5 Ways to Ensure a Successful Year
Its that time of the year again. It’s the time where parents are filled with much awaited joy, and teachers with apprehension revolving around the dynamics of the incoming group. I must say, no matter what group you inherit here are five tips that help to ensure a successful school year.
#1 BE PREPARED
Like Bloodhounds, students can smell the stench of ill-preparedness. Being prepared allows you to feel more confident with instruction. It also cuts down on discipline problems, because it provides the opportunity to fully engage students in the instruction.
#2 ESTABLISH ROUTINES, INSTRUCTIONAL AND OTHERWISE
Start the year off establishing all procedures and routines used in your classroom. Establish classroom management procedures including: entering/exiting the classroom, providing morning work, submitting
work, and sharpening pencils. Just as you would establish these classroom routines, establish instructional routines that attend the following questions:
What happens when their work is complete?
What should they do when thy are finished their work? How are students to head their e paper?
How should students respond to questions?
How should daily journal responses be formatted
Procedures take teaching and time Invest the time now and it will be worth it later.
#3 USE LESSON ASSESSMENTS AS TEACHING TOOLS, NOT JUST TESTING TOOLS
Lesson assessments are teaching tools, as well as testing tools. Take the first 3 to 4 weeks to explicitly teach students how you want questions answered. Model how to answer in complete sentences, use scratch paper, locate answers and provide the page numbers if that is what you desire. Doing this
now will set the tone for test taking later.
#4 FOCUS ON WRITING
Writing is a form of communication that students must master. Common Core is grounded in writing and explaining concepts. Allow students to write, explain and express thoughts daily. Students need to be extremely comfortable with putting ideas down on paper. with ease. Students should construct writing 5-7 times throughout day (This does not mean a formal writing, but using their own thought to construct a sentence, statement or paragraph). Students should be writing in all curricular subject areas daily.
.
#5 EXPECT EXCELLENCE, REFUSE MEDIOCRITY
Students, and adults alike, will give us what we expect of them. Starting from day 1, make clear the expectation of excellence. Keep the bar set high, so thatboth you and students, are constantly striving for excellence. Les Brown said it best with his quote“ Shoot for the moon, for if you miss, you will land
among the stars. ” Let’ s give our students the opportunity of academic stardom, regardless of past scores, home life, and/or economic background.
That's all for now.
Until next peace , blessings and progress!!!