New Teacher Confidential
What Every New Teacher Really Needs to Know
by Shannon Hazel
Teacheredu, 2024
ISBN 9781738529304
$19.99, 140 pages, teacher’s resource
teacheredu.ca
Shannon Hazel, a veteran teacher with 25 years experience as an educator, special education specialist, and instructional coach, aims to provide a practical guide to “support, celebrate, and advocate” for beginning teachers and the realities they face as teachers in our current education system. The reader can imagine having a conversation with Hazel, which is reinforced by her conversational tone and common-sense approach, making the book a great resource for both new teachers and veteran teachers in a mentorship role, particularly in an elementary school setting. Hazel identifies different spheres of influence for a new teacher, ranging from classroom organization, making connections with students, navigating relationships with colleagues and administrators, implementing classroom management strategies, dealing with constant change, and remembering the importance of a work-life balance.
Hazel emphasizes the importance of making real connections. These connections can help in decreasing challenging behaviours while increasing student achievement. She explains how to observe and question what students’ behaviour is communicating and provides proactive strategies to combat challenging behaviours. She uses real-life and genuine examples of how to connect with students. She relates examples of small things like wearing “funky socks,” or simple gestures, such as taking time to greet each student at the door, saying good morning, or paying them a compliment. The chapter also details the importance of separating behaviours from the student and identifies steps teachers can take to help redirect student behaviour.
Each chapter or lesson includes practical elements, such as teacher tips, teacher reminders, strategy steps and tips, checklists, and look-fors. Each chapter ends with action steps, which encourage new teachers to implement Hazel’s advice.
Review by Brianne MacLaren-Ross.
This review is featured in Canadian Teacher Magazine’s Fall 2025 issue.
