First School Week in High School Classes

Setting the Tone with Guidelines, Seating, and Competency

Jul 20, 2009

Whether a returning teacher or a first year teacher, the first week of high school allows teachers to project whether they will be "best friends" or true professionals.

The first week of school sets the tone for the entire school year. Returning teachers may already have reputations passed down by graduates and siblings. If those reputations are weak (such as in terms of classroom management), this could be an excellent time to change student perceptions. New teachers will face an initial period of “testing” by students to see how far they can go with the fresh face behind the desk. The first week allows new teachers to define the limits and to articulate appropriate classroom interaction.

Seating Charts Versus Open Seating

The decision regarding seating should be made before students arrive. Depending upon class size, should the students be configured in traditional rows or seated in semi-circular formations? The semi-circular pattern has the advantage of allowing more students to have a “front row” seat, something helpful if the class contains students with specific learning needs requiring a front row experience. Additionally, it is easier to observe the class with this kind of configuration.

Open seating implies extending students a degree of trust. Most students will continue to sit at the same desk all year. If open seating is an option, teachers should announce (as well as putting into the course syllabus or written guidelines) that seating changes can be made at the request of the teacher at any time. Thus, students sitting beside friends are on notice that any socializing may result in seating changes.

Most teachers prefer seating charts. Such configurations are especially helpful to substitute teachers. One of the best ways to help teachers know their students is to obtain a copy of the prior school term yearbook. Making copies of the student pictures and taping them onto the inside of a standard file folder will help to place a name with a face and make it that much easier to know the various members of a class.

Written Policies as Detailed as Possible

In today’s educational climate, there is no better defense when walking into a potentially volatile parent-teacher conference than having in hand all written policies distributed and discussed during the first week of school. These policies should include:

Additionally, some teachers even include written policies governing student class preparation and note-taking:

Wise teachers may even include a parental sign-off sheet attached to the written guidelines so that all parents will be fully aware of the requirements and expectations. Written guidelines are preventative. Further, they add a higher level of competency and organization. In and of themselves, they project a message and a perception of the teacher – as long as the teacher follows the guidelines throughout the school year making no exceptions.

Although sounding rigid, guidelines actually help to facilitate the broader goal of daily enrichment within the classroom as a true learning center. Trust and respect promote mature interaction through discussion, cooperative projects, and other instructional methodologies. Guidelines provide the structure necessary to successfully facilitate curricular goals.

Focusing on strategies during the first week of school designed to ensure a smooth and results-driven semester sends a clear message to both students and parents. Good teachers that are perceived as “no nonsense” types are highly organized and professional. The “best friend” approach only translates into future misery that, too often, elicits personality problems between teachers and students.

The copyright of the article First School Week in High School Classes in Classroom Management Tips is owned by Michael Streich. Permission to republish First School Week in High School Classes in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.