As we returned from winter break this year, it became clear that we could not pick up right where we left off in room #264! With the addition of new students as well as some schedule changes that lead to some different class combinations, I knew we couldn’t just jump into business as usual without all getting on the same page. However, I hate teaching expectations. Well, let me rephrase that. I hate explaining all of my classroom expectations. Just talking at the students is so boring to me, and if I feel that way, I can only imagine how bored my students must feel! This is especially true for my returning students, some of whom I’ve had for two or three years, who think they know everything about my classroom, but often need a refresher.
When I think of class expectations or procedures, I think about how I want students to interact with the spaces and objects in my classroom. I think about how and when they should grab supplies, turn in their work, and clean up for the day. Making sure everyone is on the same page about how and when these things should happen (as well as wrong ways to do them) will go a long way to make sure everyone feels safe and secure in the class! Taking the time to map out my classroom procedures and teach them to my students has saved my sanity many times.
Here are some of my favorite ways to review classroom expectations and procedures while keeping it fun and fresh!
- What’s That? – What’s That is a really great game to review basically anything! To play ‘What’s That?’, show students a zoomed-in picture of an object, place, or something that represents an idea. Students need to guess what the picture shows or represents, and then you can talk about the procedure or rule for it. To set it up, I start by taking pictures of all the things or places in my classroom that I want to talk about. I use Google Slides to create a presentation and use two slides for each picture; one for the zoomed-in picture, and one for the regular picture with some bullet points of what I want students to know. To create the zoomed-in images, I use the crop feature to cut a small part of the picture and then enlarge it. I may do it a few times to get the perfect piece to really make my students think! All of my students get so into this game, and it’s a ton of fun! Take a look at some of my What’s That images below!
- Scavenger Hunt – Another way that I’ve helped introduce class expectations and procedures is by creating a scavenger hunt around the room! Students get a clipboard and a worksheet with prompts that lead them to different locations and ask them to answer questions that focus on each important area. This is also fun to do during the first few days of school because you can see how students approach problems! It’s so interesting to see who takes charge and who finds someone to follow. Here are a few of the prompts from the scavenger hunt I used this year:
- What are three supplies that you can find at the supply table in the back of the room?
- What color is the turn-in bin for your class hour?
- On a scale of 1-10, how much do you think the Bitmoji outside of the door looks like Ms. Franklin?
- What do you think the dots on the ground are for?
- What is one fact you learned about Ms. Franklin from the “All About Ms. Franklin” board?
- What is your favorite place in Ms. Franklin’s classroom?
- Blue’s Clues – Lastly, a game I’ve played with students to introduce my expectations is all about clues! I wrote little rhyming couplets or clues to locations, procedures, and important items around the room. Similar to “What’s That?” this game has students guessing what the clue could represent before we talk about it! I find this game a little more difficult to put together, especially if I am not feeling very creative, but if rhyming is your thing, I highly recommend it!
Frequently reviewing classroom procedures sets all students up for success, but doesn’t have to be boring! Which of these activities are you going to try in your classroom? Let me know in the comments!
