May I ask a few "New School Year" Questions....

Hi Teachers!!!! I have a few questions for those that have the time and the patience to deal with me.

1. Do you establish your classroom rules or do you incorporate your students in the establishment of the rules?

2. What are some of the routines you really work on during the first few days of school?

3. Do you do a 'morning meeting' with your class?

Thanks in advance! I started student teaching this week in SC and I am working on some notes and promised I'd get more than just my coaching teachers feedback on anything I establish as part of my own teaching philosophy.

Re: May I ask a few "New School Year" Questions....

1. Do you establish your classroom rules or do you incorporate your students in the establishment of the rules?

My administration feels that we should make classroom promises. We make a chart of promises together. Then, we all sign the chart.

2. What are some of the routines you really work on during the first few days of school?
Well, I teach first grade so here are a few I work on.
- Bathroom usage
- Raising hands
- Putting book bags in the closet
- Coming to the carpet
- Of course... walking on a line in the hallway!

3. Do you do a 'morning meeting' with your class?
No,.. my day is so jammed. I do the calendar though.

Hope this helped!

Re: May I ask a few "New School Year" Questions....

I teach first grade also.
_ I read a few books and we talk about the importance of rules and i ask what rules they think are important. Then i share a chart i have with rewards and consequences.

- The first few days of school are all about routines.
- lining up in line spots quietly. (in size order)
- when i ring the bell - FREEZE
- lights off-Heads down
- Morning routines..taking stuff out of bookbags, hanging up coats, go back to your seat and read quietly.

Also gummy bears are a great reward :)

We do morning meeting everyday. We do the calendar, do and ABC chant with the letter and sound, counting..eventually by 1, 2, 5, 10's...days of the week song/months of the year.

Re: May I ask a few "New School Year" Questions....

I teach middle school.



1. Do you establish your classroom rules or do you incorporate your students in the establishment of the rules?

When I was student teaching/in school I thought that democracy was the way to go. That was before. It's not a democracy, it's a dictatorship. (But I would NEVER say that to the kids!)

In all seriousness, I just thought that it would be crazy to allow rules to be a subject of a debate. Also, through other activities where they got to set standards I found that they were a lot harder on themselves than I would ever be. My belief is, less is more. No more than 5 rules.

2. What are some of the routines you really work on during the first few days of school?

Entering the room and getting ready for the day (unpacking, going to seat, getting out first period materials). Lining up for lunch, gym, and dismissal. What to expect during my class- the way I organize our time together.

3. Do you do a 'morning meeting' with your class?

No, but I think that's more of an elementary thing.

Message edited 8/19/2009 9:38:26 PM.

Re: May I ask a few "New School Year" Questions....

I teach 5th, but I've also taught 4th and 1st.

1. Do you establish your classroom rules or do you incorporate your students in the establishment of the rules?
We call them class responsibilities. I ask them what the rules should be, but I have a list of rules I want on there and I make sure to incorporate those. I also rephrase their rules to make them more encompassing and positive. ex: "no hitting" would be - have respect for classmates or something like that.

We also talk about rewards and consequences during this time.

2. What are some of the routines you really work on during the first few days of school?
- how to enter the classroom - do you want them to put their bags away on their own, or wait for you to call them to the closet? Can they sharpen their pencils or do they need permission? What do you do with homework, notes from parents?

What should they do if they are ready while others are still getting ready for the day? I make an I'm Finished chart so they always have something to do while others are working.

What do they do if they need to use the bathroom? See the nurse?

How do you want them to walk in the hall? Down the stairs?

Practice transitions - over and over and over. Moving from seats to the carpet, from the carpet to a center, from their seats to go line up, etc.

3. Do you do a 'morning meeting' with your class?

It's not structured but we talk before we do word study. I check up on their reading or we talk about current events. I tell them the plan for the day and some of my expectations.

Re: May I ask a few "New School Year" Questions....

1. Do you establish your classroom rules or do you incorporate your students in the establishment of the rules?
I establish the rules. I have one:
Students will demonstrate discipline, determination and respect in all that they say and do. (Students have an opportunity to discuss in writing what that statement means to them, we share out, then I have a handout of Learning Environment Agreements that basically covers what this means)

2. What are some of the routines you really work on during the first few days of school?
Lots of procedures: Entering the classroom, participating in discussion, submitting work
Setting up their notebook, how to take notes and do vocabulary, using Accountable Talk Prompts

3. Do you do a 'morning meeting' with your class?
No--as soon as the bell rings, instruction begins

I just wanted to add that I teach H.S. English, so a lot of what I do in the first week of school is geared toward an understanding that my students already know what is expected of them so that we can get right into work.

Re: May I ask a few "New School Year" Questions....

1. Do you establish your classroom rules or do you incorporate your students in the establishment of the rules?

I do a little of both. There are certain rules that are just plain old rules that they have no choice in, such as no running in the hall, raise your hand, follow directions. But over the year, we create more rules together based on need and we discuss them and discuss why we are making them.

2. What are some of the routines you really work on during the first few days of school?

Getting out of seats and pushing in chairs, raising hands, not calling out, putting stuff away, sitting in the meeting area, walking in the hall...just routine stuff. Also, where to put finished or unfisnished work, what to do in the morning when they walk in, where to put notes.

3. Do you do a 'morning meeting' with your class?

OUtside in the hall, before they come in, I give them a rundown of what they have to do and if there are any changes in our day. Takes about 30 seconds. But like a PP, we also do the calendar work and that is also like a morning meeting.

Re: May I ask a few "New School Year" Questions....

I teach 5th grade and this is what I do:

1. Do you establish your classroom rules or do you incorporate your students in the establishment of the rules?

In my class we only have 3 rules, as determined by me, respect, responsibility and cooperation. On the 1st day we brainstorm together what each of those means and how we can stick to those rules throughout the year.

2. What are some of the routines you really work on during the first few days of school?
-am and pm routines
-organization of books and supplies
- homework policy
- how to use the classroom library
-bathroom procedure

3. Do you do a 'morning meeting' with your class?
- only the first week of school unfortunately