186 Days in Teaching - A Month-by-Month Guide to Being a Secondary Teacher by James Shea, Mohammed A. Amin (Digital book)

Teaching is not just a profession — it’s a year-long journey of learning, growth, and adaptation. 186 Days in Teaching is a clear, structured, and deeply practical guide that walks you through every month of the school year as a secondary teacher. Designed to support both new and experienced educators, this essential eBook gives you the tools, insights, and strategies you need to survive and thrive in one of the most rewarding yet demanding careers in the world.

What This Book Offers

From the first anxious days of September to the final reflections in July, 186 Days in Teaching serves as your personal roadmap through the academic year. Each chapter represents a specific month, offering timely advice, reflective prompts, and research-informed strategies that help you focus on what truly matters in teaching — learning, relationships, and professional growth.

Rather than overwhelming you with theory, this book is built for the real life of a teacher. It balances pedagogical knowledge with emotional intelligence, giving you the confidence to manage your classroom, communicate with colleagues and parents, and maintain your own wellbeing throughout the school year.

You’ll find:

Month-by-month breakdowns of teaching priorities, deadlines, and focus areas.

Practical checklists that help you stay organized, proactive, and less stressed.

Tips for classroom management, student engagement, and curriculum planning.

Guidance on pastoral care, building relationships, and supporting student wellbeing.

Evidence-informed insights grounded in cognitive science and teacher research.

Reflection activities to help you assess progress and prepare for new challenges.

Every page is written to make your teaching more purposeful and your year more manageable — without losing sight of why you started teaching in the first place.