Entering the Classroom & Getting Started

1. Explain

When students enter the classroom, there are steps they should follow to get their materials and minds ready for class. First, they are to enter the room and remove everything from their desks except two pencils and piece of paper. Second, they are to sharpen the two pencils if necessary and return to their seat. Finally, there will be a warm-up on the overhead or board that they should work on. A timer will be set for five minutes during which the students will complete the warm-up and the teacher will record attendance and get ready for the lesson. During this time, no questions may be asked because the warm-ups will be review in nature. This procedure serves to reinforce previous learning, foster independent thinking in the students, and allows the teacher time to take roll, set up materials, etc.

2. Rehearse

This procedure can be rehearsed by discussing the steps for an appropriate number of class days (depending on the age group) and having the teacher model the steps as she explains them. The teacher should monitor this procedure closely until all students seem to have caught on. Once the students learn this procedure, the teacher should still monitor and reinforce the procedure so the students continue to follow it and the teacher and class may benefit from it.

3. Reinforce

To reinforce this procedure the teacher will review the steps for an appropriate number of class days. Once the procedure is learned, the teacher may reinforce adherence to the procedure by making positive remarks to the students, such as “I appreciate the way you all have followed the steps and are prepared for class today,” when she sees that the steps have been followed. Also, any deviations should be noted and corrected as soon as they are noticed.

Asking a Question

1. Explain

When students have a question to ask during a lesson they should raise their hand and wait on the teacher. When the student is called on they should speak loudly enough so that their classmates may hear and benefit from the answer that follows. Blurting out is not acceptable. Students will not have to raise their hand if it is during a group discussion, so long as they are not all trying to talk at once. The teacher will reserve the right to enforce the hand-raising rule during class discussions if the students can’t accomplish turn taking on their own. This will depend on the grade level.

2. Model

The teacher will model hand raising as she explains to the students what she expects them to do when they have a question during a lesson. The class can practice raising their hands high into the air as the teacher explains the procedure. For the first few class days, the teacher may remind the students of this procedure, but for students in grades 4-8 this should not be a problem.

3. Reinforce

The teacher may reinforce this procedure by reminding students who forget to raise their hands to ask a question during a lesson, which will also help to remind the class as a whole. Praise may be given when students remember to raise their hand. Also, praise students for speaking loudly and clearly enough so that everyone can hear.