My checklist for procedures before the commencement of any class.

• Classroom rules
• Academic Lesson Plans
• Monthly Activity sheets on Hand
• Templates regarding all possible activities
• Strategically structured classroom
• Clear Instructions for the following:
  • Restroom policy
  • Entering and leaving the classroom
  • Lining up procedure
  • Walking in line
  • Giving attention on my signal
  • Sitting and listening during lessons
  • Raising their hand

 

 

My Teaching Strategies

I follow these four classroom management procedures thoroughly.

1. Explain why.

Students are often resistant when asked to do something they don’t understand. “What’s the point?” is always rattling around in their heads. Explaining why cuts through this resistance.

This is especially true of classroom management. My students will follow me just about anywhere… as long as I explain why.

2. Model.

There are few teaching strategies that rival the effectiveness of detailed modeling.

I have my students follow me as I model precisely how I want them to enter the classroom in the morning, how to raise their hand, and how I expect them to sit in time-out. The more I can become–even channel–a model student, the more effective the exercise will be.

3. Practice.

I give students a chance to “try it on” before asking for perfection, or even competence. Let them practice. I ask them to show me how to line up for lunch, how to ask a question, and how to get ready to go home at the end of the day.

Make them prove to me that they’re able to apply what they’ve learned before asking them to do it for real.

4. Reteach.

If I let something–anything–go, I will communicate to my students that what I originally told them, taught them, and asked of them, is no longer valid. If after the initial learning, and at any time during the school year, my students aren’t giving me exactly what I expect from them, I stop everything and reteach. Make them do it again until they’re back on track.