Megan Faux

It’s that time of the year again. It’s the time where
parents are filled with much awaited joy and teachers with
apprehension revolving around the dynamics of the incoming group. I must say, no matter what group
you get here are five tips that help to ensure a successful school year.

1 BE PREPARED

Like Bloodhounds, students can smell the stench of ill preparedness. Being prepared allows you to feel
more confident with instruction. It also cuts down on discipline problems.

2 ESTABLISH ROUTINES, INSTRUCTIONAL AND OTHERWISE

Start the year off establishing all procedures and routines used in your classroom. Establish classroom
management procedures including: entering/exiting the classroom, providing morning work, submitting
work, and sharpening pencils. Just as you would establish these classroom routines, establish
instructional routines: what should they do when you are finished your work, how to head the paper, how
to answer questions, how journals responses should be formatted. Procedures take teaching and time.

Invest the time now and it will be worth it later.

3 LESSON ASSESSMENTS AS A TEACHING TOOLS, NOT JUST TESTING TOOLS

Lesson assessments are teaching tools, as well as testing tools. Take the first 3 to 4 weeks to explicitly
teach students how you want questions answered. Model how to answer in complete sentences, use
scratch paper, how to locate answers and provide the page number if that is what you desire. Doing this

now will set the tone for test taking later.

4 FOCUS ON WRITING

Writing is a form of communication that students must master. Common Core is grounded in writing and
explaining concepts. Allow students to write, explain and express thoughts daily. Students need to be
extremely comfortable with putting ideas down on paper, with ease. Students should construct writing
5-7 times throughout the day (This does not mean formal writing, but writing construction). Students should be writing in all curricular subject areas daily.

5 EXPECT EXCELLENCE, REFUSE MEDIOCRITY

Students, and adults alike, will give us what we expect of them. Starting from day 1, make clear the
expectation of excellence. Keep the bar set high, so that both you and your students, are constantly striving
for excellence. Les Brown said it best with his quote “Shoot for the moon, for if you miss, you will land
among the stars.” Let’s give our students the opportunity of academic stardom, regardless of past

scores, home life, and/or economic background.

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