Review by: Jamie Bessette
So as you can see from my picture I use this book a lot. I’m sure there is a newer addition because I first started using this book about 20 years ago and that is about how old my book is so it’s seen better days. My first few years of teacher were spent focusing on 2 grade levels, for the next 8 years I had 6 grade levels. I struggled with finding a classroom management system that worked for all 6 grades. The First Days of School was what I found as an answer to that question. This book is actually for any grade level and I highly recommend that all, yes all, first year teachers read this book. I’ve shared the concepts in this book with as many beginning teachers as I can and even a few who were tenured.
The First Days of School provided a step by step process of how to set up a classroom routine. Teaching students routines are very important so that the work of the classroom can get done. Another aspect of this book that I like are the expectations, not just of students but of teachers. Everyone holds responsibility and everyone can hold everyone accountable through setting up a classwide behavior plan. (To see the outline of mine go all the way to the bottom.) From this book I set up my classroom using the tips and strategies and ran an efficient and effective classroom for 8 years. Through this process you manage a classroom and set it up for learning rather than use discipline as your management style. I know some of you are thinking that I must have had easy classes and I’d kindly like to remind you I taught students with Learning Disabilities, Behavior Disorders and Autism.
When I read I put my questions, thoughts and things to remember on sticky notes, as you can see from my picture I got a lot out of this book. As I look back at my notes I remember how it helped me learn to manage my time so that I wasn’t staying at school until 7:00 every night, because remember I had 6 grades to teach reading, writing and math to each day and that takes a lot of prep and planning. I’ve used those same skills as I transitioned out of the classroom into district wide roles. In some ways I’ve even brought this process into how I run my household.
One last thing I use often from this book is using the right approach. The words you use, how you use and say them and how you hold your body while you say it can make all the difference in the outcome you get from the situation. Can you hear the difference in these two statements: “Can you throw the paper away?” and “I need you to throw the paper away.” In our society rules both are requesting the same thing right? But first give the student the option to say no while the second one doesn’t. How you use words makes a big difference.
One thing this book challenges you to do is to think about your own teaching. It does require a hard look if you are already in the classroom. It’s hard to say you need to change and it’s so much easier to blame it on the students for the way your classroom runs (or doesn’t run). So if you are willing to take a good hard look at your practices and make some changes this book will be a huge resource for you as you learn to set up a classroom. If you are new to the classroom it will help set you up for success. Even if you have to purchase a 20 year old used copy I would read this book!
Outline of how I set up my classroom plan:
Classroom expectations
Student
I Expect You To:
Teacher
You Can Expect Me To:
Everyone
It is expected that we all work together so that we are all successful.
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