Start the Year

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Home : 2001 : August : 11

Start the Year
By Jeanine

The bottom line in Middle school is that most kids who walk in the door are concerned about themwelves and their freinds. There is a very small handful that actually want to be there. Your first day will consist of a lot
of them trying to impress each other and make each other laugh. it is a very social world out there. If you don't start off stern and nip it in the bud, they will never take you seriously. I am exactly like you in that, it is very difficult for me not to smile and be happy. That is my personality in general. But, by the time they realize I mean business yet I am a very fun teacher,

they respect me a lot. i am the teacher in our building that all of them come to with their problems. They trust me and respect me.
I begin the year with a Character education lesson. I have them pick out the 5 most important values for this classroom out of a list of 15. As a group we define each 5 of these. Then I place them on laminated poster board in the room. We call them our classroom bylaws. It just creates an atmosphere of respect and caring for everyone in the class. I do not accept insulting or bullying others. They understand that on the first day. I suppose if you asked the kids that I have had in the past few years they would descirbe me as tough but they would also say they enjoyed my class. At least that is what my peers tell me. I don't know if any of this helped. if you have any other questions just email me. It is sooooo important with middle school kids that you start the year off right or it is all over with. If you give an inch they will take a mile. Hope this helped. Jeanine