1. The document discusses a teacher's efforts to improve the tone and consistency of classroom management from the first day of school through trial and error. 2. The teacher implemented five key points from research: simplifying rules, making a strong first impression, using physical organization, detailed planning, and engaging content. 3. Through two trials with different classes, the teacher found that minimizing wasted time through taut planning and physical organization tools was most effective in setting a consistent, work-oriented tone.

1. Problem of Practice: A Work in Progress Dan Bruner

2. The Problem Setting the tone of classroom management on the first day -- or period -- of school. How does one do it? How to make the tone consistent with the rest of the year? Any concrete methods? Can it be done with any certainty?

3. Progress -- The Changes In order to enact change in the way I set the tone of my classroom management, I have adapted five key points from my literary research. Simplification First Impressions Physical Organization Planning Engaging Content

4. Results I taught my lesson two times with different sets of students, but the results were very similar. Due to the nature of the problem, it is difficult to go by any quantitative evidence.

5. Results: Simplification I had developed a set of key values and rules I saw as the fundamental issues I wanted to be my focus. 1. Students should be “highly involved” with work. 2. There should be clear expectations for students. 3. Little time should be wasted and distractions should be limited. 4. The climate should be work-oriented, but relaxed. #3 made the biggest impact and ensured that the others fell into place.

6. Results: First Impressions Although important to consider, it becomes difficult to make any immediate changes. A new group of students often forces a teacher into old habits. Did not help me in that it did not create a concrete change.

7. Results: Physical Organizational Devices Using note cards kept assignment manageable. 1st trial: 18/18 assignments completed. 2nd trial: 11/12 assignments completed.

8. Results: Planning Creating a tangible, detailed lesson plan enabled me to stay on track and minimize wasted time. Less down time. More natural progression through learning events. Ensured that other values of the classroom were met.

9. Results: Engaging Content Although difficult to quantify, students appeared to be engaged with lesson. High assignment completion rate. 1st trial: 8/18 students willing to share work at the end of the lesson. 2nd trial: 4/12 students willing to share work at the end of lesson. Informally assessed contributing factors: high levels of laughter, questions, comments.

10. Epiphanies The biggest factor appears to be in the minimization of wasted time. Taut planning Limited time where students aren’t engaged in work or another aspect of the lesson. Physical organizational devices. The best method of improvement is in the addition of concrete components. As with the “First Impressions” concept, ideas that are not easily translated into tangible changes make little impact (at least for me).

11. Student Work

12. Student Work

13. Student Work