Back to school routines aren’t just for parents and students, they’re essential for teachers as well. A few well-planned strategies will make a year of success as easy as ABC.
Attendance Procedures in Class
A lot of time can be wasted in class if teachers don’t have procedures in place for taking attendance. Rather than calling names every class period, there are alternatives.
- Computerized programs are changing the way classrooms are managed. Depending on a school district’s choice, some applications offer photo enhanced seating charts. A quick glace at the charts can determine who is absent. A click on the keyboard sends the information directly to the attendance office in a matter of seconds.
- Hands-on attendance taking puts the responsibility on the students. Using clothespins or other objects, personalize with the students’ names then place in a strategic place near the front of the room. When students enter, they remove their clothespin or other object and drop it into a jar or can below. The pins left out represent the absent students.
Bell Work or Bell Ringer Activities
If students are not given something to do as they enter class, their tendency is to stand around and talk. To cut down on the chaos, teachers should make sure there is an activity for students to begin as soon as the bell rings.
This “bell work” should be a review of the lesson from the previous day or a precursor to the lesson of that day. These activities (also known as sponge activities) can be geared toward individual subject areas.
- Math: Post a series of review problems for students to solve. The complexity will dictate the number of problems required. Word problems are also good because they require students to think.
- Science: A new list of science terms can be written on the board for students to define before class begins. A simple reflection on the previous days lab experiment is also a possible activity to engage students as soon as the bell rings.
- History: Students can review dates or other facts from the previous day. Have then do a task like identifying states and their capitals, bodies of water, or other geographic features.
- Language Arts / English: Students can respond to quotations, write paragraphs on predetermined topics, correct grammatical mistakes, or participate in word games.
Whatever activity is chosen, the key is to keep it short. This is just an activity to get them started. Teachers need to take over the class as soon as possible so students aren’t idle once the bell work is completed.
Consistency in the Classroom
Of all the strategies and activities, perhaps the most important thing a teacher needs to be successful in the classroom is consistency. From rules and procedures to discipline, if incidents and infractions aren’t handled the same every day for every student, students will see it as a weakness and begin to take advantage of the situation. Teachers should set the tone on the first day so students know they mean business.
A new school year doesn’t have to be stressful for teachers. By having attendance procedures in place, bell work activities to provide immediate learning or review opportunities, and consistency in rules and procedures, teachers and students can look forward to an environment suited for learning.
 |
 |
