The First Days of School

If you blow the first few moments of class, you jeopardize the success of the entire class.  Student on-task wor is the major activity during academic prime time.  The students must immediately get to work when they enter the room. 

An assignment must be available, and the students must know the procedure for getting to work immediately.  Do not destroy prime time with non-prime time activities such as taking roll, announcments, paper shuffling, or chit chatting with the students. 

I thought this was hysterical!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How to enter the classroom

Check out this website on how to start a class effectively. 

Have you heard this one yet?  This has to be my all time biggest pet peeve!  This one question would send me into profane language frenzy! 

The ineffective teacher keeps the assignment a mystery until it is announced, and it may be announced in different ways and posted in different places each day.  In fact, sometimes there are no assignments at all. 

Have you uttered the following phrases?

1. Where did we leave off yesterday?
2. Open your books so we can take turns reading.
3. Sit quietly and do the worksheet.
4. Let’s watch this movie.
5. You can have a free study period.

Yikes!  I’ve said a few of these myself.  Here is what Harry K. Wong says that these statements mean to students.

1. I have no control
2. For what reason?
3. To master what?  She/he must have papers to grade.
4. To learn what? Good, we get a nap time.
5. To do what? I do not have an assignment for you.  I am unprepared.

Do a little self-reflection and share.

I know that this will step on some toes, but I have to say it or explode.  Teachers who have no curriculum follow the textbook.  whew.. I feel better.  Now for clarification.  The textbook should not be your bible (for lack of a better word).  It should be a guide.  If you can’t teach without your textbook right by your side, you need to do a little reading. 

Following the text chapter by chapter, page by page and  only doing the worksheets, etc. that come with it bores everyone involved.  Think outside the box.  What can you do to add to the text.  Make the class your own, not Prentice Halls (or whoever the publisher of your text is).  Think about it this way, would you think your class is engaging, fun, and educational?  or is it boring and just like Mrs. Jones class? 

Your very first priority when the class starts is to get the students to work.  Imagine that!  How many of you are fighting the battle of “the chit-chat”?  Try this strategy.

When class begins, you can easily get students to work if three criteria have been met:

1. The students have an assignment.
2. They know where to find the assignment.
3. They know why they are to do the assignment.

Check out this website on a teacher assignment calendar.  This is a free tool, so sign up and check it out. 

Remember:  Post your assignments if you want your students to do them!  Post them every day and in the same place.

Here are some things that cause that first request (or any request at that) to be ineffective:

• The teacher is nowhere in sight when the students arrive.
• The teacher reshuffles the whole class after everyone has found a seat.
• The teacher complains about adminstrative details that must be done before class can begin.
• The teacher stands at the door with a frown on their face and yelling “Hurry up and sit down!  I’m sick of you kids!”. Or something just as detrimental.
• The teacher does not have an assignment ready/a procedure while they are taking roll.

You might want to rethink your strategies.  Veteran teachers, tell us what has worked best for you over the years.  The small things add up to a great classroom!

I know that is way past the first day of school, but this is valuable information.  Please read more about your first request on pages 113-115 in The First Days of School.

How to make your first request effective (I have adapted to fit the 13th week of school):

• Check for ID’s at door.
• Put a friendly smile on your face.
• Look each student in the eye and verbally welcome and acknowledge each one.
• Lower your voice to a firm but soft tone.  Speak slowly and tell the student if seating is opoen or assigned.
• Follow this with “And when you sit down, you will find an activity on your desk”.

I know this sounds a little third gradish, but I also know that 3rd grade teachers don’t have some of the problems you are encountering because they do this.  Try it for a week ans see what happens.

This means you have to have work ready when the students come in the door.  You can’t wait. 

When I talk about an Extra Cool Blog,this is one of the best I’ve seen.  Check it out when you get a chance.

Here are some welcoming techniques that you might want to try for second semester.

1. Send a letter home to the parents Before January.  I used to send  home postcards.  We have a few left with the CCHS logo on them.  I would have the kids fill out the address and then I would handwrite a short message. “I’m excited to have so-and-so in my class. Let me know if I can help you.”  Postage was minimal, but it did help to get the parents on my side.
2. Give parents a call to invite them to open house.  Try this one the Friday before open house, that way the parents have time to work it into their schedule.  You will be amazed at how many don’t know about open house even though it is everywhere.
3. Send a list of needed materials home.  Just a short list of items that would be nice to have.  This is for donation only, not for bonus!!

Share some of your ideas to welcome the students and the parents into your classroom.  I would also like for you to give me at least one idea that you would be willing to try for second semester. 

The Importance of Parents (page 103)

Parents are their children’s first and most influential teachers.  What parents do to help their children is more improtant to academic success that how well off the family is.