This book presents best practices to help you start the school year in a powerful way! This updated edition of the bestseller, Keys to the Classroom , provides new teachers with strategies for establishing clear classroom procedures and building a foundation for a successful first year. Readers will find a practical, easy-to-use guidebook that includes lesson plans, tips for organizing the first day, and sample parent letters in English and Spanish. The third edition features: an added chapter on planning and creating the classroom environment; voices of novice and experienced teachers; updated assessment materials; revised instructional materials for English as a second language; and, new classroom activities.