Take the time not only to read through the following list, but also to complete it and check everything off as done before starting your next school year. These are things that should be covered with your students on Day One, or at least during the first week of school. Other questions are sure to arise as you work through this list. Write those questions in the Homework section (pg. 134).

 

1. How will students enter your classroom each day?

 

2. Will students have assigned seats? If not, how will seating be determined?

 

3. Will your seating change based on the activities for the day? How will students know where to sit?

 

4. Will students be expected to begin working on a bell ringer or warm-up upon entering the classroom? If not, what is the expectation for them upon entering the classroom?

 

5. What is the required location for all book bags when students enter the room?

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6. Are there consequences if book bags and other belongings are not in a particular place?

 

7. Will students be allowed to write in pencil in your class? What is the pencil sharpening procedure? What are the consequences if the procedure is not followed?

 

8. How will students dispose of their trash in your class? What is the procedure?

 

9. Will students be allowed to get up at any time to get tissue, hand sanitizer, etc.?

 

10. What is the procedure for using the restroom?

 

11. Will students walk assignments to you when they’re done? Will they submit the assignments to a particular place in the classroom? What is the procedure?

 

12. Is there a particular way you want them to write a heading on their papers?

 

13. If students finish an assignment before others are done, what will they do while they wait on the others to finish?

 

14. In keeping with your district’s and school’s policy on the use of technology in class, what will the procedure for technology use be in your class? Will students have to drop their technology at the door on days when it’s not in use, or can it remain on their person?

 

15. When technology is no longer in use after an activity is done, will students be required to place their devices in the “Off ” position?

 

16. Will there be a designated drop-off station in your class for cell phones?

 

17. If your district/school does not have a Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) policy, what is the procedure for unauthorized technology use in your classroom that is in accordance with your district’s/school’s policy?

 

18. Will you have group leaders for activities? How will leaders be determined? What other jobs will be assigned in groups? How will students know what their jobs entail?

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19. What is the homework policy?

 

20. How will students be expected to exit your room? Are they allowed to leave when the bell sounds, or should they wait for you to dismiss them?

 

21. What is the expectation for your students when you travel as a class together in the hallway? How will you exit the classroom? How will you travel? How will you enter into the final destination? How will you re-enter the classroom?

 

22. What, in all of this, is necessary to be printed in your class syllabus? On your class website?

 

23. What are your classroom ground rules?

a. Is eating allowed in your classroom?

b. How will students be expected to treat one another? You?

c. Are there any areas in the classroom that are off limits to students?

d. Do students need always to raise their hands to speak, or are there times when that’s not necessary? If so, when are those times?

e. Are students allowed to leave their seats at any time?

f. Are students allowed to talk during presentations (student, teacher, guest)?

 

24. Will you have classroom assistants: president, office runner, roll caller, etc.? What will their responsibilities be? Will students hold the positions for the whole school year? Will there be an election?

 

25. What are your classroom disciplinary procedures? What are punishable offenses? What behaviors simply warrant a warning?

 

26. What will be the Step 1 Consequence? Step 2? Step 3?

 

27. Will you have a student self-serve station with a stapler, hole puncher, sharpener, tissues, hand sanitizer, etc.? If so, what are the procedures for accessing that station?

 

28. Will you have set procedures for how students should work in groups? Will specific tasks be assigned to the first member of the group? The second? And so forth? What are the tasks?

 

29. Keeping your school’s fire drill and tornado drill procedures in mind, what will be your specific classroom guidelines for these drills?

 

30. Keeping your school’s lockdown procedure in mind, what will be your specific classroom guidelines for a lockdown?

 

There could be 100 more questions added to this list! Again, these are to get you thinking, and as you’re answering them and planning for your year, other questions will naturally arise. Answer them! Plan, plan, plan! You’ll be glad you did. Every detail matters for a strong start.

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Ussin, Iantha . Your Classroom or Their Playground: Classroom Management Observations and Conversations for the New Teacher (pp. 105-106). (Function). Kindle Edition.