TURN & TALK…

What do you believe is the

number one problem in

classrooms?

The number one problem in the classroom is not discipline; it is the lack of procedures and routines.

Spending time on procedures in the classroom not only makes the environment run more smoothly, but it actually facilitates the teaching.

Source: Conscious Classroom

Management, Rick Smith

SEE, THINK, WONDER on the First Day

Give each student a small stack of sticky notes. Explain

to your students that they will be investigating the

classroom and thinking about what the year might be

like. First (about 10 mins) , they write down I SEE

statements. Second they write down I THINK

statements. Third, ask them to extend their thinking by

writing “I wonder” statements to correspond with their

“seeing” and “thinking”.

All you are doing is observing the students’ thinking.

You may debrief once they are finished. Post the sticky

notes in your room.

ProjectPLN

The first few days of school teach only procedures

necessary for smooth opening of class.

Students must know from the very beginning how

they are expected to behave and work in a

classroom work environment.

Students want instruction and guidance on all the

how-to’s in class: how to start a paper, how to ask

for help, how to sharpen a pencil, how to get to

work, how to turn on the computer, how to etc….

Classroom procedures answer questions such as

these:

WHAT TO DO WHEN THE BELL RINGS ?

WHAT TO DO WHEN THE PENCIL BREAKS ?

WHAT TO DO WHEN THERE IS A FIRE DRILL ?

WHAT TO DO WHEN IN A LOCKDOWN DRILL ?

WHAT TO DO WHEN FINISHED WORK EARLY ?

WHAT TO DO WHEN THEY HAVE A QUESTION ?

WHAT TO DO WHEN THEY NEED TO GO TO THE

BATHROOM ?

WHERE TO FIND ASSIGNMENTS IF THEY HAVE BEEN

ABSENT ?

HOW WILL YOU GET THE CLASS ATTENTION ?

WHEN CAN I USE MY PHONE? OR CAN I?

WHEN CAN I LISTEN TO MUSIC? OR CAN I?

TECHNIQUE FOR TEACHING PROCEDURES

Explain

Rehearse

Reinforce – remind

Be Consistent with your expectations of

procedures.

THINK, PAIR, SHARE…

Think about the procedures (that will

become routine) in your classroom/area.

List as many as you can.

Now think about how you will support the

students to learn the procedures.

Which procedures are most important to

address in the first few days?

GROUP WORK?????

THINK, PAIR, SHARE

What procedures need to

be in place in order to have successful

collaborative group work opportunities

for students?

PROCEDURES FOR GROUP WORK…

How to move their belongings, desks, bodies

Know where to sit and with whom

Listen to the teacher once in groups

Take turns discussing/working & staying on task

Encourage all to participate

Respect others’ opinions

Listen to others’ opinions

Take notes/ do work

How to move their belongings, desks, bodies back

How to refocus their attention once they are back

Source: Conscious Classroom Management, Rick Smith

SETTING THE STAGE …

Learn their names within the first few days and use them.

Teach procedures: practice, reinforce, and review

Use a greeting message to set the tone for the class or

day and get the thinking started.

Use this as an opportunity to communicate behaviour

expectations and learning objectives or to review

routines.

Share the agenda for the class and be specific about the

learning…(Today you will..)

For young readers, use pics or symbols to communicate.