Every year I get told by new teachers that they don’t know where to start. They feel overwhelmed and anxious. Besides the usual faculty meeting and school rules for teachers, where do they start? Here are some suggestions.
1. Know where your classroom and how you want to arrange the furniture.
2. Get your class roster(s).
3. Develop Class Rules with rewards and consequences. If you want to do this with your students, have an idea of what rules you believe are non-negotiable and suggestions for rewards and consequences. Have this posted in the classroom by the next day.
4. Have a crisis plan in place (for major behavior issues)
5. Know who your mentor teachers are and when is best for them to ask questions.
6. Know where your materials, supplies, and resources are and how to get them.
7. Know the school schedule and policies including students arriving, lunch, breaks, and students leaving.
8. Develop a class schedule if you don’t already have one given to you by the school.
9. Develop a class routine post this in the room. This can be changed later but it is good to have a tentative plan. For example: Turn in HW to the basket, Warm up – first 5 minutes, Class lesson as a group, individual seatwork and/or group work, Get new HW assignment, Clean up. A schedule may help many students stay focused on what to expect.
10. Plan the first day activities:
a. Introduction of teacher (2-5 min.)
b. Introduction of students (15 min. – 30 min. depending on the number of students)
c. Paperwork (papers that need to go home to be signed) (5 min.)
d. Emergency evacuation information (We had an emergency fire drill the first day one year and I didn’t expect it. Now I always plan for it). (2 min.)
e. Get to Know You activity. (10 min.)
f. HW assignment (5 min.)
Once you have these things done, a new teacher will feel more relaxed and confident to finish planning out the week.
What other advice would you give new teachers to do before the students arrive? Please share.
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