Taken from Harry Wong’s: First Days of School Classroom Management Taken from Harry Wong’s: First Days of School

Let’s start with… The most important factor governing student learning is Classroom Management How you manage the classroom is primary determinant of how your students will learn It is the teacher—what the teacher knows and can do—that makes the difference in the classroom Effective teachers manage their classrooms. Ineffective teachers discipline their classrooms

Key Idea The teacher is responsible for organizing a well-managed classroom where students can learn in a task-oriented environment.

What is classroom management? Refers to all the things that a teacher does to organize students, space, time and materials so that student learning can take place A teacher must: Foster student involvement and cooperation in all classroom activities Establish a productive working environment

Characteristics of a Well-managed Classroom Has a set of procedures and routines that structure the classroom Students know what is expected of them and are generally successful Students are working Students are paying attention Students are cooperative and respectful of each other Students are self-discipline and remain on task All materials are ready and organized Furniture is arranged for productive work A calm and positive climate prevails

Task-Oriented A well-managed classroom is a task-oriented and predictable environment Both teacher and students know what to do and what is supposed to happen in the classroom

A Successful Teacher is Ready The work is ready The room is ready The teacher is ready Being ready everyday helps prevent misbehaviors and other problems from occurring.

How to Introduce Yourself to Your class How your Introduce yourself on the first day may determine how much respect and success you will have for the rest of the school year. Your reputation will precede you.

Welcoming Techniques Send a letter before school begins To parents: Tell them you are looking forward to having their child in class Ask them to put open house dates on calendar Include information for materials needed on the first day To students: Tell them who you are Invite them to call you if they have questions Tell them your expectations

Welcoming Techniques Continued Visit the home of each student before school begins Introduce yourself Bring the letters just described with you Share with the parents how they can help

How to greet students Stand at the door with a big smile and a ready handshake Post the following information next to the classroom door: Your name Room number Section or period, if appropriate Grade level or subject An appropriate welcome or greeting

How to greet students continued At the door: Tell them your name Room number Section or period Anything else appropriate, such as seating assignment

How to greet students continued Check each student’s registration card If the student is in the wrong place then help the student find the right place In the room have the following written or posted: Your name Room number Section or period Grade level or subject Appropriate welcome or greeting

Why do this? It is now unlikely that any student is in the wrong place Student anxiety level is reduced Student will feel welcomed

Example of a self introduction

Seating Charts Tell the students about this fact upon entering door Do not rearrange the seating after the class is seated

How to help students find their seats Have their names on place cards on the desk Have their names written on a seating chart transparency that is projected onto a screen Give them an index card with a letter and a number on it, such as B5, A8, C3 and ask them to find their seats based on the seating chart that is projected. Do not use this method if you feel it will be too difficult for your students to figure out two coordinates

First Words There are two major things you want to state at the outset on the first day of school: Your name Your expectations Students want to know who you are as a person and if you will treat them as a person. Pg 111

You will… On the first few days of school, you will begin many of your sentences with, “you will”. Your mission will be to establish student habits If you do not, they will establish their own. The effective teacher establishes control right from the start to prevent the classroom from becoming a breeding ground for confusion and discontent.

Seating Arrangements The purpose of arranging seats is to accomplish classroom tasks. Seats are arranged to coincide with the task you have designed. Examples: First day registration Cooperative learning Listening to a lecture Class discussion Story time Taking a test Etc.

Answer the following… What do I want to do? What kind of seating arrangements are possible? Which seating arrangement will I use?

Group Activity

Classroom-lecture, test, video

Classroom-story time

Class arrangements misc. There is no one form of seating that should be permanently used the entire school year. Change the seating in your room as frequently as you deem necessary for your purposes Have seats arranged so that every pair of eyes will be looking at you

Seating Assignments The effective teacher assigns students to their seats on the first day of school Task should be a matter of seconds Not up for class discussion Reasons Facilitates roll taking Aids name memorization Separates potential problem students