First, I will say that my students have been absolutely stellar so far! I know, it's a honeymoon phase, it will pass... but the amount of thought and participation and effort they put in this week really makes me excited for the rest of the year!
I wanted to give you all a quick recap of what I did this week and some tips and tricks for the first week back!
The first day is always the most challenging for me. You want to get started with content right away, but you also want them to learn the procedures and expectations for your class. You want to keep them engaged, but you have information from administration/department that you have to share.
My plan is to think of our 55 minute classes in a few chunks. 15 minutes for business, 35 minutes for science, 5 minutes for review.
15 minutes of business: On the first day, the students get a syllabus (school required) and I briefly highlight a few key things (late work, class website, required supplies). I also introduce myself and give a few interesting facts about myself and give the students a chance to ask questions about me. I absolutely hated icebreakers when I was in school, so I don't do any of those, but I do give them a chance to learn a little about me. I feel like it really helps them create a connection quickly. During the first 15 minutes, I also have them fill out their homework log information (I'll post about this later!).
35 minutes of science: For all subjects, I start with a bell ringer each day. At the beginning of this portion I explain how the bell ringers will work, what they papers will look like, and what they are expected to do. The first day bell ringer is really simple -- "What are you most nervous for in _____?" Sharing the answers really creates some great discussion and helps calm some nerves. On day two I usually ask what they are most excited for to keep them excited for the year.
The rest of this portion of the class period looks different depending on the subject. For biology, I start with any activity that gets them thinking like scientists -- making observations, asking questions, creating hypotheses. You can learn so much from them by having an open discussion and brainstorming. I love using the Amazon Fly story on the first day. Students can take the discussion in so many directions!
For chemistry, I do a fun demo. My favorites are the traffic light demo and dehydration of sugar by sulfuric acid. Both of them have results that are baffling to them at first and help to get them excited about the impending doom of chemistry. This year, I used the demo to set up and start talking about CER (claim, evidence, reasoning) writing. We did a quick example together, then they did one on their own related to the demo. I helped facilitate some ideas and get them on the right track.
5 minutes for review: The last five minutes, I review some basic procedures like what to do when they get into the classroom, what supplies they need, and the procedure for late work. I repeat this throughout the week as a call-and-response.
After the first day, things get easier since you have more time for content and less "business" to talk about. Sometime during the week I am sure to cover my classroom expectations. I made this fun presentation of classroom expectations using memes! It got at least a few giggles (high schoolers are a tough crowd...). I also start every class period reminding them of procedures. After the bell rings I will ask "What should you be doing right now?" to which they will hopefully respond "Answering the question on my yellow sheet!" (in other words, their bell ringer...).
Tips for a Smooth Transition Back to School
#1: Don't ignore your content!
Find a way to include something content related into every day. Make sure its something engaging and interactive so they are able to use their social skills and brains a little!#2: Repetition, Repetition, Repetition.
If you want students to follow your procedures, repeat them over the first several days, weeks, and months of school! They need reminders and it will hold you accountable to sticking to your plan! I find simple call and response works great for this and you can easily fit it in at the beginning or end of class.#3: Have a plan for everything.
Before school starts, have a plan for everything -- late work, make-up tests, group work, bell-ringers. Remind students of what they need to do in these situations. It will help you keep your sanity later.#4: Introduce Year-Long Themes
Are you going to be doing notebooking throughout the year? Introduce it the first week. Plan on utilizing CER writing? Introduce it the first week. Have an organizational system you want them to follow? Introduce it the first week. Have a specific note taking method? Introduce it the first week.
Students need time to learn and adjust to the rhythm and procedures of not only your classroom, but in all of their classrooms! Be patient with them, keep class exciting, and you will be sure to have a great start to the year!
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