Before Class

Gather and set up all equipment, papers, and other things that you will need for the day (things like my file boxes with labeled folders, chalk, whiteboard markers, eraser, overhead with transparencies, copy of textbook, etc…).
Have my name and the class clearly written on the board so the students will know they are in the right place.
Have the bell assignment on the board: On the index card you were handed when you walked in, please clearly write your full name, any nickname, home address, home phone number, parents’ names, and one interesting fact about yourself.
Write homework on an overhead that you can put up towards the end of class, which will be for them to give the welcoming packet to their parents and have their parents fill out the parent contact information sheet.
Place one card on each desks and get the matching cards together to hand out to the students.
- During the welcoming section I will fill out my seating chart with their names.
- This will be the way that I will set up my original seating chart.
Make copies of handouts to give to class (things like parent contact information, welcome letter, syllabus of class layout, etc…).

Before each Period

Welcome each student individually by saying hello and check their schedule to make sure they are in the right place.
- Make sure I make eye contact with every student that comes up to me.
Hand them a card that matches one that is on a desk and explain how they match up.
Explain that they are to follow the direction you posted on the board before class.
Also tell them to pick up one copy of the packet and the syllabus sitting on the table, or desk, by the door.
- The packet should include welcome letter, parent contact information
Help any other students that are in the hall find the rooms they are supposed to be in.

Welcoming

Welcome all your students to their first day of school and double check that everyone in the class is supposed to be there by telling them to check their schedule to make sure.
Tell the students that you will give them a few more minutes (2-3 minutes) to get their bell work done.
Welcome everyone to the class and introduce myself.
- Share some information about myself, such as Wally, Shiner, grew up in Virginia, where I went to college and for what, etc…
Go around the class and allow everyone to share their name and an interesting fact about themselves.
- As they share around the room, fill out the seating chart and take attendance.
Tell students how excited I am about this school year and how I hope that we will both learn something new about Math/Science together.
Explain briefly my educational philosophy (view my teaching philosophy paper) so they will know what they can expect from my course.
Have them look over their welcoming letter and parent information packet. Briefly tell the students about it and turn the overhead on with their first assignment.
- Tell them that their first assignment is to take this packet home and give it to their parents. Their parents are to fill out the parent information sheet and they are to bring it back next class.

Syllabus (As a Whole)

Introduction

Have the students look over their syllabus handout that they picked up on their way in.
Discuss with the class my contact information such as school phone number, e-mail, and website.
- Let them know that I am available before and after school if they need extra help, however they need to arrange it with me at least by the day before.
Explain to the students the basic course information such as the class title, set up, and any other basic information I see pertinent.
Explain my objectives for the course and what I expect from them and what they can expect from me.
Go over the supplies list of what they will need to have (this will be dependant upon which subject and grade I will end up teaching).
Explain to the students my grading scale, point system, and how they can keep track of their own grades.
- The last sheet in their packet is a completely blank point sheet that they will fill out with the name of the assignment, points earned, possible points, total points earned, total possible points, and overall grade. (They will receive a new sheet every six weeks and I will have them check it at the midpoint for each six weeks.)

Class Policies

Have them look at the policy section of their syllabus.
Briefly explain to the students about my discipline policy and how the consequence will always fit whatever the severity of the rule breakage. (The consequence will always fit the crime.)
- Explain to the students that they are the ones that choose to break a rule.
- Also explain that I will give out the consequence based on the infraction when it occurs and there will not be one set consequence for all infractions. (A cheating infraction will not have the same consequence as a respect infraction would. There will also be a sheet that will outline for myself as to the specific consequences to infractions as they arise.)
Explain the short list of rules that will be followed.

The Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This simply means that you will respect others and there will be no name calling, destruction of other’s property, no talking when other students are talking, no hitting; basically this is to ensure that all students are respectful of each other.
Respect me and I will Respect you: This means that the students will treat my belongings and myself with respect. They are not to talk while I am talking, not destroy, throw or take my things, not sleep in class; basically they will treat me and my room with respect and I will do the same to them.
Once you are in my room you will stay there: Students are in school to learn and if I have students continually leaving my class they will not only miss out on information themselves, but they will also be a distraction to other students in the class.
Cheating of any sort will not be Tolerated: If you are suspected or caught cheating there will be a stiff consequence that will follow.

