Having expectations clearly outlined and prominently displayed both in the classroom and as part of your syllabus helps students know right away how things work in your classroom. Scholastic.com recommends including the policies on behavior, grading policies, homework policies, tardiness, absenteeism and late work so students will know what is required of them going forward. Include in your expectations ways students and parents can contact you, when you are available for meetings or extra help and links to your blog or classroom website. This lets students know that although you set the bar high in your classroom, you are available to them and want them to be successful.
Although most schools provide the basics for students to be successful in middle school, providing families with a list of optional supplies on the first day of school gives students the opportunity to purchase items they need quickly. Most middle schoolers enjoy having their own colored pencils, markers, pens and pencils, and the more you help middle schoolers be prepared for class, the easier it will be to keep them on task throughout your time together. Most schools also require middle school students to have some type of planner to help them stay organized. If the school does not provide one, make sure to include it on the list of supplies you hand out on the first day. Keep this list available on your website or blog throughout the school year.
Middle school students often are anxious on the first day of school, and having an assigned seat as soon as you walk into a classroom can help relieve tension. Have name tags placed on the desks where students should sit on the first day and ask students to wear name tags throughout the class period so you can get to know them. After the first day, consider giving students three days to decide where they would like to sit for the term and then create a permanent seating chart based on their preferences. Once they feel comfortable in their seats, middle school students can become very talkative, so be sure they know that you reserve the right to change a student’s seat if talking becomes a problem. Change the seating chart at the beginning of each term to give students a chance to move around.
Modeling a caring and professional attitude when students enter your classroom the first day will set the tone for the rest of the term in middle school. Middle school students are in transition between childhood and independence. If they sense you care about them and are there to help, while at the same time being very serious about your subject matter, you will set a tone that fosters both learning and the exploration of new ideas. Middle school students are unique in their need for flexible boundaries. Scholastic.com suggests communicating in such a way that students will be able to tell what has happened in the class to their parents in a way that makes sense and inspires confidence in you and your teaching abilities. Establishing an environment that encourages discovery while keeping order is the goal.