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1.  How do you prepare the classroom for the beginning of the school year to help students anticipate a positive beginning? What will you teach the first week of school? What do these lesson plans look like?

In preparing the classroom for the beginning of the school year, my lead teacher emphasizes the importance of clearly laying out both classroom and student expectations. She believes that establishing these guidelines helps create a positive and structured environment for students. She incorporates a lot of project-based learning and hands-on inquiry, which not only engage students but also foster community building. She dedicates time to teach, model, and enforce classroom rules and procedures, ensuring that students understand the daily flow of the class, which is vital for their learning journey.

2.  How easy is it for you to circulate among the students?  Can you show me how you circulate around the room for different lessons or activities?

Circulating among the students becomes much easier once routines and procedures are firmly established. With three table groups and a designated teacher table, she demonstrates how to transition smoothly between centers and whole group instruction. A key strategy she uses to quiet the room is the "lights off means voices off" rule, along with a classroom bell that signals when it’s time to transition. This takes practice and consistency for some students, but ultimately it benefits both the students and the teacher, as it maximizes instructional time and provides a structured environment.

3. What other procedures are important during the school day?  How are they taught to students?

She teaches important procedures related to classroom engagement. She incorporates strategies like the "beautiful mistake," where she shows students anonymous work that has missed a step in a problem, encouraging the class to think critically and share their insights. One really interesting strategy that I will start learning more about is the WIG (Wildly Important Goals) partners, based on the Leader in Me framework. These partners change every week. This approach helps students build their community and learn how to engage in meaningful discourse that focuses on the content they are learning. She finds it crucial to teach students when to participate in discussions and when to focus quietly on instruction or independent work, ensuring that they use their time wisely and maximize their learning potential throughout the school day.

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Picture Book Read Aloud and Writing Prompt

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Picture Book Read Aloud and Writing Prompt

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Using the picture book “First Day Critter Jitters” as a relationship-building activity on the first day of school can create a supportive environment for students and teachers. The teacher can start by discussing how it’s normal to feel nervous on the first day and then read the book aloud, encouraging students to engage by sharing their thoughts about the critters’ feelings. After the reading, students can pair up to discuss their own emotions, such as what they felt upon arriving at school and any changes they experienced throughout the day. To conclude the activity, a short writing prompt can be given, asking students to describe their feelings when they first got to school and how those feelings evolved by the end of the day. This approach helps students articulate their emotions and fosters connections among peers and with the teacher, setting a positive tone for the school year.

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Where There's A. Williams, There's A Way

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First Day Critter Jitters by Jory John| READ ALOUD | CHILDREN'S BOOK

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Me Bags are a fantastic and interactive way for students to share their identities with their classmates and teacher, fostering a sense of community in the classroom. Each student receives a bag to take home, where they can fill it with three items that represent who they are—these could be objects related to their hobbies, interests, family, or culture. Students are encouraged to decorate the bag’s exterior, adding personal touches that reflect their personality. The following day, they bring the decorated bags back to school to share with the class. This activity not only allows students to express themselves creatively but also serves as an icebreaker, helping everyone learn about each other's unique backgrounds and interests. As students share their items and stories, it creates opportunities for connections and conversations, enhancing the bond between students and the teacher, while cultivating a welcoming classroom environment where everyone feels valued and understood.

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One idea that I found during my observation was the Me Bag. As each student filed into the room that morning for the first time, they were greeted with a white paper bag closed with a clothespin. I loved that it looked like each student was receiving their own special gift!

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Classmate interview activities are an engaging way for students to get to know one another while developing their communication skills. In this activity, students pair up and take turns asking each other a set of interview questions designed to uncover their interests, hobbies, and backgrounds. Each student has two minutes to answer the questions before switching roles, allowing both partners the chance to share about themselves. After the time is up, students can rotate to a new partner and repeat the process. This dynamic format encourages active listening and promotes meaningful conversations, helping students discover commonalities and build connections. By the end of the activity, students will have learned interesting facts about their classmates and fostered a sense of belonging within the classroom, making it easier to collaborate and interact throughout the school year.

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Use this No Prep Interview a Classmate Resource to set up this activity, or create your own printables using the tips below!

Begin this activity by partnering students up. (This method of pairing students up is my personal favorite and can be used all year long.)

Then, have upper elementary students think about what they already know about their partner. We don't want them spending time asking questions that they already know the answer to!

Next, have students brainstorm some questions they could ask their classmate. Use the questions farther below as a springboard for other questions.

After students have created a list of possible interview questions, have them ask the questions and record the answers.

