Effective Teaching...
by Harry and Rosemary Wong

March 2004

A Well-Oiled Learning Machine

Is your classroom in chaos or is it a well-oiled learning environment?
• An effective teacher MANAGES a classroom.
• The ineffective teacher DISCIPLINES a classroom.

You may be the best cook in the world, but you would fail as an owner of a restaurant if you do not know how to manage the restaurant.  Such things as accounting procedures, customer relationships, and health and safety procedures may be more important than how to make a fettuccine alfredo.

Likewise, the single most important factor governing
student learning is not discipline; it is how a teacher
manages a classroom.

Where there is no management, students risk failure because of the lack of structure.  Effective teachers structure their classrooms with procedures and routines.  Students readily accept the idea of having a uniform set of classroom procedures, because it simplifies their task of succeeding in school.

Efficient and workable procedures allow a great variety of activities, often several at one time, to take place during a school day, with a minimum of confusion and wasted time.  If no procedures are established, you will waste much time organizing each activity.  Students will have to guess what to do.  As a result, they could develop undesirable work habits and behaviors that would be hard to correct.

Your Classroom Procedures

How to Determine Your Classroom Procedures

1. Decide what activities will be taking place during the school year.
2. Make a list of the PROCEDURAL steps the students must follow to participate in these activities.

Here are some possible procedures:

Entering the classroom
If you are absent
If you are tardy
End of period class dismissal
Listening to and responding to questions
Indicating whether or not you understand
Coming to attention
Working cooperatively
Changing groups
Keeping your notebook
When you need help/conferencing
Keeping a progress report
Finding directions for each assignment
Collecting/returning student work
Getting materials without disturbing others
Handing out equipment at recess
Moving about the room
Walking in the hallways
Heading of papers
When you finish early

It is the procedures that set the class up for achievement. Student achievement at the end of the school year is directly related to the degree to which the teacher establishes good control of the classroom procedures in the very first week of the school year.

When a class is managed with procedures and the students know these procedures, they will more willingly do whatever you want them to do.  You can then be an exciting, creative, and informative teacher with a well-oiled learning environment.

Reference for the above procedures can be found in The First Days of School, Unit C, specifically chapter 20.

Fourth Grade Procedures

Let’s see how a teacher has adapted what we have just presented into his classroom.  Nathan Gibbs is a fourth grade teacher in the Newport-Mesa District in Southern California.  Although he is in his fourth year as a teacher, he was successful from his very first year.

Nathan has a class credo that gives an overview of his teaching philosophy:

“My class is a place where the genuine care and comfort of my students is my highest mission.  I pledge to provide the finest personalized education and facilities to my students, who will enjoy a warm, relaxed yet refined learning environment.  My class will enliven the senses and instill well-being and character, fulfilling even the unexpressed wishes and needs of my students.”

He tells us that he has no stress, and it’s all based on how he prepares the “looks” of the room.  He has students who range from being highly academic to severely handicapped, and most all of them are behaving flawlessly.  The high achievers need extra structure since many finish their work early.  The handicapped students need structure, too.  He knows this, because he says he was considered a “hyper” (used before the terms ADD and ADHD existed) student and was most successful in the structured classrooms.  He uses what worked best for him.  He says, “If I can get the ADHD kids to follow the classroom procedures to a letter, the others will have no problem.”

He says that by the end of the first week of school, his class is a well-oiled learning machine.  Other staff members gawk at the class when they are in line, at assemblies, and while in class.

He learned his classroom management procedures at the University of North Florida, but not in a classroom management class.  Rather, in another class where The First Days of School was the text.  Based on the information from The First Days of School, he created his classroom management plan in the actual classroom management class.  You read that right.

In his very first year as a teacher, Nathan Gibbs used the classroom management plan he developed from his university class and, as a result, he says, “I was running a well-oiled learning machine.”

On the first day of school Nathan gives his students a list of the classroom procedures. The cover page says,

Follow these procedures to reward yourself
with complete success.

