Let's Compare First Days {Weekly Blog}

Back in the fall I completed a First Day of School lab. After re-reading my blog I reflected on my experience comparing my experience this well to last fall and thinking about how I will make day one even better for my next two classes this upcoming week. Through talking with my cooperating teachers I learned that they are encouraged not to go over the syllabus the first day of school, but from my survey of asking teachers in the school, they still do.

Why? Most of their classroom expectations, procedures, and consequences are there and starting the second day students could "get away" with being late, etc. because they were not set. On the flip side, I learned teachers who do not go over the syllabus take the time to get to know the students through activities and push the students to get to know each other.

What did I learn? 
The context of the classes are that welding is a 9-week, 3rd quarter only course, and horticulture is a second semester course. Students expect syllabuses so do the unexpected because it pays off. I had activities on day one for both my classes. Horticulture they played minute it to win it type of games and welding they went on a scavenger hunt for welds throughout the first floor of the school. I did go over my syllabus because of the 80 minute periods. Students liked hearing about the projects they get to do, especially in hands on classes like welding and horticulture. I even had one student in my welding class that did not know you actually get to weld in the class and his eyes got big with excitement when I said that we do!

What would I do on my first day of school as a first year teacher? 
- Build rapport with students through games or activities. Each activity needs to serve a purpose though.
           - For example in my horticulture class I had them work in teams to emphasize that they will need to be collaborative this semester, we played would you rather and I asked WHY they picked the side they did and then told them I expect them to ask WHY this semester and be expansive in their thinking.
- Give a tour of the shop or greenhouse if that is applicable.
- Go over expectations, procedures, and consequences.
           - This includes classroom operations and classroom processes (where do you pick up graded papers?)
- In a one to one program, work through where everything is digitally, have them sign into Google Classroom, and make sure everyone has access to folders/documents
- Handout any papers that need signed and make it worth points.

What am I doing next week on my first days?
Both of these classes are are year long and 40 minutes. I am utilizing the same systems as my cooperating teachers as well as their expectations, consequences, and procedures. Since is has been half a year since they heard them I am going to review expectations, procedures, and consequences to ensure they know nothing changes and then take time to build rapport the first day.