Nobody's perfect. But if you've spent the summer reflecting upon what worked well and what didn't in your classroom last year, you surely will be making some corrections as the new school year starts.

I also recommend checking out these Top Ten Teaching Mistakes so you'll make sure to avoid some of the big teaching doozies that can really sabotage your effectiveness in the classroom.

Did I miss any? What improvements are you hoping to make this year?

It's natural for young students to get nervous about the first day of school. My colleague Elizabeth Kennedy recommends a list of Children's Books for the First Day of School that will help alleviate your young students' anxieties.

My favorite book to read on the first day has long been First Day on a Strange New Planet. My third graders have always loved the lighthearted, whimsical nature of the story, and I've enjoyed the way it sets their minds at ease on day one.

What book do you read with your students on the first day of school?