In this post, we will review classroom procedures for new teachers. We want to prepare them for success as they navigate the teaching environment for the first time.
When you are new to teaching and starting to prepare for the new school year, it can be hard to know where to start or what to focus on.
Although you can start in various places, you will definitely want to spend a time in your classroom thinking through your classroom procedures.
Why Do Classroom Procedures Matter?
In school, we learn that routine is important for kids and that having good procedures in place can help those routines move more smoothly.
For example, let’s say you set up a procedure in your room where students will put 3 fingers in the air if they need to use the restroom. You’ve also established the procedure so that students know if you show them 3 fingers back, they can quietly exit to use the restroom without having to actually talk to you. If you show them one finger, they know they need to wait until after you’re done talking to the class.
With this procedure in place, students don’t have to disrupt the whole class when nature calls. Instead, you can have a nonverbal conversation with a student even while you’re having a morning meeting or working through a math example on the board.
What Procedures Should First-Year Teachers Have in Place
Classroom procedures for new teachers will be the same as those for established teachers. Although the actual procedure may be different, the types of procedures each teacher has in place are going to be similar.
Here is the list of categories, but you can also take a look at our blog post, “Ultimate List of MUST-HAVE Classroom Procedures to Teach in Upper Elementary,” for our full breakdown of each category.
Classroom Procedures for New Teachers
- General Procedures (Such as what to do when entering the classroom, sharpening pencils, end-of-day procedures, etc.)
- During Class Procedures (Locating and accessing supplies, noise levels, different ways to work with others, etc.)
- Classroom Procedures for Work Time/Homework (Where to put your name, how to turn it in, how to handle late work, etc.)
- Classroom Procedures for Small Groups (What the teacher should see/hear during small group, what kinds of questions to ask, where to find supplies, etc.)
- Expectations for Classroom Jobs (Where they are, when to complete them, what to do if someone is gone, etc.)
- Procedures for When Students are Out In the School (Going to the Nurse, turning books into the library, walking down the hallway as a group, etc.)
- Classroom Library Procedures (Where it is, how to check out books, how to return books, etc.)
- Classroom Supply Procedures (Where are supplies, when can you use them, how to take care of supplies, etc.)
- Class Technology Procedures (When and how to access devices, where devices are located, how they are put away, etc.)
- Lunch Procedures (When we go to lunch, how we behave in the lunch line, how we clean up, etc.).
- Recess Procedures (When it is, what does indoor recess look like, how to dress appropriately, etc.)
Practice Makes “Close to” Perfect (Resources to Help Make the Learning Process Easier)
As you establish procedures, make sure to practice them extensively. The work you do on these in the first month of school will pay off, but you have to be critical and consistent. Make students practice over and over.
Empower Students with Classroom Resources
Although classroom procedures for new teachers may feel a bit like setting a whole bunch of rules, they are actually about empowering students to take ownership of their educational space.
In fact, we’ve written a whole post about using classroom procedures to develop resourcefulness and independence. Click here to read that post and learn more about how procedures can empower students.
To help with setting up procedures and practicing them, we have some classroom procedure resources and blog posts that you might find helpful. Click on the images and links below to learn more about each one.
Resources:
