How to Make Your Class Awesome!

Have you ever wondered how teachers make their classrooms run smoothly? Well, I got a chance to sit down with a fellow teacher and we created a plan to transform his classroom.  This was the last in a series of coaching sessions and we used it to reflect upon his progress.  Here are some of the things we discussed:

• Routines are Key: Just like you have a morning routine, teachers need routines too! He realized that by the second semester, his students knew the drill, so he stopped giving a two-minute warning when they came in. Now, the students start their warm-up right away.
• Managing Stuff: It can be hard to keep track of everything, right? He wanted students to put their things away at the beginning of class. He also tried using a special pouch for phones so they wouldn't be a distraction.
• Working Together: He wanted students to help each other and not just copy. He liked to see them all working on the same problem together.
• Chunking the Day: He did a great job of "chunking" the lesson, which means breaking it into smaller parts. This helped the students stay engaged by doing different things like warm-ups, watching videos, taking notes, and doing worksheets.
• Dealing with Problems: Sometimes, kids make bad choices, right? We created a system for dealing with these issues. If a student misbehaved, the would write their name on the board. After a few times, he would take the next step.

By using these strategies, he was able to improve his classroom and make it a great place to learn. Remember, just like our students, us teachers are always learning too!

To watch the video click on the image above.