First days of school are very important. What you are doing during those classes will set the tone for the rest of the year.
When I first started teaching, I had no classroom management and I literally had no idea what I was doing. Teaching is not like what they teach you at universities, you learn to be a teacher in the classrooms.
In order to be an effective teacher, you have to develop some techniques and procedures in your classroom so that everything goes smoothly during your teaching time. I have learnt that hard way, I hope you won’t.
You can be a middle school or high school teacher, you can be a physics or English language teacher, it doesn’t matter. No matter what or who you teach, you have to have procedures. If students know what they are expected of them, they will follow. You have to be clear and consistent.
So, what should you do? What do I do? I will explain. You can take it or leave it😊.
Contents
- 1 1. Prepare an outline
- 2 2. Explain what materials you will use
- 3 3. Explain classroom rules
- 4 4. Warnings/Rewards
- 5 5. Classroom Procedures
- 6 6. How they enter the classroom
- 7 7. What they will do during the first minutes of the lesson
- 8 8. How you will take the roll
- 9 9. How they will be graded and assessed
- 10 10. What will happen if they aren’t in the classroom that they
- 11 11. How you will collect homework and assignments
- 12 12. How you will quiet the class
- 13 13. Bathroom breaks
- 14 14. How you will dismiss the class
- 15 15. What to do with mobile phones
1. Prepare an outline
If you are already preparing an outline, that means you have been assigned classes. I prepare a PowerPoint presentation so that I don’t have to write everything. I also write everything on Word and print it, so that I will be ready if a technical problem arises. I start with my name, my e-mail address and my background information. After that I put titles on each slide to have an outline.
2. Explain what materials you will use
I explain students which materials they should buy and bring classroom. Books, notebooks, files, dictionaries etc. I also provide a syllabus if possible. It is not always possible, but if you have the chance, make sure they have a syllabus.
3. Explain classroom rules
I limit classroom rules with 5 items. I also print them and hang on the wall. For the next slide, I explain the rewards and consequences.
4. Warnings/Rewards
For my lessons, my students get 5 warnings in total. 1st one is just a warning about their behavior. 2nd one is talking to them after the class. 3rd one is calling the parent. 4th one is making a teacher-student pact. Last one is a disciplinary action.
For rewards, if they behave well, I give them movie time, game time, free time, picnic day etc. ıf no one gets a warning for a month, they get a reward.
5. Classroom Procedures
This is the most important part. I explain classroom procedures and after each presentation, we demonstrate. It is crucial to practice the procedures during the first days of school so that you will have less problems.
6. How they enter the classroom
Students enter the classroom silently and without a fuss. They sit at their assigned seats, put their phones on silent (or turn them off) and have their classroom materials ready.
7. What they will do during the first minutes of the lesson
I have bellwork assignments for each class, so while I take the roll, students complete the bellwork assignment during the first minutes of the class. The bellwork can be anything you want, but remember to make it a short one which they can complete in 3-5 minutes.
8. How you will take the roll
I have a seating chart for each of my classes and students are always expected to seat at their own seats. When I see a desk empty, I understand that student is not in that day. It takes less time and more efficient. With the assigned seats, it gets easier to learn their names.
9. How they will be graded and assessed
How you will grade them is important for them. Make sure you explain everything clearly. I tell them they will have a portfolio and they will put their homework, assignments and bellworks in that portfolio. They will be graded accordingly.
10. What will happen if they aren’t in the classroom that they
If they aren’t in the class that day, it is their responsibility to learn what has happened in the classroom that day and what they are supposed to do at home. They are required to learn it from their friends. I pair them, so that they will be support buddies and they will have each other’s backs.
11. How you will collect homework and assignments
If there is an assignment I will collect, I tell them put it on my desk before they sit.
12. How you will quiet the class
I have a signal I use in my classroom, it works everytime. I say “give me five” and explain what to do. I tell them:
“When I raise my hand, it is your signal to be quiet.
I raise my hand.
You see me.
You stop talking.
You turn towards me.
You signal (poke) to your deskmate.”
I give them a few minutes to talk to each other about an assignment and then I raise my hand. It works like a charm.
13. Bathroom breaks
I don’t allow them to go to the bathroom if they are high school students, as our administrator always warns us about that. If there is an emergency, I let them go, of course.
14. How you will dismiss the class
“The bell doesn’t dismiss you, I do.” They aren’t supposed to stand up when the bell rings. They will wait for me to say “Have a nice time, see you next time.” Then they can go.
15. What to do with mobile phones
We have a policy at our school that the students should put their mobile phones in a box on the wall, so that they can’t use it during the class. I remind them to put their phones on silent and put it away.
Yeah, that was it. What do you do on your first days of school? Do you have anything to add? Don’t forget to add your comments so that you can help other fellow teachers.
I hope this post helps you during your first days of school. Don’t forget to breathe deeply, smile and remember that you matter and you are important. You make a difference. That’s valuable.
Hope to see you next time 😊
You might like this: September Teacher Care Calendar
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