Teaching Tips for the Beginning of the School Year

What happens in the classroom during the first week of school will set the stage for the remainder of the school year. Making classroom rules, expectations and consequences for student behavior clear at the outset will eliminate many problems as the year progresses.

Teaching Tip #1: Post Classroom Rules

Have a large poster with the classroom rules in the front of the classroom. There should not be more than five rules, and they should be stated in a positive way. Examples of rules are: follow directions the first time, raise your hand, keep hands to yourself, and treat others with respect.

Introduce the rules in a positive way, emphasizing that the rules are for the benefit of the students, so that the classroom will be a safe, productive and enjoyable place. Discuss the rules with the students so that they understand exactly what each rule means and why it is important. For example, ask students what it means to treat people and property with respect. Students will respond with their ideas of what this means to them, such as no name calling or teasing, don't write on the desks, don't take things that don't belong to you, etc.

Teaching Tip #2: Post Consequences

In addition to learning about what behaviors are expected of them, students need to be told what the consequences will be if they choose to break the rules. In addition to negative consequences for breaking rules, such as detention, is it effective to have a set of positive consequences for good behavior. For example, if all work is turned in on time during the week, students will be rewarded with a game or some free time on Friday.

Teaching Tip #3: Teach Students Classroom Procedures

Procedures are the way things are done. Some examples of procedures are how to enter the classroom, how to hand in papers and what to do if you need to sharpen your pencil. Well-defined procedures eliminate confusion and chaos and help the classroom run smoothly.

For example, the procedure for entering the classroom might be to finish conversations outside, enter the room quietly, sit in your assigned seat, take out a piece of paper and answer the three questions written on the board. The procedure for handing in papers might be to pass them to the student sitting to your left; once all of the papers are at one end of the room, the teacher or a designated student can walk down the aisle and collect all of the papers. The procedure for sharpening pencils might be to hold your pencil in the air and wait for the teacher to give you permission to sharpen it by nodding.

Teaching Tip #4: Send Home a Behavior Contract

The behavior contract is a good way to communicate rules and expectations to the students' families. It consists of a list of classroom expectations, as well as the discipline plan and consequences. The behavior contract is sent home with students on the first day of school, and both student and parent signatures are required. Students return the behavior contract and it is kept in their file. This ensures that both the students and their parents or guardians are aware of the expectations and consequences.

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