Whether you’re teaching in person, online, or a hybrid of the two, there is one thing you must do to begin 2021.
It’s easy, requires zero preparation, and takes no more than ten minutes.
But it’s absolutely essential.
What is it?
It’s to review your classroom management plan. It’s to once again define for your students the boundaries that protect learning.
Here’s why:
Two weeks is forever.
It may not seem like it in your world—especially given how much you cherish your time off—but for anyone under eighteen a two-week holiday feels like an eternity.
Memories fade and good habits deteriorate.
Some students will return to your classroom as if waking from a dream. “I don’t remember having to raise my hand to ask a question. Oh, and where’s the restroom?”
It reestablishes the primacy of behavior standards.
By reviewing your classroom management plan on the first day back from break you’re communicating its supreme importance. You’re saying in essence that reestablishing limits must come first.
—Before reading, writing, discussion, or anything else.
It’s your plan, after all, and your commitment to following it, that paves the way for effective teaching and learning. It’s the good soil from which sprouts a culture of scholarship.
It reminds students of their trust in you.
Jumping straight into your plan reminds students that they can place their trust in you. They can let down their guard, exhale fully, and focus on enjoying school.
They can forget about their concerns of the past and future and engross themselves in the work of the day. In this way, good teaching and classroom management produce a form of active meditation.
They bring about a flow experience for students that lasts from opening bell to dismissal.
It invites a fresh start.
An enthusiastic review of your plan, when combined with the dawn of a new year—and the rebirth and resolutions it evokes—invites every student to start anew.
Poor grades, misbehavior, malaise due to Covid . . .
It clears the deck, absolves the lost and fallen, and encourages a turn of a new page and hope for a better tomorrow.
It makes you more consistent.
Defining boundaries and modeling right behavior is not just for your students. It’s also for you. Because, you see, it cements in your mind what is and isn’t okay.
It removes the gray area. It allows you to be a good referee and see clearly when a rule has been broken.
Add to it a promise to follow through and protect every student’s right to learn and enjoy school, and you place just enough pressure on yourself to make sure that it’s true.
The Walls of Windsor
There is so much we’re eager to get done on the first day back from a long holiday break. For me, I want nothing more than to dive into a cool lesson right after attendance.
But if you ignore the one thing that makes it all go, the one ingredient that frees your students to focus on learning and enjoying school, then they’ll be climbing the walls by noon.
And you’ll be stressed-out and already looking forward to the next vacation.
It’s far easier to take control with a reset of your classroom management plan than having to go back and reteach it because you’ve lost control. The professional subverts misbehavior before it starts.
Therefore, as soon as your students settle into their seats, don’t waste a second. Do it now. Be bold. Be clear. Be unmistakable and unapologetic.
And fortify your boundaries as tall and impenetrable as the walls of Windsor Castle.
PS – Recently, I was interviewed on the Ready, Set, Growth podcast about the importance of hobbies. If you get a chance, check it out.
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Hi! Thank you for this important and timely reminder! My issue this year is not student misbehavior…..they are still, silent, masked, spaced apart, and compliant in the hybrid model. I would also say they aren’t apathetic. But it’s an odd year for sure. I’m used to well managed very active participation and my classroom expectations challenge this year is getting them to speak up and really show their engagement with their words…at all. It can be so awkward and disheartening when I’m working so hard to bring the energy and great lessons every class. I’ve built as much rapport and community as someone can in this hybrid model so far and we have been open since late September. We have fun lessons and games and movement breaks the kids love. They like me and the class. They are just so quiet and won’t open their mouths unless forced. Any advice?
I share your pain.
