good management skills for first day of school?

Question

i'm starting student teaching next monday and i need some good advices. what are some strategies you have tried that are worth knowing, specifically on behavioral problems, or minimizing them.
(no links or book suggestions please). *i have a class full of first graders

Answer 1

I think this will help you. I know I wish someone would have given this advice to me when I started teaching!

1. Have an activity as students arrive so that you can greet each child and show them where to put their belongings. It will keep students engaged and give you the time to give proper attention to each child coming in the room.
2. After announcements and all children have arrived, introduce yourselves and have students give their names.
3. Go over your behavior policy. Discuss with students good and bad behaviors for the classroom/school and what happens when good or bad behaviors are displayed.
4. Go over classroom procedures. Students will need to know what to do if they have a question, need help, see someone doing something that could be dangerous, etc.
5. Take students on a tour of the classroom. They will need to know where centers are, supplies, etc. I would put a picture card at each center, bathroom, computers, supply areas, etc. with the word written in English and Spanish if applicable.
6. At each turning point of the day, go over procedures. Ex. when going to recess, go over who will get the supplies, how to line up, what you will do when it is time to come in, what to do if someone gets hurt. Ex. Lunchtime: Show students how to go through the line or any other procedures needed.
7. Have fun activities the first week that will help students get to know you and their classmates.
8. Throughout the first weeks and periodically throughout the year (esp. after long breaks), you will need to go over the procedures again and again.
9. Be firm but gentle and stick to your rules. If one student gets by others will notice!
10. Praise students for good behavior. It will make them feel good and others will follow in suit.

If you need any other help or ideas for behavior management or even a shoulder to get you through the first year, please email me!!! It wasn't that long ago that I started out. I remember well those first days! [e-mail]

Answer 2

Be firm the first day and let them know you're the boss, it's a lot easier to create rules on day one and then let them go a little later on than to let them do whatever they want the first day and then try to regain control further down the road. You need to be confident in yourself- kids can see through you and they will take advantage if you give them the chance. I've worked in a behaviour class for 3 years- i find that positive re-inforcement is a lot more successful than punishment, although sometimes you do need to add a bit of discipline... depending on the age, stickers are like gold!

Answer 3

1. have a non-verbal signal for using the bathroom during class with an appropiate procedure along with it (move your name magnet under the restroom sign..upon returning put in bucket and you used your "pass" for the day)
2. having a repotoire of goofy learning songs that you can sing off the top of your head.(5 little monkies jumping on the bed, etc..) These are great for signals for clean-up, down or transitional times
3. Have a signal for quiet and other essential procedures
then practice this over with the kids... reinforce later at end of day by having a kid demonstrate

All this prep work now will make life sooooo much easier later.

Answer 4

Do not be motherly. Be confident. Mix games with learning. Get them to exercise right in the class (stretching, running on spot, jumping jacks).

Always remain firm, but calm when disciplining. Because you are a student, don't feel you have to change the world. Tell someone when a kid is acting up.

Answer 5

Also, don't assume just because they are 1st graders that they are not aware or that they are not watching. Little ones are VERY aware, and they will push your buttons as much as their older siblings. I taught 1st grade three years ago, and now I teach 6th, and I am much happier with the big kids. Little ones scare me! :-) Set down your rules from the beginning and be consistent. Oh, and be FAIR! They are very sensitive to what is fair and what isn't.