Preparation for the year
In July or August when possible, I would like to review the class roll. I want to ensure I am able to pronounce all the student’s names. Ideally, I would like to send out a contact letter to the student’s household; letting them know what a great year it will be and that I am excited they are in my class.
My Altenbaumer’s All Stars bulletin board will be ready for student’s digital photos that we will take the first day of class.
Greetings
My students will be met with a smiling face and inviting mannerisms (handshakes or pats on the back).
As the students arrive, I will give them a nametag and instruction sheet. The instruction sheet gives them the days “bell ringer” of Decorating Your Nametag, their seating assignment, and directions to not do anything with the puzzle piece as it is for the “getting to know each other” activity.
Welcome and Introductions
Hello everyone! I am so pleased to see all of you today. I am Mrs. Altenbaumer (it is already spelled on the board). Everyone say that together… A L T E N B A U M E R. It is long but not difficult, it means “old tree”. Now it is time for us to get to know each other better. Everyone put on their nametags. Now with the puzzle piece I would like you to draw things like summer activities, hobbies, pets, favorite subjects, favorite books, music, movies etc. Let the puzzle piece represent you as a person—illustrate your personality. In 5-6 minutes I will let volunteers come up and show off their piece, then we will put it together on the board.
As the students volunteer, I will take their picture and confirm the roll. After all the student introductions, I will show my puzzle piece and tell some about myself.
(1st Days of School Rules)
Overview of the Year
There will be a brief classroom discussion on the content we will cover over the year. The focus will be on the first six weeks. I will detail the chapters, TEKS, and topics we will be studying. This leads to classroom procedures.
Classroom Procedures
First Week:
Entering the Classroom
“Bell Ringer Activities”
Assignment Sheets
Headings on Assignments
Handing in Assignments
What Goes in Your Binder
Moving (seating chart change, desk to computer, desk to lab station, ect.)
Coming to Attention
Dismissal
Three Step Approach: Teaching Procedures on the First Day
Entering the room:
I. Explain- I will greet students at the door, and then you will enter the room sitting in your assigned seat. Your daily bell ringer will be on the board, review the activity and get to work.
II. Rehearse- The class will proceed outside the room (see dismissal procedure) and practice entering the room, reviewing bell ringer and working on the activity. This is done as many times as necessary until as a class, it is done correctly.
III. Reinforce- When needed, students will be reminded of the procedure and the rehearsal step will be repeated. Praise and rewards for a job well done.
Bell Ringer Activity:
I. Explain- Every minute of class is valuable. Bell ringers get your brain firing and prepare you for learning. There are a couple different kinds of activities, including but not limited to: journaling, logic problems, current event topics, and vocabulary puzzles. Students have the first 5 minutes of class to complete the activity.
II. Rehearse- On the first day I will give the students three examples of Bell ringers and they are to get started on them each time we practice entering the room.
III. Reinforce- Individually or as a class we will rehearse the procedure as needed. Particularly creative ideas shared in the Bell ringers will earn tokens.
Dismissal
I. Explain- The bell is a way to communicate to the teacher that class is over. It is my job to communicate to you when class is dismissed. We will leave by table—starting with the back north corner.
II. Rehearse- I will have a bell sound chime. I will start by dismissing the two back tables. Students will get up and pretend to leave (walking quietly into the hall). I will continue dismissing two tables at a time. Any one that has received two consequences will remain until everyone has left (assign a good-spirited student to be the rule-breaker). Students will be in the hall ready to rehearse “entering the room” and “bell ringers” again.
III. Reinforce- This procedure will be rehearsed again as needed. When students get into the routine, tables might be dismissed a minute before the bell. Praise and rewards for a job well done.
Closing
It is going to be a wonderful year! Thank you for your cooperation, in advance. We will be running a tight ship, and everyone is involved. I encourage you to look at the “Great Researchers in Science” bulletin board and see if you might be interested in participating. I have sign-up sheets posted as well as detailed instructions. Make sure you tell your parents that you made an A in science
today! Thanks everyone.