The students are expected to follow every procedure to the letter.  He spends the first week practicing the many procedures.  The number of procedures may seem overwhelming for the students, but Nathan says that the students have a high desire to be given procedures.

He thanks us for our philosophy and procedures, and says, “Ever since my first successful year, I have shared my procedure packet with others, and I have had nothing but positive feedback.  PROCEDURES TRULY DO WORK.

He is happy to share many of his classroom procedures with our readers.  We begin with his basic set of procedures.

Our Basic Procedures
1. Come to class ready to learn.
2. Come to class, and know that you are safe.
3. Come to class, and know that I care.
4. Come to class, and do the best you can.

School Procedures For Your Safety

Lunch Procedures
1. When excused, retrieve lunch if you brought it.
2. Lunch Leaders in front with lunch buckets.
3. Follow Line-up procedures.
4. When dismissed by teacher WALK to cafeteria.
5. Be seated while in MPR (multipurpose room).
6. Retrieve your card from slot, if you are buying lunch.
7. Say "Hello" to any adult in the cafeteria.
8. Place playground equipment in the correct spot while you eat.
9. Sit at the correct table.
10. Walk to and wait in line quietly.
11. Eat nicely and neatly.
12. Talk with a low voice.
13. Clean up your mess; encourage others to do so, also.
14. Make sure all food and trash are in the trashcans.
15. Raise your hand when you would like to be dismissed.
16. Place your lunch box in bucket when you are leaving.
17.Walk to play area.

Bus Pick-Up Procedure
1. Walk to bus area.
2. Do NOT miss the bus.
3. Quietly wait behind the line for the bus.
4. Respect the driver of the bus.
5. Stay in your seat and talk quietly.
6. Not following bus rules will result in the loss of your bus pass. 7. Respect the teacher on duty.
8. Alert a teacher if you missed the bus.
9. Be a good role model and a helper for the younger students on early-out Wednesday.

Car Pick-Up Procedure
1. Walk to car pick-up area near the primary wing.
2. Don't walk onto the blacktop where cars park or drive.
3. Quietly wait for your ride.
4. Respect the teacher on duty.
5. If your ride is late more than 10 minutes, sit quietly in the office and wait.
6. When your ride arrives the driver must get out of the car and sign you out in the Late-Log.
7. Be a good role model and a helper for the younger students on early-out Wednesday.

Bikers Procedures
1. Walk bike on campus before and after school.
2. Lock your bike to bike rack.
3. Leave others bikes alone.
4. Wear your helmet while riding your bike.
5. Obey all traffic laws.
6. Come straight to school.
7. Go straight home.

Walkers Procedures
1. Walk straight to school.
2. Go straight home.
3. Obey all traffic laws.

Going to Other Parts of School
l. Line up quietly when asked.
2. WALK on the right side of the walkway SINGLE FILE.
3. Enter the other classroom or library silently and orderly.
4. Greet the teacher as you enter.
5. REMEMBER YOU ARE REPRESENTING YOURSELVES AND YOUR TEACHER.

Basic Assembly Procedures
1. Line up inside/outside classroom first.
2. Follow class student counsel representatives to the correct area.
3. Pay attention and sit where you are instructed to do so.
4. QUIETLY sit with legs crossed on floor or on the chairs or benches.
5. Remember your Lifeskills and guidelines while waiting, watching, and after the assembly.
6. Enjoy and respect the presentation.
7. Practice patience if you have a question for the presenter.
8. Return to the classroom in an orderly manner and quietly.

Classroom Procedures for Your Success

Morning Entry Procedures
1. Say "hi" to all your classmates.
2. Greet your teacher as you enter.
3. Enter quietly and orderly.
4. Place backpack outside and neatly lined up.
5. Empty your backpack and bring in homework and needed supplies.
6. Turn in homework to be turned in or keep homework at desk to be graded in class.
7. Start work on your seatwork.
8. Expect a great day.

