There is nothing more exciting, yet also stressful, than preparing for your very first classroom! While you may have come to this post thinking you’ll be given a long list to go shop for, I actually want to give you a list of things that I personally believe are even more important than any items you can physically fill your classroom with. 🙂
Don’t worry – I’ll give you a few tangible things to put on your wish list! But I’ve packed this post with numerous questions to consider as you start planning for the upcoming school year. There is so much to know beyond what to purchase, and while “learn as you go” will be a motto you can mostly live by your first year, I want to help prepare you as much as I can!
Define Your Discipline Philosophy
We might as well start with arguably the most important item on the list – Classroom Management. As you become experienced and learn more about what works for your classroom and what doesn’t, your discipline philosophy will most likely change. Personally, I run a tight ship. I’m sure others find me too strict, but I have found my classroom runs so much more smoothly when my students listen to me and don’t question my intentions. However, I’m definitely not a dictator. Respect is the foundation of my own discipline philosophy and it’s ultimately a 2-way street. I respect my kids and will always listen to them explain their point, but they have to know that their actions must fit into our classroom rules and guidelines in order for us to flourish together as a class.
Consistency is key, and while there are times you may have to discipline students slightly differently than others, you have to remain consistent in your rules and how you handle situations. For example, one year I had a student with ASD in my class. Something upset him on the playground as recess was ending and he came to line up, but was screaming. I refused to let him in the door until he calmed down. Screaming was not allowed as it could scare or upset the other students.
I modeled deep breathing with him and spoke with a calm voice. I told him he had every right to be upset and that people are allowed to get mad, but it’s not okay to be bothering or hurting others while you are mad. I wanted him to realize that how he was feeling was totally acceptable, but how he was acting as a result of those feelings is what needed to improve. He eventually calmed down and we headed inside. I let him sit at his desk for a while and process what had happened before he moved on to doing any work.
Questions to Consider for Defining Your Discipline Philosophy
As you create your own discipline philosophy, I have several questions for you to reflect on. Keep in mind your school may have a building-wide discipline policy that you may need to adopt in your classroom! Here are a few to get your started:
- What is important to you as a new teacher?
- How will your students be expected to act respectfully toward one another and you?
- What rules will you have in place and continually reinforce?
- Are there logical consequences for students who don’t follow the rules?
- How will your class move around the building in an orderly way? This may sound old-fashioned, but how your class moves throughout the building with you is a big reflection of your management. Bouncing off the walls, jumping up to touch things, or skipping the last 4 steps of the staircase aren’t things we want to be allowing kids to do. Being orderly is expected in public as adults, so it’s important that we start showing our students right away how to be so. Walking with “marshmallow feet” is one technique I implement while moving throughout the building with my class.
- Do you know how to handle difficult students and situations? And do you know when to ask for support? There’s a time and place for handling difficult situations by yourself, and when you need to have administration intervene instead. When I was a new teacher, I thought I had to prove I was capable of handling everything on my own. I even said during a job interview that I wouldn’t call down to the office for help if I ever had a difficult student. Needless to say, I didn’t get the job. Administrators need you to recognize when things are over your head and you need to ask for help.
Questions to Consider if You’re at a New School
You got the job – Yay! 🙂 When you get hired for the very first time in a new assignment, here are some questions to ask your administration:
- Is there an orientation program for new teachers?
- Where can I get a copy of the school policies and procedures?
- Do new teachers get assigned a mentor? If so, how often do they meet?
- How often are team or grade-level meetings?
- How often are staff and administrator meetings?
- Do teachers plan together or assist a new teacher with planning?
- What are the school discipline policies that are currently in place?
- What classroom supplies and curriculum resources are available to teachers?
- Where do I make photocopies and what is the procedure for using the copier?
- What is the policy for using the gym or using equipment from the gym storage?
- What is the policy for using the lunchroom? What is the lunch schedule?
- Is there a dismissal procedure for school buses? Are teachers in charge of supervising this?
- Is there an art room or an area of art supplies that can be used?
All of these questions can seem overwhelming at first, but you’ll be so glad you asked. Aside from these professional questions, I also highly recommend you get to know your administration, secretary, custodians, and lunch and supervision staff on a personal level. Talk to them about regular “life” things! “Did you have a good weekend?” “How is your family?” “Good morning!” Simple phrases like that go a long way. It’s important that they know you’re not always going to ask them for something every time you see them.
Questions to Consider for Your Classroom Set-Up
Now that you’ve done your “research” for your building, it’s time to get busy in your classroom. Here are some questions to think about as you set up your primary classroom:
- Where will your carpet/gathering area be? Tip – This may be where you also want to set up your calendar display!
- Will you use tables or desks? Will your students choose where they sit or will you use teacher-directed seating? If you’re a Kindergarten teacher, I really recommend allowing the kids to choose where they sit since school is so new for them and the lessons are so short. If you’re teaching anywhere from 1st to 3rd grade, I would recommend teacher-directed seating so you can place the students where they will be the most successful and least distracted.
- Where will your reading area be? How will you display your classroom library?
- Do you want a specific area for special needs students and aides so that they have enough space to work together?
- Will you use a table or desk for your own area to work and/or store resources?
- Where will your students’ belongings go each morning? Coats, backpacks, lunchboxes, etc.
Organizing Student and Teacher Supplies
Once you have your main areas arranged, you can start deciding where you place student supplies, as well as your own teaching materials. If you’re lucky enough to have a large classroom closet, ask permission to put bookcases inside! It’s an easy way to keep things organized and you can find them cheap at garage sales, FB Marketplace, or Craigslist. Here is a short list of items to consider as you think about where to store things!
- Bins of math manipulatives and learning toys
- Bins to store student workbooks. Tip – Always collect students’ workbooks. They will stay in much better shape compared to having the students store them in their desks.
- Bins for free play centers and literacy centers
- Classroom art supplies
- Kids’ supplies
Will you make the kids’ supplies communal or individual? Prior to covid, I chose communal because many children struggle to keep their own supplies organized. During covid, I of course had to make supplies for individual use only for health reasons. It worked out just fine! Next year I’m hoping to try out a mixture of communal and individual supplies.
There you have it! 🙂 It can seem like a lot to prepare for all at once, but taking each of these areas one at a time will help you nail your first year of teaching. If I had to give one piece of advice to all first year teachers, it would be to find a mentor. Finding the right mentor can be a process of itself, but you will always benefit from having someone to go to. Of course, I would love to help you virtually, too! You can join my Facebook group here (insert link/FB group name). Feel free to ask me any questions at all! I’m in there at least once a day to check in on other teachers and provide tips for rookies.
Good luck preparing for your first year! I have a freebie for you that will help you set up your classroom routines. It’s for sale in my TpT store, but free to you! Just fill in the information below.
