When students enter a classroom if an agenda is posted and expectations clearly set for what will be happening that day, the teacher has taken a step that influences the classroom culture. When classroom procedures are streamlined, things are clearer for everyone and there is more time for learning. An efficiently run classroom enables students to focus on their work, which, in turn, helps reduce discipline problems.
For teachers, this means that work and organization happens before the students are anywhere near their classroom. Creating a slide deck each week with an agenda for the day and information the student needs to successfully participate in class is one way a teacher can begin a class period. Taking an idea from a GIF I saw on Instagram. I decided to create a slide deck to use with new teachers. The slide deck has 13 different templates that a teacher can customize and use to get started.
I specifically included an icon of a cell phone. Establishing procedures and expectations for phones in today's learning environments needs to start on day one and be reinforced every day. A teacher can delete the phone icon that applies for the class period. If phones can be used during the class period, leave the yes icon. If they are not going to be used, leave the no icon.
- The Do Now: A Primer from Teach Like a Champion site
- Starting with a Do Now from the Teaching Channel
- ​ "Six Opening and Closing Routines for New Teachers" by Rebecca Alber
If you have additional resources that can help new teachers establish a beginning routine, please share them below.