Procedures

Procedures are the absolute key to a well-run classroom. Here are just a few that I would teach at the beginning of the year.

1. Place backpacks and other items in your cubby first thing in the morning.
2. There is a folder attached to the side of your desk. When you have unfinished work, place it in the folder and finish it during your next free time.
3. There are 3 computers to take AR tests on. If all of the computers are full, add your name to the "AR list" on the front board.
4. On the back wall, you each have a pencil pocket. I will be the only one to sharpen pencils. When a pencil is broken, place it point down. Once I have sharpened it, I will place it point up.
5. When we need to go somewhere, you will line up in a "1-2-3" line. This is alphabetical order by your last name. We will practice this lots of times in the next few days, so don't worry about it! :)
6. When you are finished with work, place it in the next available slot in the trays by the door. 
7. You will take your homework folder home each day. You will read an AR book, do an activity with your spelling words, and practice your math facts. Be sure to bring your folder back each day to earn DoJo points!
8. We will be using a system called Class DoJo. For each good thing you do (homework completed, on task, etc.), you will receive a point. For each bad choice you make (no homework, not following directions, etc.), you will lose a point. This helps to remind you about what you should be doing. :)
9. We will be using lots of tools in math this year. Let's remember that math tools are not toys. We have toys in this room to play with at some points, but our math tools are to use for math only. :)
10. Each day, you will come in, put away your things, and then do your morning work. There will either be a paper on your desk or instructions on the board. Please get to work as soon as possible once you get in the room. :)

These procedures help students to feel "in the know" on the very first day of school. :)

First Day Activities

Bell Work:  First Day Activities

Describe at least five typical activities for the first day of school.

1. Showing the students around the school; locating the restrooms, office, PE, music, computers, etc.

2. Introducing yourself as the teacher and telling the students some things about you.

3. Introducing the students to a game/activity that allows them to learn about each other/learn each other’s names.

4. Demonstrate necessary procedures: how to line up, where to store their backpacks, what to do first in the morning, etc.

5. Have some fun games and activities planned! Ease those nerves (yours and theirs)! J

Ideal Ideas

As I've talked about in a previous post, there are SO MANY ideas out there! It's hard to separate the good from the bad sometimes. But as I was perusing some first-year teacher websites, I found an idea that I think is absolutely excellent.

On the first day of school, have each student write three goals for the year. These could be simple, like "improve handwriting," or they could be more complex, such as "learn more about history." These goals are a good starting place for knowing what the students are most passionate about in school, as well as something to remind them of throughout the year.

How Much Does A Polar Bear Weigh?

ENOUGH TO BREAK THE ICE!! :D

I'm a pretty cheesy person. I like to make people laugh, and I think that's the best way to start the new year. But wait! Don't stop reading yet! That's not my ice breaker! Just an extra idea. :)

My favorite ice breaker is "two truths and a lie." In this ice breaker, each student writes down 3 facts about themselves, 2 that are true and 1 that is a lie. They present their facts to (ideally) a small group, and the group votes on which one they think is the lie. After everyone presents their 3 facts, we rotate groups. This breaks down some barriers and helps the students to get to know each other better.

Why shouldn't you iron a four-leaf clover?

You don't want to PRESS YOUR LUCK! :D :D

Oh, The Things You Can Learn!

Being a teacher is hard in our world today. With websites like Pinterest and Teachers Pay Teachers, we are given the impression that all of our lessons should have a foldable and a craft and as much color as possible. We're "supposed to" take 15 field trips a year and teach our students about every culture in the world. And while we're at, we've got standardized tests to pass, as well. It can be pretty overwhelming.

One thing that I've learned both from student teaching and from exploring first-year teacher sites is that we don't have to do everything! Sure, our classrooms should be bright and appealing to our students, but we don't have to do every craft we so on Pinterest or buy every lesson on TPT. We don't have to have new, brilliant activities for every single lesson. As long as our students are engaged and they know that we love them, we are doing a good job!

Class Rules

Class rules are essential in any classroom. Even though our super second graders have excellent classroom behavior, we post these rules to give them a little reminder when they're having a hard time. Our rules include:

Be nice, helpful, and respectful: This rule pretty much explains itself. These are behaviors that we want our students to have as they move through life.

Be the best you can be: Your best may not be the same as someone else's best. But if you work as hard as you can, then you're doing a perfect job.

Follow directions quickly: We've got a lot to do, and it's important for our students to be ready to learn.

Let your teacher teach: That's what we're here for, after all!

We know our students will do a super duper job with these rules, as always! :)

Visual Managers

How can you expect students to know what to do if you don't tell them? And what could possibly be better way to tell them than with pictures?!

Pencil sharpening is a bothersome task for both teachers and students. When all their pencils are sharpened at the beginning of the day, students don't have to worry about when to sharpen their pencils. (And teachers don't have to hear the lovely noise of the pencil sharpener every day.) ;)

Many young students don't know how to travel in groups. By forming a 1, 2, 3 line (a fancy way to say line up in alphabetical order), the students know who should be behind and in front of them at all times.