2. WORKSHOP GOALS
Our goal for this workshop is to investigate strategies for
planning, organizing, and structuring our classrooms to
maximize student success.
We will examine effective classroom management strategies
through an overview of Harry Wong’s
THE First Days of School,
and work towards implementation in order to create an
environment conducive to
student learning and achievement.
3. Ben Franklin
(and an ancient Chinese proverb) said
“Tell me and I will forget,
teach me and I will remember,
involve me and I will learn.”
4. 28 FACTORS GOVERNING
STUDENT LEARNING
Listed in rank order:
1. Classroom Management
2. Instructional/Learning process
3. Parental and home support
28. Classroom demographics Study conducted by three
researchers over a 50 year span.
What Helps Students Learn?
Educational Leadership
(December 1994/January 1994)
THE First Days of School, p. 80
5. CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
• Classroom management refers to all of the things a teacher
does to organize students, space, time, and materials so
student learning can take place
• Management skills are crucial and fundamental
• A well-managed classroom has a set of procedures and
routines that structure the classroom
Effective teachers MANAGE their classrooms
Ineffective teachers DISCIPLINE their classrooms
THE First Days of School, p. 82
6. EFFECTIVE TEACHERS ARE READY
They have the room ready!
positive work environment that is work-oriented
They have the work ready!
desks, books, papers, assignments, and materials
They have themselves ready!
warm, positive attitude, and positive expectations
THE First Days of School, pg. 89
7. ROOM ARRANGEMENT
ACTIVITY
• As a group, develop a
plan for arranging your
classroom.
• 1 teacher desk, 1
horseshoe table, a
computer station, 20
student desks
8. PREPARING FOR THE FIRST
DAY OF SCHOOL
• Organize files, arrange, decorate
• Imagine royalty is coming!
• There is a place for everything
• We teach readiness by modeling readiness
• Equip yourself with a First Day Script
READINESS IS THE PRIMARY DETERMINANT
OF
TEACHER EFFECTIVENESS
THE First Days of School, pg. 92
9. FIRST DAY SCRIPT
• Successful teachers have a script or a plan ready
• Plan out every minute of your day
• Know the names of your students
• List dismissal procedures
• Carry your script on a clipboard
WHAT YOU DO ON THE FIRST DAYS OF SCHOOL WILL
DETERMINE YOUR SUCCESS OR FAILURE FOR THE
REST OF THE SCHOOL YEAR
THE First Days of School, p. 3
10. CREATING YOUR
FIRST DAY SCRIPT
• Students begin arriving in the classroom at 7:20 (elementary)
• Have an activity waiting at their desks to keep them occupied while you
greet students/parents at the door
• Labels are helpful for learning student names
• Have a list of your students on your “clipboard”
• Ask your parents to confirm afterschool pick-up…..have a form ready for
them to fill-in, such as:
HOW WILL YOUR STUDENT GET HOME?
STUDENT PARENT
NAME PICK-UP DAYCARE BUS#__ BAND?
11. ESTABLISHING
PROCEDURES
• The first 2-3 weeks of school are critical
• Introduce classroom procedures the first week
• State your expectations
• Employ procedures that create consistency
• Create a slideshow of your procedures
• Have students role-play procedures
• Rehearse as necessary
Effective teachers spend the first two weeks teaching students to be in control of their
own actions in a consistent classroom environment
THE First Days of School, p. 176
12. CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
IS NOT
DISCIPLINE
• Discipline plans have rules
• Classroom management plans have procedures
• A procedure is a method or process for getting things done
• Procedures simplify the task of succeeding at school
• No learning takes place when you discipline
• Learning takes place only when a student is at work
DISCIPLINE concerns how students BEHAVE.
PROCEDURES concern how things ARE DONE.
DISCIPLINE HAS penalties and rewards.
PROCEDURES HAVE NO penalties or rewards.
THE First Days of School, pg. 169
14. IMPACT. Teachers universally say they
go into teaching to make a difference.
You more than make a difference.
You ARE the difference.
THE First Days of School, p. 8
16. BEST PRACTICE
• Best Practice is a term used to describe “what works” in a
particular situation or environment
• Research, or scientifically-based
• Integrated research and professional wisdom
• Teachers believe all students can learn
• Clearly articulated goals
• Conditions for learning are modified and differentiated
• Relevant learning that is engaging for all students
• Positive, personalized relationships for all students
Finding out about the students builds relationships, and is important in an
effectively run classroom.
THE First Days of School, p. 68
17. CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMENT
• Classroom and individual mission statements
• Classroom and individual measurable goals
• Student-created ground rules
• Classroom data center
• Student data folders
• Student-led conferences
• Quality tools and PDSA (Plan, Do, Study, Act)
Learning occurs only when
students are actively engaged
and in control of their own learning.
18. Effective teachers do what the
research tells us is most effective.
Effective teachers use proven,
research-based practices.
Why would you do otherwise?
THE First Days of School, p. 30
19. THE EFFECTIVE TEACHER
• Uses effective practices focused on student achievement
• Is an innovative planner and exceptional classroom manager
• Is an adept critical thinker and competent problem solver
• Represents the greatest asset of a school
THE First Days of School, pg. 28
20. STAND IN THE SHOES OF….
ACTIVITY
With your group, “stand in the shoes” of the person you
have been assigned and complete the following
statements:
Within the educational setting,
1. My goals are……
2. The resources I bring to the educational process are…
3. The support I need from the school community is…..
4. I will feel invited and welcomed when…..
21. ELEMENTARY
“Meet the Teacher”
Thursday, August 18, 5:00pm-6:00pm
“Curriculum Night”
Thursday, September 1, (evening TBA)
What to expect:
Most students will bring in their supplies @ Meet the Teacher
• Students will want to get familiar with you, the classroom, and
their place in the classroom
Two back-to-back informative sessions @ Curriculum Night
• Parents will want to know what their student will be learning, and
school/teacher expectations
SECONDARY CURRICULUM NIGHT DATES/TIMES TBA
22. PREPARATIONS
• Prepare a powerpoint as a Team or Grade Level
• Include all classroom/grade level expectations
• Include school procedures
• Highlight classroom curriculum
• Allow time for questions, open discussion
• Allocate an area for a “Parking Lot”, an respond to
questions, comments, thoughts, and suggestions
• Prepare agenda, handouts, sign-in sheet
• Be welcoming, but remember to keep it moving, longer
conversations could take place during a scheduled
conference
23. PARENT COMMUNICATION
• Vital to student success, we appreciate their involvement
• Let parents know they are an integral part of your academic
“team”…..Student-Parent-Teacher Team
• Make them feel they are welcome in your classroom
• Encourage them to get involved in the classroom and school
• Send home weekly newsletters
• Post your newsletter on your website weekly
• Respond to e-mails, notes from home as soon as possible
• Set up monthly blogs, utilize podcasting
24. IMPORTANT POINTS
TO REMEMBER
• Prepare a First Day Script
• Welcome your students, know their names, celebrate the First
Day with them
• Establish procedures that create consistency
• State your expectations
• You are the greatest asset to your school!
25. CONCLUSION
In a well-managed classroom:
• There exists a set of procedures and routines that structure the
classroom
• Students are engaged in learning
• Students know what is expected of them
• There is relatively little wasted time, confusion or disruption
• The climate of the classroom is work-oriented, relaxed,
pleasant, and welcoming
• Teachers and their students are successful
26. One hundred years from now it will not matter
What kind of car I drove,
What kind of house I lived in,
How much I had in the bank,
Or what my clothes looked like.
But the world will be a better place because
I was important in the life of a child.
-Forest E.
Witcraft
