Welcome Educators!

As a workshop leader and writer, best-selling author Julia Thompson has taught thousands of teachers how to create student-centered classrooms, thrive during that important first year of teaching, motivate reluctant learners, prevent discipline problems, and sustain high expectations for the success of their students as well as for themselves.

A practicing classroom teacher, Julia is the author of several resources for teachers. In each of her books, she presents classroom-tested ideas, activities, and strategies designed to make each school day a successful one. Because she is a full-time teacher herself, Julia focuses her advice on the practical aspects of a teacher's busy professional life. She understands firsthand the realities of today's classroom. This extensive experience and the insights she has gained as a teacher trainer have shaped her beliefs about the daily challenges that can confront even the most steadfast teachers.

Julia's dedication to promoting excellence among her colleagues and to helping new teachers translate their dreams into successful practice is the focus of her work as an author of professional development resources and as a teacher trainer.



From Discipline Survival Guide for the Secondary Teacher, Second Edition

"Never doubt that you make a difference in the lives of your students. In many ways teachers are the most idealistic people in our community. While other adults see a group of teens loitering on the sidewalk just wasting time, we teachers don’t seem to notice the silly clothing and too-cool hairstyles. Instead, we see the future. We see what others can’t: potential doctors, teachers, accountants, lawyers, soldiers . . . our colleagues-in-waiting. Perhaps it is this gift that makes us struggle in the face of so many obstacles to help our students become the people we know they can be."


From First-Year Teacher's Survival Guide

You Are the Solution

"While some people believe that schools are hotbeds of social, behavioral, and academic problems, you are the solution to those problems. While it is exciting to think of the powerful influence you can have on your students, it is just as unnerving to accept the challenges that accompany your importance.

Countless studies have proved that teachers are the most significant factor in any student’s schooling. Although you may be tempted to think that sports, peer pressure, or a student’s physical environment have more influence than you do, consider the many ways in which you play a role in your students’ lives:

• Inspiring students to believe they can achieve their goals and dreams

• Keeping defenseless students safe from bullies

• Encouraging a lifelong interest in learning

• Guiding students in building a better life

• Offering comfort and guidance

• Teaching students to read, to write, to think

• Modeling how to be a good citizen and a successful adult

• Helping students believe in themselves

• Encouraging students who get little encouragement elsewhere."


Core Values of Professional Educators


• "Your first priority should always be your students.

• All children can learn. Not all children learn at the same rate or in the same way, but all children can learn.

• Success breeds success in the classroom as well as in life.

• The best defense against misbehavior will always be relevant, interesting lessons delivered by an instructor who makes it clear that each child is vital to the success of the entire class.

• Teachers who lower their expectations kill all hope of success.

• Great teachers look beyond the behavior to understand the child.

• ALL teachers are role models ALL the time.

• The three 'P’s' of classroom success are planning + preparation + prevention.

• Teachers control what happens in a classroom, both the good and the bad.

• Every child should read every day.

• You don't teach a class; you teach individuals.

• The most important reason to strive to be the very best teacher you can? Every day you will make a significant difference in the life of a child."


To Learn More or to Contact Julia Thompson


You can follow Julia Thompson's advice for teachers at TeacherAdvice@​Twitter.com. Twitter is a quick and easy way to grab a bit of professional advice on the run.

You can also listen to her explain her beliefs about teaching, how she began writing about education, and the challenges and rewards of a career in education for all teachers. Click on the podcast link on the right side of this page to listen to her podcast.

You can also read more practical advice from Julia at her blog: http:/​/​juliagthompson.blogspot.com/​ Click on the link at the right side of the page to be directed to it!

To contact Julia Thompson directly, click on the contact page above for her email address.

Resources for Teachers

For Professional Development Leaders
This training package offers two DVD presentations, a facilitator's manual, dozens of study guide questions, and one-hundred downloadable handouts. Julia G. Thompson ISBN: 978-1-1180-9569-0 Video January 2012
For First-Year Teachers
This second edition of the bestselling First-Year Teacher's Survival Kit is packed with more than 500 pages of updated, inspiring, and practical advice for new teachers. Publisher: John Wiley Sons.ISBN: 978-0-7879-9455-6Paperback, 528 pages.
For Secondary Teachers
This practical, hands-on resource is packed with ideas, techniques, tools, and activities to help teachers maintain a postive classroom environment. It includes over 50 ready-to-use-or-adapt forms, checklists and letters. Publisher: John Wiley Sons. ISBN: 978-0-87628-434-6Paperback, 384 pages.
For New Teachers in a Hurry
This easy-to-use reference—with hundreds of helpful, classroom-tested answers, ideas, techniques, and teaching tools—will help you on your way to a successful and productive school year. Publisher: John Wiley Sons. Julia G. Thompson ISBN: 978-0-470-39004-7Paperback 224 pages April 2009 US $19.95

Quick Links

Find Authors
Julia G. Thompson's Blog
Click here to follow Julia's blog.
Julia G. Thompson's Author Page at Amazon.com
Click here to follow Julia's blog at Amazon.com.
Click here to listen to Julia Thompson's podcast.
Click here to purchase a book from John Wiley Sons.