I was fortunate enough, along with the other first year teachers from our county, to go hear Harry Wong at Chapel Hill this year. He was wonderful! I brought back many classroom management tips from him along with some great ideas that I have been able to incorporate in my classroom. My favorite one is posting every goal and objective in the classroom where everyone can see them from all over the room. After posting them, read them or have the students read them (I do them 9weeks at a time) and then we check them off as we complete them! They don't ask me "Why do we have to learn this?" because they know the answer is "because North Carolina says you do!" This give them a visible goal and they love it when I take down the goals and objectives that we've learned so they can see what's new for them.
If you ever get a chance see Harry Wong, please do. He is funny, inspirational, and full of ideas. He was a teacher at one time and he gives us all permission to "steal, steal, steal!" He says his classroom was full of "stolen" ideas! Talk to your coworkers, visit their classrooms and steal their ideas! Ask veteran teachers what they wouldn't or couldn't live without and "steal" it! Almost every teacher I've ever known was ready to lend a helping hand and any extra copies of items they have. Harry Wong is great...so look him up online and try to see him if you can.
Blog posted by April writer Sheri Hale, 5th grade teacher at Fred Anderson Elementary School in Bayboro, NC.
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I like your idea of posting the objectives. I will use that in my classroom. It is a good way to make the students aware and accountable for what they should know. It might be good to send it home for parents to see and be involved.
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