, innovations in education, and how technology is shaping our world so you can keep on top of what's next.  Here are some reflections I did on education-related FC articles:

• It's Time for Leaders to Embrace Cell Phones in the Classroom [July 2011]
• The Future of Education, in the Palm of Your Hand [April 2010]
• What Educators Can Learn From the Most Creative People in Business [July 2010]

GOOD - Consistently great writing on education and anything else having to do with being "what is sustainable, prosperous, productive, creative, and just".  Liz Dwyer is the Education Editor and does an amazing job.  GOOD articles are regularly shared in my weekly Five for Friday posts.

More recommendations tomorrow!

Teaching is Not a Four Letter Word & Ten Cheap Lessons Paperbacks Now Under $10

I've cut the prices on both paperback versions of my books (the first edition of Ten Cheap Lessons and Teaching is Not a Four Letter Word) so that they're under $10 each when you get them direct from Lulu.com.  This is most likely a permanent price cut.  There are also various e-book versions you can find through my author spotlight that are an even better deal.

Looking for coupons to save even more?  Follow me on Twitter and Facebook, where I share coupons for free shipping and more from Lulu regularly.

*Note that the prices on Amazon and B&N are higher because I'm required to mark them up so that those companies can get their cut of the sales.  The best deal was and is through Lulu.

Giveaway: Get a Copy of My Book To Help You Reflect on the Semester

I feel like this is the best time for teachers who might be struggling or stressed out to read my book Teaching is Not a Four Letter Word: How to Stop Worrying and Love the Job. The brief lessons I share are meant to help you reflect, adapt and survive as I have tried to do over the years.

On top of that, it's the holiday season and one of my main joys in life is to give gifts and give to good causes. Thus I'm giving away two hard copies of the book to any teacher who thinks they might need some help and hope.. If you're interested, simply send me an email saying so (teachforever@gmail.com) before Tuesday 12/20/11 at 11:59pm CST. I won't ask you to share your struggles, but if you'd like to, I'm certainly willing to listen.

Due to the timing of the giveaway, I don't think I can get it to you before Christmas, so expect it a few days afterward.  Sorry about that.  It's a short read that you should easily be able to get through before the new semester starts.

Happy Thanksgiving! Get 25% Off My Books

Recently I received an email with the subject line "Your book is phenomenal!"  Okay, I thought, I'm listening:

Dear Tom,

I just wanted to shoot you an email to tell you that I love your book. It has so many fantastic ideas that I already have  implemented  in my classroom. As a fellow teacher, our job can be a little overwhelming at times because we need to both really engage the students and also get them to learn the material. Many people can do one of the two things mentioned, but it takes a really hard-working teacher to do both simultaneously. Your book has really provided me with a lot of different ideas and I just wanted to say thank you. I really appreciate you publishing it and making it so easily accessible to anyone. I use your website/blog and I purchased your book on my iPhone so that it is always in my pocket. Thanks again!

Ryan Smith
Mathematics Teacher

Ryan is referring to my first book, Ten Cheap Lessons.  This is one of the best compliments I've ever received, and it came at a time when I was struggling at school and needed the boost.  In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I'm excited to share a great deal on either of my books:

Get 25% off my books now through December 14th: Go to my Author Spotlight on Lulu.com, order a book (or two), and enter the code BUYMYBOOK305 at checkout.

Have a great holiday!

Teaching is Not a Four Letter Word now available on Kindle

You can now get Teaching is Not a For Letter Word: How to Stop Worrying and Love the Job on your Kindle!  It's only $6.25, less than half the price of the paperback version.  My first book has enjoyed a great run on Kindle, so this is an exciting development for me!

If you weren't one of the winners of this week's contest, here's your chance to get the book at a just-slightly-higher-than-free price.

Thank you, as always, for your generous support.

Book Giveaway: Teaching is Not a Four Letter Word

This week, I'm giving away THREE paperback copies of my book Teaching is Not a Four Letter Word: How to Stop Worrying and Love the Job.

Of everything I've done over the past three years, this book is by far the accomplishment I'm most proud of.  I really believe it can make a huge difference in the lives of teachers who are searching for inspiration and guidance.