Finally, let students reflect on what they have learned. There are many different ways to do this. For example:

Have them fill out a table or Venn Diagram that allows them to compare and contrast themselves with their classmate

Have them answer reflection questions about the interview

Have them create a poster about their classmate and present it to the class

And of course, repeat this activity whenever you want!

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Help Students Get to Know Each Other with this Fun Interview a Friend Activity

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Interviewing a friend is fun, encourages a kinder classroom, makes a great back to school activity, and helps students practice a variety of ELA skills. Why would you not try this activity out in your classroom?

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Morning Arrival Routine: On the first day, greet each student at the door.

Use visuals as much as possible i.e.  chart that outlines the steps: example

1) Hang up coats, 2) Place bags in designated areas, 3) Begin a morning task (like a journal prompt). Practice this routine each morning. Use a timer to make it fun and encourage them to settle in quickly. This routine helps students feel welcomed and establishes a calm start to the day, promoting focus right from the beginning.

Classroom Materials Management: Show students where the supplies are kept and where you expect them to keep them throughout the year. Use labels for bins and demonstrate how to take materials responsibly. Have students practice retrieving and returning supplies during a group activity, emphasizing handling them respectfully. When students know where things are and how to care for them, it minimizes distractions and keeps the classroom organized.

Daily Schedule: Have a large, clear schedule on the wall. On the first day, go over each part of the schedule while explaining what activities are involved. At the start of each day, review the schedule again. During transitions, refer back to it so students know what’s coming next. This routine helps students manage their time and reduces anxiety about what to expect throughout the day.

Transition Procedures: Explain and model how transitions will occur. Use a specific signal to grab attention, like a hand clap or a chime (Crane uses a bell).  Practice moving from one activity to another using the signal. Clear transitions keep students engaged and minimize downtime, making lessons flow seamlessly.

Behavior Expectations: Class discussion about what behavior looks like in different scenarios (e.g., listening, working in groups). Create a poster of agreed-upon rules (an example could be a Class Constitution)  Use role-playing to act out both appropriate and inappropriate behaviors, allowing students to identify and discuss them. Establishing clear expectations fosters a respectful classroom environment, making learning easier for everyone.

Handraising and Participation: On day five, explain why raising hands is important (to ensure everyone gets a chance to speak). Demonstrate how to raise a hand and wait to be called on. Practice this during a group discussion, rewarding students who follow the procedure.  Encouraging respectful communication helps build a supportive classroom community.

Homework Procedures/ turning in work: Explain the homework policy, including how assignments will be given and collected. Show a sample homework checklist. Assign a small task and demonstrate how to turn it in and check it off. Reinforce the importance of completing homework.  Clear homework expectations encourage responsibility and help students develop a routine for their studies.

End-of-Day Dismissal Routine: packing up, lining up, and what to do if they ride the bus or get picked up. Practice this routine by having a mock dismissal. Use a timer to challenge students to pack up quickly and quietly. A smooth dismissal routine helps students leave the classroom calmly, ensuring everyone transitions safely and efficiently.

PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE. Model and use “I do, We Do, You Do.” Reinforce as much as possible through rewards and reminders.

Repeat when necessary, such as after a long break. Be consistent and do not introduce too much at once. Keep the steps simple and realistic.

By the end of week two, you usually know when one routine is working for this group of students or if something needs to be altered.

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Concept of Beautiful Mistake Strategy:

- Celebrates mistakes as valuable learning opportunities.

- Shifts focus from correct answers to understanding the learning process.

Creating a Safe Environment:

- Establish a classroom culture that embraces mistakes.

- Share stories of famous failures that led to success. - Encourage students to express thoughts without fear of judgment.

Promoting Peer Learning:

- Encourage students to collaborate and discuss errors. - Build a sense of community through shared learning experiences.

- Enhance comprehension and critical thinking by learning from each other.

Encouraging Active Engagement:

- Guide students to investigate mistakes rather than provide answers.

- Empower students to take ownership of their learning and develop problem-solving skills.

Implementation Steps:

- Introduce a challenging problem for individual or group work.

- Allow students to share their answers confidently.

- Highlight common mistakes and facilitate discussions around them.

- Use guiding questions to help students uncover underlying concepts.

- Collaborative Problem-Solving:

- Encourage small groups to correct mistakes together. - Provide tools (manipulatives, diagrams, digital resources) for exploration.

- Reinforce the idea that everyone can contribute.

Reflection and Sharing:

- Ask students to reflect on what they learned from their mistakes.

- Encourage sharing insights with the class to reinforce collective learning.

Overall Goals:

- Foster a classroom culture that values exploration and collaboration.

- Empower students to take control of their learning.

- Enhance academic skills and build resilience in students.