- Physical Space: Have you changed the physical arrangement in your classroom? If you were a student in the room, how would it feel to enter and sit at one of the seats in your room? Are there clear paths to desks, storage, tools, and stations? Can you see the screen? Do you have some “private” space?
- Procedures and routines: When was the last time you reviewed procedures with the students? What do you want students to do in each section of class time? How do they know what the procedures are for doing each activity? How have you informed new students of all your procedures?
- Rules and consequences: What are the basic rules that are needed for instruction to take place? (Remember the difference between a rule and a procedure) What happens if a student doesn’t follow a rule? What happens when they do?
- Engaging lessons: What are your teaching goals for each lesson? What do you want to introduce, present, review or assess? What will students do to meet the objectives for the material taught and will the lesson be relevant and engaging?
I have been silent on my blog for a while. Partly because I have started a "new" challenge that took some time to settle into. I have been an educator for over 20 years. I have been a classroom teacher, building administrator & district administrator. Our family recently felt called to a new location which gave me the opportunity to work for an education non-profit for a year. Then the call back to the field came. I couldn't resist. Those of you that are called into education know that the calling never really leaves you. I knew I needed to be back in a position that allowed me to have a more direct impact on students. I loved the work I was doing, but I was in a position that didn't give me any interaction with students and I needed to get back to that on some level. If you haven't been in that position, it is hard to put into words exactly what this calling means. Granted I was still able to influe...

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