First Days of School - The Ready Classroom

"Teachers who are ready maximize student learning and minimize student misbehavior."

As we continue our First Days of School series, we will look at the ready classroom.  Wong starts by comparing the classroom to a restaurant. When you go to eat at a successful restaurant, the table is ready, the dining room is ready, and the staff is ready.  Aside from good food and service, being ready is a large part to being a successful business.  A successful teacher is ready; their work is ready, the room is ready, and the teacher is ready.  When you walk into a restaurant, office, or store, you expect them to be ready; why would you expect anything less from yourself?

Prepare the Floor Space

• Make sure you have enough desks and chairs.
• Fix broken furniture.
• Be friendly with your custodian, they are there to help prepare your classroom.
• Place desks and chairs where students can easily see the teacher.
• Keep high-traffic areas clear.
• Have a strategic location ready for students who need to be isolated from the whole group.

Prepare the Work Area

• Arrange work area so all students can be monitored from any place in the room.
• Make sure you have enough chairs.
• Be sure to have all necessary supplies.
• Test any equipment.

Prepare the Student Area

• Provide a space or routine for students to place their belongings they bring to class.
• Have a "lost and found" area.

Prepare the Wall Space

• Prepare a bulletin board to be used for student work.
• Discipline plan should be in a prominent place.
• Post procedures, schedules, charts, maps, directions, etc... in a prominent place.
• Have a consistent place for listing the day's work and/or learning target.
• Have a display for the feature topic or theme.

Prepare the Bookcases

• Rotate materials on the shelf.
• Do not place bookshelf near an exit where it may block the exit.

Prepare the Teacher Area

• Place teacher desk in a spot that does not place a barrier between the students and the teacher.
• Teacher desk should be in a spot where you can easily monitor behavior from.
• If you have lots of personal belongings in your desk, make it clear from the beginning the rules and procedures for going into your desk.

Prepare the Teaching Materials

• Have all basic materials ready and handy.  (Paper, pencils, erasers, markers, crayons, glue, etc...)
• Store seldom-used materials out of the way.
• Have a method ready for seating the students.

Prepare Yourself

• Keep your personal belongings in a safe place.
• Know where your emergency materials are.
• Know procedures for fire, tornado, or lock down drill.

"Teachers who are ready maximize student learning and minimize student misbehavior."

One of my professors in college had a phrase he used frequently, and it is one that I will never forget; 

"Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance"