Teaching in the Class

Hi there all. I have been enjoying getting ready for my new semester at school. There are so many things to do to get ready for a class. Here are some of the things that have been floating around my mind...

1. Class lists: Whenever I start a new class, I try to get my list of students as soon as possible. I want to know who will be in the class, how old they are, and any other pieces of information I can get. I might ask previous teachers about my students, check the office for student files, and most importantly, find out if there are any challenging students. The more information I can get about my students BEFORE I start my class, the better. All this is just to help me; I will meet them and form my own relationships in due time. I just try to eliminate any surprises ahead of time.

2. Classroom organization: Before I begin classes next week I need to get into my class and see how it is organized. So yesterday I went to school early to visit all my rooms (I will teach in 4 different rooms this semester...sigh...) and see the desk set up, if there are windows, where the white boards are, what media resources are available. Knowing all this helps me prepare for how I will need to arrange the class to help my students learn. Don't forget to move desks/tables around to help your students. I feel very strongly that as teachers we need to control the three main environments in the class: the physical, educational, and emotional environments.

3. Daybook: This weekend I have been working hard to organize my syllabus (syllabi) for each of my classes, and with those a daybook. I believe it is very important for teachers to keep a daybook of their lessons. This book helps you remain organized. So get a 2 or 3 inch binder and keep your daily lessons plans organized in a single book. You can also put calendars in there so you can see whole weeks at a glance and know where your class is now, and where you are going in the future. In the beginning, this might be just a copy of your sponsor teacher's outlines. But in the future, this book will be very useful.

So these are some thoughts have been occupying my mind about my classes, and I hope they are helpful for you.

Now it's your turn! How's it going in the classrooms? Share!