I’ve been struggling with the same thing. I’m not sure this is the best way to handle it, but it is working. I let go of my expectation and let my students off the hook. We have a deal that they promise to ask for help when they need it and I don’t force it. My reality is that they are engaged. They are listening, they are doing the practice in class and out – I teach math and computer science. My semester grades were higher than ever (and I have lots of cheating blocks in play)! My classroom today looks more like it did 25 years ago (just add zoom) and my students are more successful than ever. We have great relationships. I don’t remember which blog it was here that reminded us that what our students really need is us. This has shaped my year. I am giving my students the best of me and I think they are giving me their best as well. I’m doing a no frills year. Honestly, I have a group of students that just like and thrive in “old school”. Good boundaries, hard work, consistency and relationship. The simpler the better for me this year. The talking and interaction does happen. It just happens differently during practice time and I perk up my ears to know that they have understood or not. If your students are happy and learning well, maybe consider letting yourself and them off the hook this year. This is turning out to be one of my best years of teaching.
Try something different! One elementary teacher put a sticker on her face every time a different student participated by answering a question or commenting in a discussion. Another did the same thing, putting a pipe cleaner in her hair for each student who responded— said that students were encouraging each other to join in even if they weren’t sure of an answer (which is what we want). Not a permanent solution, but might jumpstart participation and bring some smiles.
What a fun idea!
I love your idea💥
I’m in the same boat. We’ve all wanted an attentive , calmer classroom. Now, I’d relish a little noise and chaos. One positive outcome is that the smaller classroom and the masks have naturally hindered the “audience issue” that usually facilitates loud, aggressive eruptions.
I think these learners are to scared , confused and stressed about this pandemic issue to participate in class .lt will take time for them to adjust first things we should do as teachers ask them how do the feel about issues around this pandemic give each learner a chance to express him or herself and late engage them ,you will be surprised .
Use Shakespearean oration and a few great monogyes from Macbeth, julius Ceasar, and Henry the 5th.
Explain how there was no tv or microphones yet the drama and humor came from the spoken word
Michael, what do you think about asking them how their break was and giving them a chance to share? I love hearing those stories. Management plan first then share? This is middle school.
I myself find talking on Zoom in front of others intimidating. Try having your kids respond non verbally with a thumbs up, down, or with a word written on their white boards. Using the chat room is another possibility if the kids are confident typers.
Yes, I ask my first graders, some are Ell, to not head up and down for yes, side to side for no.
This is how I have planned as an ice breaker activity.
Does this work if you failed implement the management plan effectively last term?
WONDERFUL WORDS AND SO GRATEFUL TO APPY THEM IN A NEW YEAR!
Be aware that some kids had an awful break and may have nothing to share. If you use something like Google Classroom, have them write it anonymously and then you share it. I usually GC even in F2F class, and I’ve learned to ask them to submit their questions or responses in the chat room. They seem to be really shy right now so I’m a little more willing to be a little more gentle.
I use BrainGym. It’s science-backed educational kinesiology activities that all my students, my wheelchair-bound students benefit from even when assisted. It brings us all to the present moment and heightens our brains, emotional and physical states to bring our best. I begin every class with special music and these 5 activities: Thinking caps, Brain Buttons, Cross Crawls, Calf Pumps and Hook’s Hook-ups (which I now call Pretzel part I & II due to the meaning of “hookup” in today’s society. ) Check it out! I’ve used it for over 23 years and have the entire school perform them before every assembly for which I’m in charge.
Can you please share how to play the 5activities that you have mentioned to start new year class
In my agreement with this smart technique of establishing a classroom management plan, I must say I was totally impressed with groups of students who were on target with a classroom management scheduled plan. The students entered the classroom – Ready to learn, sanitized, attendance was recorded; Set-Everyone logged in, read their schedule and lesson plans, and set their goal for the class for the day; then Growth-They began to complete assigned work; and everyone logged off at the same correct scheduled time. NOTE: This method is a part of a smart, well managed classroom system. IT WORKS! Questions are answered when a student raises his/her hand and waits for their turn to speak with the teacher or the substitute. In this management system, students are completing assignments; meeting goals, objectives & obligations; staying on task with their teacher; developing responsible skills for life; and becoming independent learners.
HI there. I have come across this site two weeks in after winter break. I would like to implement stronger classroom management tools however I am not sure how to go about starting over. Any links to blog pages or sites to go about starting your class over?
Thanks,
Amy