Beginning of the Year: Setting the Structure

My very first year teaching, I didn’t have a clue as to what to do . I didn’t realize how important it was to think about and pre-plan even those little details when it comes to setting the structure. As many of you know, the result was me spending all year working on classroom management and the structure.

For my second year of teaching, I was finally certified. I worked in a new district in a different state. You know how it is, new teachers – New Teacher PD. There was one concept that stood out, and I began using it immediately.

Here is a suggestion:

Give each student a number

1. As soon as you get your class roster, go straight down the list and give everyone a number.
   • It is okay if students drop off the list. When new students enroll, just fill them into those missing slots. Click link for Class List.
2. If you are the type of teacher who likes to have everything prepared before the school year begins, then have their name and number written on their materials.
3. If you do class sets for anything, already have them prenumbered. Get them used to getting the item that is associated with their number at the very beginning of the year.
4. If you teach a specific content area and student is switched to a different class, they lost that number and gain a different number that is available in the new class.
5. I would suggest writing their name and number in pencil on the items the use such as binder cover sheets (see post on binders), portfolios, file folders, etc.

Following these steps is one of the beginning stages to getting your structure set within the classroom. Not only does it keep you organized, but it also helps teach the students organization.