The first day of school is where a teacher can make a difference right away with each every student. Leveraging quite a bit from the high-tech industry where I was extremely meticulous with how my respective organization ran, it's so critical for me to have the students understand, immediately, very similar traits so they are extremely comfortable and know that they are in good hands in my class. I'll build an exciting, challenging and fun class with ‘learn-by-doing’ methods at solving problems; teaching the 'real-world' aspect of STEM courses that will be a great educational experience. I care and strive for success by making every student feel important. Typically, on the first day, I'll introduce some icebreaker activities that are useful for establishing common ground, diffusing the awkwardness between students and encouraging communication in the classroom. Using these enjoyable icebreakers on the first day of high school has been successful for me to create a friendly environment in the classroom and start the class off in enjoyable direction.
My classroom will have have a clearly marked sign on the door and on the front chalkboard that indicates the name of the class, the teacher, the hour, and the room number. I'll have a PowerPoint slide up that will direct students to find their seats and begin the bell work that I'll have on the chalkboard every day. The bell work for the first day will be a Student Information Sheet that they'll hand in when they are dismissed at the end of the class. For the future, I will have the classroom organized with bins, that are set up to where the students will turn in their daily bell work and homework, making sure they always will have their name and period on it. Lastly, I'll have a 3-ring binder on each desk of every student (with their name on it) that will outline and detail my expectations, objectives, procedures and guidelines for the school year. They will keep these and use them for notebooks, as well, as I carved out a section of the binder for this purpose.
I'll greet and welcome each student every day as they come into class. On the first day, it'll take a little longer because I'll ask some questions of each student just to break the ice as they enter my class room for the first time. Again, from my experience, taking time to getting to know someone goes a long way with connecting with students, immediately, so it's important to take the time to know each student. As the days go by, I'll be welcoming each student by their first names, and I joke often, so heads-up:) When they go to their desks, they'll see the bell work assignment on the chalk board and begin to work on that.
After every one is seated, I will take attendance per the seating chart. I'll wait a few minutes, welcome the students again, then ask them to stop completing their bell work, explain the paper passing procedure (side-by-side) and then ask them to practice it by passing their paper across the rows where I will be waiting to collect the papers (Wong & Wong, 2012).
I will then do a formal introduction of myself, doing a quick overall of my industry background, work experience, education and why I went into the teaching field. Usually, I provide a few tidbits of appropriate personal information (family, hobbies, etc.) and explain my personal educational philosophy. This is very important as I've transitioned from the 'real-world' so will have more of a 'hands-on' teaching approach. I'll stress that I am very excited to be teaching them, that they should learn quite a bit from me, and that I look forward to a successful year ahead. On the first day, I'll then do some ice-breaking by having each student stand-up and give a one minute overview of themselves and why they are taking this class.
I'll give out handouts that explains and highlights important areas of the syllabus and course outline for the class. I'll ask the students to reference the course syllabus handout that explains my contact information, the basic course information and objectives. Since most of my courses will be STEM-related, my course syllabus will have many of the STEM acronyms (science, technology, engineering and math). These academic disciplines rely heavily on each other, and are highly integrated in the professional and academic world. For example, an engineer will apply scientific knowledge about the chemistry of materials, mathematics, computer simulations, and physics when designing a bridge.
My courses are intended to integrate these STEM fields through project-based, hands-on, learn-by-doing approaches. Students will be engaged by frequent hands-on activities geared towards combining each of the STEM disciplines. Creativity and collaboration will be encouraged as students solve problems. The class is divided into three main units: physics, bio-science and engineering. Each unit will have an instructional component, formal laboratory component, and project component. During the project phase, students will be presented with a challenge. During this phase they must draw upon their knowledge of the scientific method and STEM disciplines, collaborate with peers, and apply their own creative process to find solutions to the problem. An emphasis will be placed on data collection and analysis.
They will identify the required class materials and reference the items set up on the chalkboard sill as a visual reminder of what each student will need. I'll explain and discuss the grading scale and homework policies, that will include specific academic requirements.
I'll give out and go over the detailed components of my policies and procedures that includes classroom rules, discipline philosophy, sexual harassment, school rules, and grievance procedures; they will all be the same for every one of my classes. In regards to the rules, I'll stress that if a student chooses to break a rule, then what the consequences would be; going over the entirety of the process. I'll then go over a short list of simple class rules and stress that the class rules will be consistently enforced. After this discussion, I'll reverse it and ask the students to explain why they are in place. I really want to have a fun class and it's so important that the students abide the procedures and rules, so the class can run like an well-run organization. I'll explain and discuss the tardy, late-arrival and detention policy rules and process. This will include the attendance requirements, the late-work policy, and the make-up test policy rules.
I'll then shift the class to the class procedures handout and I'll discuss and explain the purpose of my class procedures by using appropriate analogies. As mentioned, I want a well-run class, so I promise the students that this will be an organized and efficient classroom. For this to materialize, I'll explain the importance of following procedures, and explain the difference between procedures and rules. Along with the students, I'll explain and rehearse the following procedures: 1) entering the room, 2) bell work, 3) picking up materials, 4) moving desks to creat a better learning environment, 5) collecting lunch money, 6) collecting papers, 7) distributing materials, 8) coming to attention, 9) arriving late, 10) leaving the classroom. I'll then go over that other procedures will be explained and rehearsed as they become necessary (obtaining absent work, taking make-up tests, using the bathroom, getting a detention, getting extra handouts, handing in homework, etc.)
After going over everything; all of the components of the policies and procedures, I'll ask each student to sign the last page of the handout that indicates they understand and agree to all of the class policies and procedures.
With a few minutes remaining, I'll reiterate my excitement for the upcoming year and tell the students that it was nice to meet all of them. I'll rehearse the procedures for leaving the classroom and require the students to wait for teacher dismissal before leaving the classroom. Lastly, I'll collect the student information sheets as the students leave the class, thanking them for their attendance.