Desk Procedures
1. Only your notebook, assignment book, textbooks, reading book and supply box belong in your desk.
2. Toys, food, and loose paper do NOT belong in your desk.
3. Keep hands, feet, paper, books, and pencils off your neighbors’ desks.
4. CLEAN your desk and the area around it before you leave.
5. Push in your chair EVERYTIME you get up.

Line-up Procedure: Leaving Classroom
1. Stand in two equal lines.
2. First excused line starts out of room followed by second line.
3. Wait quietly.
4. NO TALKING IN HALLS.
5. Walk out the door.

End of the Day Procedure
1. Copy down homework.
2. Clean around your desk.
3. Pack assignment book & homework needed.
4. Wait for teachers to dismiss your number to get your backpack.
5. Leave ONLY when dismissed by the teacher.
6. Say "Goodbye" to classmates and teacher.
7. Make sure to be to the bus on time.
8. Plans of how you are going home may not change.
9. Remember to tell your family about your day.

Restroom Procedures
1. Only one at a time may go.
2. Quietly hold up three fingers and shake your fingers if it is an emergency.
3. Wash your hands.
4. Come right back and enter QUIETLY.

Drinking Fountain Procedures
1. Drink water at recess, lunch, or when your work is FINISHED.
2. Do NOT line up at the drinking fountain outside or inside the classroom AFTER the recess bell has rung.
3. Maximum 3 people at sink area at anytime.
4. Wipe the sink after you drink.

Computer Procedures
1. Wash hands before you use it.
2. No more than 2 people at a computer.
3. Refer your questions to the technology assistant.
4. Clean up the area around you before you leave.
5. Log out of all programs.
6. Shut off the computer at the end of the day if you are the last to use it.

Goals, Yellow Cards, and Red Cards
1. When you receive a goal, put it in your "safe place".
2. At the end of the week have ALL goals totaled for recording.
3. If you receive your first yellow card of the week, put it in your slot.
4. You must then see the Peer Counselor and put your entry into the LOGBOOK.
5. Then check in with the recess aide and sit out for that day.
6. If you receive your second yellow card, put your entry in the LOGBOOK.
7. Report to Mr. Gibbs to receive counseling
8. For the remainder of the week sit out at recess after checking with the duty
aide.
9. If you ever receive the nasty red card, see Mr. Gibbs when instruction is finished. Choose between the call home and DISCIPLINE ESSAY. See step 8 and continue for two full weeks.

Peer Council
1. Insure you are talking to all YELLOW CARD RECIPIENTS.
2. Check LOGBOOK to see that they signed it.
3. Report any problems to me.
4. Settle as many disputes at recess as possible.

Substitute Procedures
1. Respect Substitute's Directions and Rules, even if they are not exactly the same as ours.
2. Remember Substitute is taking my place and is an equal of mine.
3. Be as helpful as possible.
4. Substitute has all Procedures!
5. ASSIST THE SUBSTITUTE IN FINDING SUPPLIES.

Group Work
1. Greet all group members.
2. Be prepared with the necessary tools and resources to be successful.
3. Collaboration is the key to being a successful learning club.
4. All members participate, share, learn from, and help one another.
5. Use same procedures for speaking as you do during class.
6. No one group member is to do all the work.
7. Practice Active Listening.
8. Cooperate.
9. Do your personal best.

Job Procedures
Technology Assistant.
1. Turn on all computers in the morning.
2. Turn on overhead for seatwork.
3. Get TV, VCR, and stereo ready when appropriate.
4. Keep all remotes and supplies in their proper storage areas.
5. Assist others in using computers.
6. Monitor SMART board area and insure no one is playing there.
7. Insure no loose cords are in dangerous positions.

Messengers
1. Collect papers from ends of rows.
2. Take Attendance folder to office in morning.
3. Listen always for Mr. Gibbs when he calls for a messenger.
4. Always write down anything other teachers tell you for Mr. Gibbs.
5. Hand out papers at end of day that need to go home from stack.

