Hit the ground running. Send a message to your new class about what’s expected right from the get-go. The quicker you set a culture of kindness, respect, and high-bar work expectations, the easier it will be to maintain. So during that first hour of … Read more
“Hey, no talking during the lesson.” “I said to walk!” “Stop pushing in line.” No, these aren’t the type of reminders I’m referring to. In fact, they’re examples of what you should never do—first week of school or not—because they’re reminders given after misbehavior … Read more
If you have one or more difficult students in your class this year, then the first week of school is especially important. You have one chance to set them on the right track from the beginning. —Which is far easier than trying to coax … Read more
I’m often asked about the first day of school, so I’ve written many articles on the topic. Most are about establishing routines and implementing an effective classroom management plan—which are important, to be sure. But they’re not my number one goal on the first … Read more
The first two weeks of the school year is the honeymoon period. Students are eager and wanting to please. They’re bright and happy and on their best behavior. They take seriously your teaching of rules and consequences, and it shows. Which is wonderful, of … Read more
The tendency is to rush. To try and cover every policy and procedure. To cram it all in on the first day of school for fear that if you don’t, then your students will develop bad habits. They’ll get lax and sloppy and misbehavior … Read more
Surprisingly, it’s still common advice: Never smile the first month or two of the school year. The idea being that if you show kindness toward your students, then they won’t respect you. Instead, they’ll perceive you as weak, a pushover. They’ll test you, challenge … Read more
To help ensure you begin the school year on the right classroom management foot, I compiled a list of questions. The questions are meant to test your preparedness. They’re meant to assess your level of commitment. They’re meant to save you from first-week-of-school mistakes … Read more