First Day/Days of School 
Classroom Preparation:
I will have the desks arranged in a Senate format or whatever format will accommodate the room and students best. I will have a method for the students to find their seat (shape, color, coordinates, number, name cards, etc). I will have a first day of school assignment on the board (brain teaser). I will have room decorated in Science motif. I will have all copies of official paper work copied and ready to pass out to students as well as classroom handouts ready such as classroom procedures and rules. Have a cool bulletin board put together for students to take their picture in front of.
Greeting:
•	I will greet each student at the door or in the hall way.
•	Introduce myself and give them the clue to find their seat. 
•	Take the student’s picture in front of the cool bulletin board. 
•	Pictures to be used for a classroom directory.
Pass out Syllabus:
The syllabus will give students and parents an idea of what will be covered during the school year. Listed on the syllabus will be some of the major assignments that will be done during the year (projects, experiments, group activities). 
Supplies needed for Science Classroom:
3 ring binder with divider tabs, safety goggles, writing spiral, textbook, writing utensils, map colors, ruler, note cards. Other supplies to be brought later in the year as needed. 
Grading System:
Class participation, morning work, homework, and classroom work will be figured into the overall grade. Other things that will affect the student’s grade will be group work/participation, quality of work turned in and tests. 
Conduct:
Students are expected to follow the rules of the classroom. A consequence/reward system will be utilized in the classroom.

CONDUCT EXPECTATIONS:
1.	Students are to respectful of themselves, other students and all school personnel
2.	Students are expected to listen to and follow instructions
3.	Students are expected to keep hands, feet and objects to themselves
4.	Students are expected to take responsibility for their own actions
 
REWARDS: When students follow the expectations they may be rewarded. Rewards include: praise, teacher awards, treats, free time, FUN Friday, and class celebrations.
CONSEQUENCES:
•	Verbal warning- no remark written on calendar
•	1st offense in a week- Teacher signs conduct calendar
•	2nd offense in a week- No free time/recess if applicable
•	Two offenses in one day- call parent and no free time/recess
•	Blatant disregard for the rules will result in one/or more of the following: calling parent, detention, office referral, miss extra curricular activity
WORK HABIT EXPECTATIONS:
1.	Complete and turn in work on time
2.	Bring all materials needed to class daily
3.	Use time wisely
4.	Do his/her best work
5.	Listen and participate in class
 
Procedures to learn on the first day of School:
Entering the room: 
(Explanation) As the students enter the room each day they will make their way to their assigned seat. When they get to their assigned seat they will also find a cubby that is labeled the same as their assigned seat (this is where their belongings that will not be used in my class will be stored during the class period). They will take out their Science materials and store the rest in the cubby. This is a safety issue as well as a way to keep the students from being distracted by other “things” they have brought to school. After the students have put away their belongings they will begin the morning work that will be posted on the overhead projector.
(Rehearse) Have the students gather their belongings and come to the front of the room. Then have them make their way to their assigned seat. When they arrive at their seat have them locate the corresponding cubby. Have the students remove their Science supplies and leave them at their assigned seat and store the rest in the cubby. When they return to their seat have them begin the posted assignment.
(Reinforce) Remind them each time they enter the room about the procedure. Guide them in the proper steps each day until it becomes a routine. If they are having trouble getting the procedure down, for a couple of days at the beginning of class have them all go back to the front of the room and repeat the procedure 2 or 3 students at a time. The other students can help guide them. 
Morning Work:
Morning work will be posted on the overhead projector each day. At the beginning of each class the students will work on the morning work for a designated amount of minutes (5-10 minutes). A stop-light timer will be set for the designated amount of work time. Explain the timer: Green- work time, Yellow- getting close to times up, and Red- times up. When the student has completed his/her morning work they will bring it to me. I will look over the morning work, point out any errors and give the student a second chance to complete the work correctly. After everyone has had the opportunity to complete the work, the class will go over the work together. The students will turn their morning work into the correct color basket for the class period. 
(Rehearse) Give the students morning work. Set the timer for designated time period. Correct the work as the students bring it to me and answer any questions students may have. Go over as a class when time is up. Have students turn the assignment into correct basket.
(Reinforce) Give students morning work every day. Guide them in the proper way to do the procedure. Set the timer, correct individual student’s work, answer any questions students have, go over as a class, have students turn in assignment. If time permits in the first week, pass papers back out to students and do it again or have two short assignments in the first week. 
Lining up/Dismissal: 
(Explanation) When students need to leave the room to go to another class or lunch I will dismiss them by row or table. The school bell does not dismiss the students; I do (the teacher). The table/row that gets their belongings together and is quiet first will be dismissed first. If there is a disruptive table/row, they will wait until they are quiet and waiting before they will be dismissed.
(Rehearse) Have students gather their belongings as if they were getting ready to leave the classroom. Choose the table/row that follows the directions first to be dismissed first. 
(Reinforce) Have the students pretend to put away their belongings. Have the tables/rows line up at the door as if they were going to leave the room. When everyone is lined up have them go back to their seats and try it again. Possibly do a surprise line up in the first week during class. 
Getting Student’s Attention:
(Explanation) Establish a clear and easily used signal for getting the students’ attention. Some signals that may be used can include a musical note from a instrument, a bodily movement, a clap sequence, etc. The students can help in picking the signal that will be used. After the signal is established, demonstrate/practice the signal in front of the students. Explain that when they see or hear the signal that all eyes should be on me the teacher. Signal should be used when the noise level is getting out of control or when different or new instructions need to be given to the students during their work time. Signal should not be over used causing it to lose its effectiveness.
(Rehearse) While students are busy working, perform the signal. Repeat daily only when necessary. 
(Reinforce) At an unexpected time the first couple of days of school, perform the signal so students can become familiar with it and what to do. 
Other procedures to be taught during the first couple of weeks of school and during the year:
Turning in work: Show the designated basket for each class period where assignments will be turned in. Each class period will be assigned its own color.
Work time in Class: I will explain how students are expected to stay on task, the amount of time that will be allotted for doing work and the use of the stop-light timer.
Using task cards: These will be used to give groups instructions on what to do without the teacher having to spend too much class time explaining to each group what the assignment is.
Picking up work: Each class period will have a rolling file with colored file folders. Each file will have a student number on it. The student will find their folder in the rolling file and in it will be their work. 
Leaving the classroom alone (bathroom): Hold up two fingers signaling to me that you need to be excused (restroom). I will see you and respond without interrupting the rest of the class.
Getting assignments after being absent: There will be a calendar posted with assignments written on the day they were given. The student is responsible for checking the calendar and requesting any handouts when they return from being absent. 
Turning in notes from home (doctor slips, fieldtrip permission slips, progress reports, zero notices signed by parent, etc: There will be a basket on the teacher’s desk especially designated for these types of papers. Student’s will deposit any notes from home into this basket.
Others to be added as needed……