MOST OBSERVED: A. Beggining of the Day Procedure (Source: https://www.educationworld.com/blog/using-morning-procedures-start-day) Dr. Shipley hears the school bell ring and knows that the children will be entering the classroom soon. Everything is set up, organized, and ready for the day. The room is spacious and quiet, but any minute it will be busy and inhabited by the community members that live there each day. Daily procedures are taught from day one and continue throughout the entire school year. Students know what to expect and what comes next. Each child will sign in to the classroom, greet the teacher with a handshake and smile, and proceed to their classroom job or the regular procedure. When children enter the classroom in the mornings, there are many ways to welcome them. We should make sure that they feel engaged, warm, and excited. Morning procedures set the tone for the entire day. Some things to try are: 1. Set up a desk/table outside the door. I like to put a fun tablecloth on it and change it out for the seasons. On the desk is a piece of paper, a fun pen or pencil (I like to use one with a big feather), a lamp/vase with flowers, and a clock. Children sign in to the classroom community each day while I am at the door to welcome them. This not only helps the child learn to spell their name and to write letters but also takes attendance. 2. The teacher should stand at the door each morning. I like to shake each child’s hand, be on their height level and welcome them by saying, “Good Morning Katie, we are going to have a great day.” They then, in turn, say, “Good Morning Dr. Shipley”. During this procedure, we are practicing oral skills, children learning how to communicate with others and adults, and the importance of a handshake. They look forward to this each morning. 3. Children then know to clean out their backpacks, hang up their coats and bags and find a table activity or do their classroom community job. The table activity is something that is a free choice, a center they can pull off the shelf, or a color sheet. Once per week, they can use Kindles and iPads during this time. Each child has a job that helps the classroom run, and different jobs are completed throughout the day. 4. Music is played (the same song each day) to clean up their area from the table activities. When you choose your music, make sure it is something you want to hear every day at the same time, the procedure music should not change. 5. Group learning is the next scheduled time. Morning procedures continue with transitioning into small groups and one on one conferencing and centers. Each day the children should know what to expect as they enter the classroom. How can you set up your schedule to fit some of these ideas into your day? What procedures can you see yourself implementing? Procedures must be taught and practiced over and over. The morning procedures set the tone for the entire day. B. Announcement Procedure (Source: https://www.classpoint.io/blog/classroom-procedures) Announcements and Agenda Sharing Sharing announcements and the day’s agenda is an informative procedure. It ensures that students are aware of important updates, events, or schedule changes. Additionally, discussing the agenda sets clear expectations for what will be covered in class, helping students mentally prepare for the day’s activities.
LEAST OBSERVED: A. Lining Up/Hallway Procedure (Source: https://luckylittlelearners.com/classroom-procedures-lining-up-walking-in-the-hallway/) Learning how to behave IN the classroom is one thing. Learning the proper procedures when leaving the classroom and walking in the hallway is another story! Read on for tips & tricks for keeping students (and yourself) sane when outside of the classroom. Lining Up & Leaving the Room Having students walk calmly in the hallway is a teacher’s dream. Below are amazing educator submitted classroom lining up and leaving ideas. One is bound to work for your class! Lining Up We love Velcro numbers for floor/whole group time spots. Space them out and change number spots as needed. They also work well for line order when lining up. No more, “So and so cut in line”. Alternate: Cricut vinyl spots. Lining up: 1- stand up 2- push in chair 3- walk to line Adjustment: Have all the student numbers on a ring by the door. Flip it to a new number each day to select a line leader. So instead of (3) “walk to line”, say “Bob walk to line”. Then students all follow in “desk order”. If a kid isn’t ready to line up (maybe still cleaning up or grabbing his coat), the person who lines up behind him/her just leaves a space for them. Works so great!! Teacher Tips for Lining Up These tips were collected from our 1st and 2nd grade facebook groups. Who knows better than actual teachers! Play music to signal time to line up. Some favorites are the Mission Impossible theme (HA!) or other short songs. Have a line up chant. Example: Teacher: “All set?”, Students” “You Bet!”. When the teacher says, “All set?”, she/he walks to the door and turns out the lights. When the students say, “You Bet!”, they stand up and push their chairs in. Then, the teacher calls table numbers, or maybe the students have an order to line up in. Practice, Practice, Practice until it is routine. Walking in the Hallway It is important to teach procedures of walking in the hallway, too! Students need to know it is not a race. Try teaching these two simple steps, and practice them often! 1. Stay in line. 2. Walk calmly & quietly.
B. Classroom Supply Procedure (Source: https://www.theteacherbag.com/school-supply-procedures/) New supplies at the beginning of the year can be so exciting, but having school supply procedures on how to use them is the key to successful use. I remember my first year teaching kindergarten I handed out the scissors and glue sticks, assuming they knew how to use them. I grew up with a mom who did all sorts of crafts with me. Not everyone has that same experience. School Supply Procedures I have since learned the importance of explicit instruction of procedures. The first week of school, I dedicate time to making it fun to learn about classroom supplies! Introducing the Tool or Supply First, I like to start off by adding an element of suspense when introducing the tool or school supply. I pull out our mystery tool bag and my students are always very curious. Each time I introduce a classroom supply, I start off by reading a riddle. I read one sentence at a time and take guesses from my class. Of course, once I reveal the supply, I hear, “I knew that!” I let my students know they are going to become a specialist with each school supply over the next few days. I give each student a check-off list to keep track of the classroom supplies we learn about. Model and Practice Using the Supplies Once the procedures have been established, I model how to use the supply. I also show where that supply is stored. Some supplies are stored in their toolbox. Others are community supplies that we share, so we learn where they are store when not in use. Sharing Our Specialist Status After my students practice using each school supply, they receive a bracelet to wear home. They love these! It is a great school-to-home connection piece. My students wear them home, and their family asks them to share what they have learned about using that specific school supply. This has been a fun way to introduce supplies to my class. I hang the procedure chart around the classroom, so it is easy to revisit a procedure if needed. Do you teach specific school supply procedures in your classroom? If you are interested in these activities that we do, you can find them in our School Supply Procedure Pack.