A Classroom Management Plan That Works In his book, Ignore Everybody: And 39 Other Keys To Creativity, Hugh MacLeod points out that Abraham Lincoln penned the Gettysburg Address on borrowed stationary. Hemingway wrote with a simple fountain pen. Van Gogh rarely used more than six colors on his palate. And MacLeod, himself an artist, sketches cartoons on the back of business cards. His point is that there is zero correlation between creative talent and the materials and equipment used. The same can be said about an effective classroom management plan. A simple set of rules and consequences hand-printed on ordinary poster board is all you need. You see… There is no magic in the plan itself. Therefore your plan doesn’t need to be elaborate, complex, or involved. It just needs to be followed. A Classroom Management Plan Is A Contract A classroom management plan is a contract you make with your students that promises you will protect their right to learn and enjoy school without interference. 1. 2. That’s it. Rules: 1. 2. 3. 4. Consequences:
7 First Day of School Activities Students Love The first day of school will be here before you know it. Most teachers face the big day with enthusiasm, but they dread the inevitable challenge: what to do on the first day of school. Every teacher’s approach is different. Whatever your goal, here are a few things to try to get the school year off to a great start! Goal: Getting to Know Your Students How well will your incoming students know you? If you’re teaching kindergarteners (or high school freshmen, who often seem like kindergarteners), you may need to spend the first day – or the first several days –getting everyone comfortable. Teaching strategies for improving friendship skills at the elementary school... The School of Education at Gardner-Webb University has received national... We examine the classroom management characteristics of effective teachers. A few useful classroom management ways to get information from your students on... 7 great technology in the classroom apps to use this year. Plan a Scavenger Hunt Do a Self-Portrait
The Biggest First Day Of School Mistake You Can Make There is a common mistake teachers make on the first day of school that sets in motion bad student habits and misbehaviors that can last the rest of the school year. That’s a big statement, I know. But this one particular mistake will be responsible for scores of teachers getting off to a disastrous classroom management start—one many will never recover from. And what makes this mistake most troubling is its deviousness. You see, it’s a sneaky little thing, harmless in appearance and barely noticeable, even to the most discerning professional eye. Most teachers won’t even know they made a mistake, let alone one so spectacular, until weeks later when it hits them like a splash of cold water to the face. And even then, they won’t know what it is they did wrong. It starts innocently. Morning breaks on the first day of school, your new students arrive, and everything proceeds as planned. Typical of a new group of students after a long summer break, they’re attentive and respectful.
Global Food Disparity: A Photo Diary In an increasingly globalized world, it’s still sometimes shocking to see just how disparate our lives are compared with other human beings around the world. A book of photographs by Peter Menzel called "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats" ("©Peter Menzel www.menzelphoto.com. Ten Speed Press, published in 2005) makes a relevant point with great irony: at a time when hundreds of millions of people don't have enough to eat, hundreds of millions more are eating too much and are overweight or obese. In observing what six billion eat for dinner the authors note, "Today, more people are overweight than underweight." It is these cultural differences, emphasized and reinforced by the author, which exemplifies the lifestyles and dietary habits of people around the world. You can buy the book here. Meet the The Manzo family of Sicily. Germany: The Melander family of Bargteheide Food expenditure for one week: 375.39 Euros or $500.07.
