Setting a Positive Tone in Middle School
1. Begin in a positive way.
Tell your students, "I am on your side, and I want you to succeed" and mean it. They want to get along with you as much as you do with them. Sincerely supporting your students can be life-changing! Your students will relax and breathe. And they will remember this statement on the last day of school. (I have the letters to prove it!)
2. Be well-organized.
Have a seating chart posted and greet your students at the door. Not knowing where they will sit can create anxiety. Better to assign seats. Consider alphabetizing by students' first names. It's a refreshing twist for them, and it can be helpful to you as you try to learn their names. Try to have all their names memorized by the third day of school.
3. Get them moving.
Make your first activity an ice-breaker activity to loosen things up. First days can be monotonous. Get them moving with something like "Find Someone Who".
4. Break the monotony.
Every teacher goes over rules, procedures, and syllabi on the first day. In your students' minds, it all runs together into one big ball of mush. They might remember 1 thing you say. (Think of the last teacher's conference you attended, and how you felt after sitting through 3 sessions . . . )Instead, assign the rules and procedures as a quick homework read. Let them look it over after they've had a chance to decompress from the first day.
5. Smile, but set a business-like tone.
Be friendly and pleasant to make them feel welcome and safe. Greet your students, ask how their day is going, and listen to their answers.Dress the part: First impressions count. Dress as if you would for a job interview because first impressions count. Always look sharp on the first day.
Posture: Stand up straight. When you speak to your students, make sure your toes are pointing toward them. It sounds silly, but it works. Fred Jones writes about it in his book, Tools for Teaching.
Your attitude and demeanor form the foundation for your classroom management and discipline more than anything else. You set the tone!
Enjoy the first day! You are changing lives!
This packet includes "Find Someone Who," an editable newsletter template, and an editable Teacher True/False quiz. "Compass Points" is a wonderful way to learn about your students questions and concerns in a non-threatening way.
