First Day of Class

Passing and Checking Out Materials

• This is an area of the education process that may seem minute, yet if managed poorly can waste a great deal of time.  It is my philosophy that this should be done quickly and orderly.  If there is a great deal of material to pass to the students, I will try to have it organized so that I only have to pass out one stack of papers to each student.  If it is material that each student is obtaining, I will allow students to help me pass them out, but if it is corrected papers I will pass them back by myself so that the grades are kept confidential.  While this is occurring, I will expect that the students quietly sit in their seats until they are instructed on what to do next.  If at all possible, I will try to create mailboxes for each student in the classroom so that they can immediately pick up there work/materials immediately in the morning.

Class Rosters

• There are a number of different ways classroom rosters are utilized.  Districts, principals, and teachers all use rosters to accomplish different tasks.  Attendance is usually the primary purpose of class rosters.  Many schools are now taking attendance online at the beginning of each day or class period.  If at all possible, I will try to implement the use of computers for taking attendance in order to save time.  I will try to send the attendance in after I assign seat work for the students so that I save time and do not disrupt the lesson, as the first few minutes of class are vital to the success of the lesson..

Seating Assignments

• In order to take attendance daily and learn each students name, I plan to use seating assignments to begin each semester.  Seating assignments are also a great way to manage the class and reduce discipline problems.  In the secondary classroom, I would allow students to choose their seats after I know everyone's name.  I would clearly state that they must behave and work diligently to keep this privilege, however.  If problems were to arise, I would go back to assigned seating.  In the physical education setting and other large classes, random seating may not be possible. 

Bell Schedules

• It is imperative that each student knows to be in his/her assigned seat before the bell rings for class to begin.  If the students know they must be in their seat when the bell rings it makes it much easier for the instructor to know who is tardy.  I would consider anyone who is not in their seat when the bell rings to be tardy.  Time management and being on time is essential in all aspects of life and should be stressed in school.   I also would be understanding, however, if students had a good reason for being late to class and discussed it with me prior to class or immediately following class.. 

Course Requirements

• I believe that it is very important to clearly state the requirements for the class on the first day at any grade level.  This lets the students know what to expect and what must be done in order to pass the class.  I also believe that when stating what the students must do, they should know why they are doing it.  If students see the importance of the class, many will become more interested and willing to learn.  Although a whole semester of work may not be planned, I would like the students to know the tentative topics that will be taught along with how they will be assessed and graded.

Beginning of Class Routine

• The beginning of class is what generally sets the tone for the rest of the period.  It is my belief that the beginning of class should start in a similar manner each day in order to establish a routine.  By providing structure to each class, many students feel more organized and prepared to learn. A good idea to establish routine is to simply review what was taught the previous time the class was met in order to insure the lesson was learned and get the students thinking. 

Time Fillers

• Although often overlooked, time filler are a great way to manage a class. It is usually when students are not busy that they get into trouble.  It is the responsibility of the teacher to keep students actively busy for the duration of the class period.  I will encourage students to quietly read a book when they have no other work to do.  I will always try to have a variety of materials available for students to read if they do not have their own book or magazine.  It is important for students to remain quiet for the entire class period so that all students have the opportunity to work in a quiet environment. 

Classroom Rules

• It is my philosophy that rules should be limited, simple, and meaningful.  Too often, teachers have such a long list of rules that students do not even try to know all of them and do not understand the importance of them.  Having too many rules also makes it difficult for the teacher to enforce all of them.  Before establishing the rules, I will allow for student input and discussion.  I think students are more likely to follow the rules if they feel they have had a part in establishing them.  It is also vital for the students to understand and establish the consequences for breaking the rules.

First Activity

• If I were to teach in a big school I would try to establish an activity the first day of class to learn all of their classmates' names and personalities.  This will help them feel part of the class and start to establish relationships with the group.  It is also important for the students to get to know the teacher. Something as simple as introducing yourself and your interests may be sufficient in the secondary level.    

Ending the Period

• The end of class is a great time to make sure the students understand what was taught.  I plan to have a closure at the end of each class where I randomly ask questions to students so that I know I adequately covered the material and can start preparing myself and the class for the next lesson.  This will also help them understand the key points to the day's lesson.