Fostering Relationships in the Classroom Students and teacher need to develop positive and trusting relationships in an effective classroom. It is also critical that all students, especially English-language learners, develop trusting and enriching relationships with each other. There are many activities which can be used for both introductory purposes and throughout the year to build and maintain positive relationships in the classroom. 1) Sharing Weekly Reflections Each week, we have students write about two positive events that occurred in their lives and one not-so-positive event (along with what they could have done to make it better or what they learned from it). 2) Introducing Me/3 Objects This activity is sometimes called a "Me Bag" or an "All About Me Bag." 3) "I Am" Project There are many variations of the "I Am" activity. 4) "Find Someone in this Class Who . . . " Scavenger Hunt A scavenger hunt is an easy way to get students out of their seats, talking and interacting within minutes! 5) Two Truths and a Lie
Why You Should Smile On The First Day Of School You’ve likely heard the oft-repeated recommendation that teachers should never smile the first three months of the school year. The idea being that if you show kindness toward your students, they’ll see it as a weakness and take advantage of you. Hogwash. Although it’s true students can and often do come to the conclusion that their teacher is a pushover, it has nothing to do with showing kindness. You’re only a pushover if you don’t do what you say you’re going to do. The truth is, smiling is a powerful classroom management strategy you should begin using the first day of school. Here’s why: It sets the proper tone. A smile is a subtle message that kindness and politeness are expected in your classroom. It’s disarming. Students are nervous on the first day of school, particularly those who are shy and take time adjusting to new surroundings. It makes you more likeable. Your likeability is crucial to effective classroom management and a smile is the simplest way to improve it. It’s a reminder.
I Love That Teaching Idea! How To Handle Misbehavior The First Two Weeks Of School Your new students will likely be on their best behavior for the first few days of school. But by the second week, you and your classroom management plan will be tested. After all, your students don’t really know you. Maybe you’ll be like the pushover teacher they had last year. Maybe you’ll be inconsistent or easy to fluster. Maybe you won’t really mean what you say. Maybe some of your students have never had firm boundaries. And because you haven’t spent enough time with your students to earn their confidence, you’re going to be tested. But when it happens, when Anthony says something crude to try to shock you, when Karla talks back and disrespects you, when your students interrupt you, ignore you, and misbehave three feet in front of you… You’ll be ready. Here’s what to do: Pause. Your first reaction to misbehavior should be no reaction. Hide your disappointment. Never show hurt over misbehavior or disrespect. Lose the battle. Follow through. Move on immediately. Don’t take it personally.
How A Simple, First-Week-Of-School Classroom Procedure Can Inspire Excellence In Your Students If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. ~Colin Powell Classroom procedures are critical to classroom management success. They save loads time and energy, reduce stress and misbehavior, and make your teaching life a lot easier. The best part, though, is that when done in a certain way, they transfer excellence from the basic and routine…to the advanced and academic. In other words, by requiring excellence from your students for everyday procedures, like lining up to leave your classroom, you’re ingraining habits that make them better students. The opposite is also true. If your line is noisy, pushy, and looks like Lombard Street, then you’ll struggle to manage your students during academic work as well. A Culture of Excellence Teaching fundamental classroom procedures, and then requiring your students to perform them as taught, is a great way to begin creating a culture of excellence in your classroom. 5 Simple Steps Repeat Practice
33 Ways to Start the First Year Off Right From the Virginia Education Association A little planning before school begins can pay big dividends throughout the school year. Starting off on the right foot can make all the difference. Here are some things to consider as you plan for the months ahead. Check them off as you go. ____1. ____2. ____3. ____4. ____5. ____6. ____7. ____8. ____9. ____10. ____11. ____12. ____13. ____14. ____15. ____16. ____17. ____18. ____19. ____20. ____21. ____22. ____23. ____24. ____25. ____26. ____27. ____28. ____29. ____30. ____31. ____32. ____33. Source: Adapted from 33 Ways to Start the First Year Off Right, Virginia Education Association, 2002.
Students Tell All: What It’s Like to Be Trusted Partners in Learning Inquiry-based learning is not a new pedagogy, but it has come back into fashion in progressive education circles recently because of new emphasis on the power of students’ innate curiosity to drive learning. Inquiry-based learning asks students to discover knowledge on their own with guidance from their teachers. Rather than receiving information up front through lectures, students research guiding questions, ask their own follow-ups and get help along the way. Learning through inquiry requires more student agency and demands that teachers and administrators trust that students will ask when they need help. It also places the responsibility for completing tasks and meeting deadlines on the shoulders of students. Science Leadership Academy students spoke about their learning experience at the school. Nomi Martin-Brouilette said she appreciates the trust SLA’s teachers place in students to be partners in their learning. All photos by Bailey Collins Katrina Schwartz