I only teach K-2, and they sit on the floor on pieces of tape
with colored numbers. (We use both the colors and the numbers
for dividing into groups, etc.) I came in mid-year this year,
and adapted the existing classroom rules to fit my style. They
are:
Walk inside
Listen and follow directions (the first time)
Show respect
Be your best
I try to refer to them frequently and plan to come up with a
rules song for K to sing next year.
For lining up, I have a yarn ball that I toss to individual
kids - they toss it back (GENTLY or they lose it) and line up
on a strip of tape in front of the door.
I still adapt some teachers' phrases for getting the class
calm, since they are used to hearing that.
I strongly suggest finding out if your classes use the
bathroom before the come to Music. I try not to allow too much
bathroom, but I'm a little spooked about it because last year
a girl wet herself and I got chewed out big time. (Different
school, and the girl drove me NUTS asking permission to do
stuff all the time. THis had to be the only time she ever
actually DID need to use the bathroom. Figures.)
I use stickers for my classes. They put stickers on a paper
for their own class, and whichever class in each grade has the
most stickers at the end of the week is class of the week for
the following week. They get to have Music with their shoes
off and we do a little disco dance at the end of class.
I also have "Oops forms" that kids fill out if they can't seem
to pull it together. The form goes to the homeroom teacher and
then home. Tends to work well for most kids, and I don't use
it frequently.
Hope that helps a little! Enjoy your own room!
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