UmmLia asked MiddleWeb readers to share their ideas concerning classroom
procedures.
What are some of the specific routines and procedures teachers have
for students moving about the classroom, walking in the hallway, and passing
out papers or books?
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Sarah explained how she gets her students into grouping arrangements
with as little muss and fuss as possible.
When my students are moving into various groupings, I tell them they
have until the count of say 25 and then I count while they move. It works
well.
-Sarah
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Robbyn shared a number of her favorite classroom procedures.
Hi everyone! I have been off the list for the summer but am very excited
to be back. I have missed the dialogues that take place on the list.
Whenever I passed out papers, I had students record their grades in their
agenda. Our agendas had a place to keep track of this. I put the name of
the assignments I was passing out on the overhead and they were to copy
these down and then fill in their assigned grade (points). The first couple
of times I did this I taught them how to average their grade. This was a
great way for students to always know exactly how they were doing at any
given time. Parents could also have easy access. I also used this as a way
to show students just how bad a zero hurts their grade.
When I knew I would need materials or books for class, I would try to have
them on the table when the students entered the room. If this was not practical
(maybe all classes didn't need the same supplies) I would try to have a
student pass these things out as students were entering the room.
Of course, there was always a sponge activity to begin upon entering the
class. This allowed me to be in the hallway and for students to begin immediately.
-Robbyn
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Charles enthusiastically added his favorite ideas:
What a great question! I don't have a hallway so I'm not sure about
that, but in my language classes (I've taught Spanish and will be teaching
French) my guys line up at the door, enter quietly, go to their assigned
seats. They get out materials, put their backpacks on the backs of their
chairs and start the sponge activity. I'm having them do homework in their
spiral notebooks this year so the things I'll be collecting will be formal
assessments done in class and projects which generally have a quick oral
presentation piece attached so those are turned in at the end of the presentation.
Formal assessments are passed sideways to the end of the row a la Harry
Wong.
Last year, I asked for volunteers to pass things out. This year, I'm starting
at the top of the roll sheet and working my way down. Eventually, I will
move this into privilege status. I'm training my aides to do all of the
roll/homework checking (bringing materials is part of their homework) and
in those classes where I don't have an aide, I'll do the same student rotation.
As for moving around the class, in my reading classes (a workshop/centers
styled operation with rotating groups) I've learned that I need to have
whatever they need right next to where I want them to do it. It sounds like
common sense, but I seem to be missing the common sense piece. In my language
classes, I've learned to set my expectations and tell them exactly what
I want to see including where will they end up and how long it should take
them to get there and be sitting in a chair, before we do anything that
requires moving around.
I value your question because I have been miserable in the past because
I didn't do this before. This was NEVER an explicit part of my new teacher
training, and nobody ever said to what extent how difficult and hideous
things can get. It's like the day I discovered not to ask the kids to listen
to me, rather to look at me. This one little thing saved my life.
-Charles
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Joanne, a beginning teacher, expressed her gratitude for the practical
ideas shared on MiddleWeb.
I agree, What a GREAT Question- and what great answers we are getting.
As a new teacher, I am literally cutting and pasting all these suggestions
into a Word Folder so I can refer back frequently. In fact, if I get organized
enough, I will even organize them into a binder for myself.
Thank you all for taking the time to share your answers. What a boon to
all of us, but most especially those of us starting out. Just maybe, I can
avoid some of the craziness by following these great proven strategies for
keeping students focused!
-Joanne
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Linda discovered that organization was key to keeping things rolling
smoothly in her class. She shared some organization tips with Middleweb
readers.
One procedure that I read before starting my teaching career last year,
and it really worked well (as long as I did my part!) was to assign a specific
place to keep folders for missed assignments. What I did was label folders
Period 1, Period 2, etc and place them in a folder stand at the side of
my room.
During the first day, when I'm going over all the "information"
students are told that they may find any assignments that were given when
they were absent in these folders. This way students don't have to come
to you, "Did I miss any assignments? Were there any handouts yesterday?"
(I still can't believe it when they come back from an absence and ask, "Did
I miss anything?") A student from period 1 would go to the folder and
there should be any handouts or assignments right there with their name
on it.
That's the part I made reference to earlier - I have to remember to put
them in there! But usually I pre-count all papers for each period, so if
I have one left over, I know "Oh yeah, Libby's absent today."
And then I write her name on the papers and put them in the folder immediately.
Hope this helps someone.
-Linda
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MiddleWeb editor John Norton pointed readers to several links containing
helpful ideas for new teachers.
The Teachers Network has some useful ideas for new teachers along these
lines. Go to:
http://www.teachersnetwork.org/ntol/index.htm
Every new teacher should visit!
Also see:
http://www.pacificnet.net/~mandel/ClassroomManagement.html
Many more resources at MiddleWeb's "First Days of Middle School"
page:
http://www.middleweb.com/1stDResources.html
-John
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Karen Franklin asked for further explanation concerning "sponge
activites".
Please advise- what is a "sponge activity?"
-KA Franklin
-------------------------------------
Charles elaborated.
A sponge activity is a quick maybe three to five minute activity like
a quickie quiz, word puzzle, quick write- something which is designed to
activate background knowledge and can be part of the anticipatory set..
One I remember in my Spanish class was, "Write the Days of the Week
in order starting with today." It gave me some time to check homework,
attendance and materials etc. and gave us a starting point for the next
objective. It also helped put them in a frame of mind for learning.
-Charles
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Sandy also provided further information on "sponge activities".
A sponge activity is a journal writing, reading, or short assignment
that the students to when they come into class. It is short enough that
it should be done within the first 5 - 10 minutes while you take attendance,
etc.
Mine generally go with what I am about to teach, or review what I have taught.
I call them bell ringers.
-Sandy
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Keeping up with the work missed by absent students can be a challenge
for any educator. Laurie shared a system that has worked for her.
One organization tool I used last year which helped me a lot when the
kids were absent was to get a 2-3" three-ring binder and call it Absent
Student Work. I divided it into sections (I teach math and language arts),
according to skill areas.
For example, in Language Arts: grammar, spelling, writing, novels, and poetry.
Every time I handed out a sheet of paper, one went into the binder. All
extras were paper-clipped together and put in a white plastic crate along
with the binder. I demonstrated this the first week of school so kids knew
it was their responsibility to go to the absent student box when they returned
from being absent.
I also found this was a nice way to demonstrate organizational skills in
class. I used this binder as 20% of their grade in Math, and it made a big
difference. This year, I'm going to make it 20% of their L. Arts grade as
well.
-Laurie
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Myrna shared some of her veteran teacher's savvy:
Several things that have worked for me and others at my school are:
1. Hall passes with a sign out sheet in the room. One student at a time
is allowed to leave. Of course I go through this elaborate explanation at
the beginning of the year to say that those frequently out will be advised
to see a urologist!
2 Folders with all handouts for those who are absent. We move around the
room and rotate the job of keeper of the folder, alias the Nudge of the
Week. Every student takes this job seriously since they know that when they
are absent, they will need the makeup work. 3. Signals - certain words to
come to attention, cues for quizes, tests, etc. I play with words to keep
them attentive.
4. Bonus 'bucks' - earn a night for no homework in any subject to celebrate
success
5. Stress relievers- I found that 6th and 7th graders panic before tests,
so I ask questions related to either sports or the TV they watch (or quotes
from movies) somewhere on the test. I love to hear them giggling when they
get the question
6. Read aloud- set in stone for once a week.
7. Do the unexpected - change the routine occasionally - school can be so
boring!
Myrna
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