It's very important to me that this book be shared among colleagues; there's even a section entitled "Share This Book" that's modeled after ideas I learned from Seth Godin.  So it should come as no surprise that I'm framing this week's giveaway around the idea of sharing the ideas in the book.

If you're interested in a chance to be one of the randomly chosen winners, simply email me (teachforever@gmail.com) and tell me who you will share the book with when you're done with it.  I'll except entries until 11:59pm CST tonight.

Thank you as always for your support of this blog, and good luck!

(As with the previous contests, anyone who's won something from me in 2011 is no longer eligible.)

Need a Stocking Stuffer for Your Favorite Educator?

Originally, my book Teaching is Not a Four Letter Word: How to Stop Worrying and Love the Job was partly conceived as an ideal stocking stuffer for your favorite educator.  Now's the time to make that thought a reality.

I've put the print edition on sale for 40% off, and it will stay that way through December 14th (because you likely won't be able to get it in time for Christmas if you don't order by then).  Buy your gift copy today!

Need to know more before you buy? No problem: read all about the book here.

[Note: If you're doing all your holiday shopping on Amazon, the book is also available there, but sadly I can't control whether that version is on sale. Nevertheless, I thought I'd mention it for your convenience.]

Teaching is Not a Four Letter Word now available on Amazon!

My second book, Teaching is Not a Four Letter Word: How to Stop Worrying and Love the Job, is finally available on Amazon.com.

Find out all about the book here.

3 Years of I Want to Teach Forever = 3 Chances to Win My Book!

Today is the third anniversary of this blog. In marriages, the third year is traditionally the leather anniversary, which not coincidentally hearkens back to the nascent days of pro football.

Normally this might not be important to you, but if you'd like to get one of three digital copies of Teaching is Not a Four Letter Word: How to Stop Worrying and Love the Job, you're going to have to know something about football.  Specifically, you're going to have to figure out my favorite NFL team.

Longtime (and I mean looooooooooongtime) readers will have no trouble naming my team, but the majority of you will have to dig through this blog's archives to find out.  The first three readers to contact me via Twitter or Facebook with the name of my favorite NFL team will recieve a free digital copy of Teaching is Not a Four Letter Word.

Good luck!

All About My New Book: Teaching is Not a Four Letter Word

It took over a year of work and innumerable delays, but my new book is finally here. Teaching is Not a Four Letter Word: How to Stop Worrying and Love the Job is about overcoming the challenges that lead to abysmal teacher retention rates across the country.

The book is based around a single question: “What is the most important advice I can give to other teachers?” None of my answers are revolutionary, but rather straightforward ideas that teachers often take for granted (myself included). You’ll find a lot of common threads throughout the short lessons in the book:

• Creating a positive classroom environment
• Building strong relationships with students
• Working constantly to learn, grow and improve
• Finding an elusive work-life balance
• Trying to influence change in and out of your classroom
• Dealing with and avoiding problems with colleagues, school leaders, and your district

These are really the keys to surviving and thriving.  I don’t really focus on classroom management or lesson delivery too much; there are plenty of other books I would recommend for those topics. This book is about keeping you happy, sane, healthy and in the classroom or any position where you can deeply, positively impact students.

We’re on the cusp of the back to school season, and Teaching is Not a Four Letter Word is something you should consider giving to anyone you know who’s headed back in to the classroom—new and veteran teachers alike. It would certainly spark a lively debate and/or discussion in your teacher book club or PLN. No matter how you plan to use it, it’s a quick, easy read that you can literally carry with you (it’s pocket-sized).

Right now, the book is available exclusively through Lulu.com, but it will soon be available on Amazon and elsewhere. You can also download a PDF version and save some trees. Either way, I appreciate your support.

Thank you for reading, subscribing to and supporting this blog over the past 2.9 years (we’re about a month away from our third anniversary). Without you, there would have been no Ten Cheap Lessons, let alone this new book. I hope I can continue to pay you back for all the support you’ve given me over the years.

Teaching is Not a Four Letter Word: How to Stop Worrying and Love the Job by Tom DeRosa (paperback / download)