Tip #3 - First Days of School

Straw challenge team building activity with my students

So. I'm teaching sixth grade this year, and I'm totally loving it!

Six graders are so adorable and little, and I'm either the same height, if not a little bit taller than most of them.  I've been asking myself all week why I hadn't done this sooner! They're so easy to talk to, they buy into everything like school incentives and dress code which is mandatory uniforms this year (yes!), and they are so eager to please....


Sixth grade is where it's at. For real!

If you've been teaching for any length of time, you know that the success of your school year depends on one thing.  And that brings us to tip number three from a "so-called veteran teacher." It is super critical that you set your expectations for the whole school year...on those first days of school.

You have to tell your kids your expectations, and you have to practice them....everyday until they get it. You don't take anything for granted, and you have to establish rules and procedures for everything...how to walk in the hallway, where to sit in the cafeteria, who cleans the lunch table, when you can use the bathroom or take locker breaks, when to sharpen pencils during class, how to set up your notebook,  how to label your paper when handing in an assignment, how to treat each other, which stairwell to walk down (with three floors and four stairwells on each floor, it's necessary)...and so much more.

Setting these expectations and practicing them makes the school year run more smoothly for you and your students.

For previous tips from a so-called veteran teacher, please click here and here.