About Tracy Chatters Expertise I can answer questions related to classroom discipline for middle and high school, student motivation, rewards plans, creating an exciting classroom environment and planning field trips to enhance curriculum.
Experience I am a CA credentialed secondary teacher with 5 years classroom experience. I have designed my own social studies curriculum to include exciting hands-on activities, role-playing and other events that make kids want to learn. I have taken more than 100 students on exciting educational field trips including Washington DC, Ashland OR, and all over California. I currently train new teachers how to create a positive classroom environment.
Organizations CANEC
Education/Credentials CA Secondary Authorization for Social Studies, Spanish and Russian
Question I am a first year high school social studies teacher. I am very excited but I am at a loss as to what to do the first day or even the first couple of days of school. Do you have any suggestions?
Answer You didn't say what grade levels but this can make a difference. If you have 9th or 10th grade, I'd be sure to spend at least the first two days going over the expectations of behavior, work ethic and standards you have for the class. I'd spend the next two days getting to know them. Create an interest survey of what they like and don't like, favorite TV shows, books, websites etc. I'd say also that playing a game with prizes would be fun (see below). Then on the fifth day, I'd give them an exam. Find out what they know already and where they're at. Perhaps you have to go over a unit you hadn't planned or you can skip a unit you had scheduled already.
For 11th and 12th graders, I'd start with the interest survey on day one. Day two I'd move to expectations etc. You need to hook them earlier because they're harder to get interested in the program. Day three I'd do an exam. Days 4 and 5 I'd do something really interesting- a game with prizes like trivial pursuit but only the history and people/places questions. Your prizes can be free- things that go over really well are free homework passes, 5 bonus points on the next quiz, one free tardy pass, one free "oops I forgot my supplies" pass and stuff like that. If you want to spend money you can but likely, you can't buy stuff that has as much value as the passes above!
Overall my advice is this: when they tell you not to smile until Christmas- they mean it! If you are too sweet, lenient or understanding in the first few weeks, you will get eaten alive. You're best off if you are consistent, set high expectations and demand they meet them, and you follow through with what you say.
Good luck and feel free to email if you have more questions!
