Literacy Speaks Volumes

A successful classroom is one that is warm, focused, and well-organized. Thinking about the room arrangement and planning for an easy-to-navigate space for students and teacher is an important part of classroom organization. How do you decide what classroom arrangement you need and want? First, you must work with what you have...no administrator is going to allow you to go into your new classroom and buy new tables because you want your students to work at tables. I recommend that you begin the year with your students sitting in the traditional rows. This arrangement says that you mean business and we’re here to learn. I always begin the school year in a traditional seating arrangement, then change the seating arrangement as needed to meet the lesson dynamics. For example, if I’m going to be reading aloud, then the students will push the desks to the back of the room and sit on the floor. If we’re going to have class discussion, then I move the desks into a circle. I...

After all these years of teaching middle school English, I wish that I could say that I have the answer to rid your classroom of all bad attitudes. Unfortunately, I can't because it comes with the territory. A bad attitude in a middle schooler is usually the sign of a lack of self-confidence. I know, it doesn't seem that way, but I've dealt with enough to know that a bad attitude is not about me. It's just the way that the kid is projecting him or herself.  I've tried several different ways to deal with it, and very few are effective all of the time. Like most things in teaching, you just have to go with it and see what works for that kid at that moment. At the beginning of last school year, I had a student who refused to write anything (not even his name) on a piece of paper. I tried threats and punishments. I moved him away from the group that he was trying to impress. I turned his name into the administration--he spent three days in in-school suspens...

Classroom Rules  are the first thing that you want to establish with your students; the second item on the agenda should be your classroom procedures. If your classroom procedures are clear and organized, you will cut down on the number of misbehaviors and classroom disruptions. Many teachers confuse procedures and routines with classroom rules, but they are actually different beasts that must be tackled in the first few days of school. Effective teachers think about what procedures they want to see become routines and prepare to teach them just like they do any other lesson throughout the year. Here are some procedures that you need to consider: Entering the classroom Beginning class Dismissal at the end of the period Transitions between activities Obtaining supplies and materials Heading on papers Turning in homework Sharpening pencils Restroom passes Asking questions Finishing work early Passing in papers Finding make-up work after being absent Moving int...

A classroom discipline plan (aka rules and consequences) is a primary hallmark of any effective teacher's classroom management system. You can't teach, and they can't learn if your classroom is chaotic. The classroom is not a home; it is a structured environment where children and students each have a role to play. Students want to know what to expect from you if their behavior does not meet your expectatations. So how do you know what rules are good rules and what rules aren't. First of all, rules need to be observable. "Keep your hands and feet to yourself" is observable. "Be kind to one another" is not observable. Secondly, your rules need to be ones that you really are going to enforce. For example, when I first began teaching I had a rule that said, "You must bring all materials to class everyday." What I didn't know was that was a rule that I just wasn't going to enforce. I supplied pencils and paper for those who did...

Here is a great way of organizing anchor chart ideas. In middle school, students need to go into more detail when comparing and contrasting. I love the idea of using a visual for this strategy. One of my favorites that I've come across today.  Citing evidence is a really big deal under the new CCSS. Making Connections is always a good strategy. We're going to be reading more non-fiction. I like this "exit ticket" idea. Yes, students need to learn the vocabulary. A little classroom management goes a long way. ...and one more. Enjoy your day!  Melissa Reese Etheridge

Cover of picture book The Library Dragon book by Carmen Agra Deedy When teaching your students the school rules at the beginning of the year (or reviewing them throughout the year), do you teach rules for going to and using the library? Teaching basic procedures and rules to your students should include more than just going over your classroom rules. Especially if part of your routine is either going to the library as a whole group or allowing students to go individually during study time or class time. When teaching my students my rules (or expectations as I call them), I always teach a lesson on going and using the library. Here are my basic going-to-the-library-as-a-class expectations: Walk silently and in a straight line to the library. Sit in assigned seats at the library tables. When in the stacks , make your book choice as an individual, not as a group. Make your selection within eight minutes, then head to the circulation desk and check out your bo...