Pet/Gardeners
1. Water plants when needed.
2. Prune and clean out pots as needed.
3. Rotate plant locations for sunlight each week.
4. Feed pets when needed.
5. Clean out cage or tanks on Fridays.
6. Report any problems or supply needs to Mr. Gibbs.

Organizers
1. Keep paper box, paper drawers, and supply cabinets orderly.
2. Check bookshelf once a week to insure books are in the correct category.

Cleanup
1. Check trash cans to see if they need dumping outside.
2. Monitor sink area.
3. Check student desks once a week and notify students if they need attention.
4. Check floors at the end of the day and remind classmates of pick up rules.
5. Supervise clean up after projects in coordination with Organizers.
6. Help Art Teacher in cleaning up.
7. Dust shelves, computers, TV, and counters weekly.

Personal Procedures for Achievement

Homework Procedure
1. Write homework assignment correctly in Daily Planner.
2. Put your homework in the correct place so you do not forget it at home!
3. Call "STUDY BUDDY" if you have any questions.
4. Come to school with your homework finished.
5. Read board to learn which assignments should be turned in and which stay at your desk.
6. Turn in homework into CORRECT Box!
7. Maximum 3 people should be at box area at anytime.
8. Unfinished homework will be completed during the day it was due (on your time), then turned into LATE Box.
9. Absent homework needs to be turned into the ABSENT box.

Completed Work, Turn-in Procedures
1. Put work in the correct box.
2. Place your work inside, and make sure that it is facing the same way as the others.
3. Organizers must order papers by student ID number.
4. Start Finish Work Assignments on board.

How to Correct Assignments
1. Have assignment finished.
2. Make sure it is ALL legible.
3. Make sure the correct heading is on the top of your paper.
4. Switch papers with your neighbor.
5. Listen for Mr. Gibbs.
6. Get your correcting implement.
7. Put an "X" next to something that is INCORRECT.
8. Leave correct items without markings.
9. Know what kind on grade to place at the TOP of the assignment. Either a number correct over the total number completed or a percentage. Mr. Gibbs will tell you.
10. Make sure that all your questions and concerns have been answered after grading has taken place and before the assignment is turned in to the teacher.

How To Fill Out Student Planner
1. Copy everything WORD for WORD from the board.
2. Ask Mr. Gibbs if you are unsure what something means.
3. Check on status of long-range projects everyday.
4. Never leave to go home without it completed.
5. Never come to school without it.
6. Have parents sign off each evening showing they have seen it.

Missing a School Day Procedure
1. Note that you have as many days as you were absent to make up assignments.
2. You are responsible for your work -- not the teacher, not your friends, not your parents.
3. When you return, look in your file under your number for assignments.
4. Ask Study Buddy to help you understand work you do not understand.
5. Reschedule with the teacher any tests or quizzes you may have missed within 2 days of returning.
6. Ask the teacher for clarification of assignments during a break time if you still do not understand.
7. Be responsible and take control.
8. If you do not ask for clarification, it will be assumed you understand.
9. Work not turned in will result in a zero.
10. All late work is turned into the LATE Folder in the Folder section of the classroom. Late work turned into some other place may be lost or not graded.

Steal From the Best

We will continue with more of Nathan Gibbs' procedures in next month's column.

In an earlier column, we quoted Susie Drazen of Minnesota who said, “My professors in graduate school suggested that we become eclectic teachers –watching all, and only stealing from the best.”

The unsuccessful teachers will whine about Nathan Gibb’s plan, not recognizing that it’s his plan.

The effective teachers will take parts of Nathan Gibb’s plan as well as parts of other plans we have shared the past three years and create a plan for themselves.  And for those of you who do, please share your classroom management plan with us.

We grow as a profession when we share with each other.

By creating a set of procedures that is detailed yet simple to perform, children feel immediately successful the First Days of School.  Teachers understand that the more successful the students are the more successful they are themselves.

For a printable version of this article click here.