Discuss my tardy policy. There will be a notebook by the door that must be signed when you come into class late, this is in case I have already taken attendance and I may have marked you as absent. If you have a late pass your tardy is excused, however you still need to sign the notebook and will put the pass in the pocket of the notebook. This is there to ensure students will not receive an unexcused absence or tardy, unless they deserve one. If you receive five unexcused tardies, you will be required to serve a detention with me before or after school at my discretion.
Discuss with the class my late work policy. All assignments are due when you walk into the room (procedure to be discussed later). If you do not have it to turn in then you may turn in papers late, however you will be deducted one letter grade for each day it is late (i.e. if is one day late and they would have received an A on it, the grade would then be a B, etc…).
Discuss absence policy with the class. They will be responsible to get the notes from another student in the class. They are responsible to pick up any handouts that they have missed and turn in any homework that may have been due the day they missed. (Procedure for collecting absent work to be discussed in the procedure section).

Procedures

Explain that these procedures are in place to allow for optimum utilization of class time.
Explain that these are also in place to have a smooth running class that is organized.
Explain the differences between rules and procedures. Rules have consequences and procedures allow for an organized classroom.
Explain and rehearse these procedures:

Entering the Room

Explain: As the students enter the room they are to turn in any assignments, pick up any handouts that are sitting on the table by the door when you first walk in. You are to also pick up the manila folder with your name on it from in the hanging folder box on the table. The students will then go to their seats and answer the bell (warm up) that has been posted on the board.

Rehearse: All the students will then rehearse this procedure to make sure they understand it. They will all go out in the hall with their index cards they filled out as part of their bell work. They will come back into the classroom putting their information index cards in the proper periods folder for assignment turn in. If they do it incorrectly, then they will rehearse it again.

Reinforce: I will reinforce entering the classroom the next time they have class since they will have something to turn in, a handout (probably the newsletter, at least, or parent information sheet), and they will always have bell work. When students are not following the proper procedures for entering the classroom I will remind them what the proper way to enter the room is and then they will rehearse it again.

Turning in Assignments

Explain: As the students enter the class for the day there will be a box with hanging folders in it. The student is to enter the classroom, place their homework in the proper hanging folder with their class period on it and then make their way to their seats and get ready to start the period on time. When I am ready to start class I will simply pick up the box and put it away so that they will become responsible for turning it in on time.

Reinforce: Any time the students turn in homework for the first two weeks of school I will have a reminder on the board to turn in their homework so that way it will help remind them to do so when they walk in. If I start having a problem with this procedure I will then go back and explain it again and have them rehearse it again.

Dismissing the Class

Explain: I will explain that the bell does not dismiss the class; I will dismiss the class. The next thing that they would do is make sure their tables/desks are cleaned up and they are to be sitting quietly in their seats. I will dismiss the groups one-by-one based on quietness and their actions in class. When their group is dismissed they are to push in their chairs and leave the room quietly. They will turn in their manila folders when leaving class.

Rehearse: All the students will then rehearse this procedure to make sure they understand it. They will pack up their things as if the class period were over. They will then sit quietly and wait for me to “dismiss” them. I will call their groups one-by-one and they will leave their things, get up and push their chairs in quietly and wait in the hall. They will then practice the entering the class procedure.

Reinforce: I will reinforce this procedure by reminding them how they are to exit the class when the period is over. Remind them they need to turn in the manila folder they picked up when rehearsing their entering the class procedure. If they start having problems with this procedure I will explain the proper dismissal procedure again and will have them rehearse it again.

*** They will practice all the procedures detailed at once in the following order from first to last: dismissing class, entering class, and turning in assignments. ***

Other Procedures I will discuss at a later date with a brief explanation:
- Absent Work: Any absent work that a student may have will be placed in their manila folder, which they will pick up when they enter the classroom.
- Turning in Labs: At the end of class when they have a lab to turn in, they will place their sheets in their manila folder and turn it in when they are leaving class.
- Getting the Class Quiet: I will have a rain stick or other musical instrument that I will use to get the class quiet. I will explain to them that they get five turns of it to get quiet.
- Heading on Papers: I will explain how they are to put the headings on their papers with their name, date, and period in the upper right hand corner.
- Collecting Textbooks, Manipulatives, Lab Equipment, and/or Workbooks: There will be one person from each table that will be responsible to pick up anything for their entire group that is not already on the table.

Closure

Tell students that they are to show their parents their syllabus. Explain that they are supposed to sign the parent information sheet in the section provided that they understand the class set up, policies, and procedures.
Turn back on the overhead with the homework assignment and remind what it is.
If there is any time left in the period there will be time for an icebreaker activity that I will have prepared.
Dismiss class when it is time.