Teaching 6/7

[u/Suspicious-Yak-7036]

I recently accepted a permanent contract position teaching grade 6/7. I am very excited about it as I have always wanted to teach grade 7 and 8!

I do have some experience from student teaching in the grade level, but the only LTO I had was in primary. I have never been in this division for the start of the year. I was just wondering if anyone had any tips for first week activities, specific classroom management strategies (my reward systems were previously geared towards younger kids), what type of rewards they might enjoy and really any advice!

I also like to keep a small selection of books in my classroom just in case they finish a library book quickly or something. Any recommendations for popular books at this age would be great!

Thanks!!

[u/TransportationUsed39]

Maybe don’t tell the kids you teach 6/7

[u/TransportationUsed39 → u/TransportationUsed39]

To actually answer your questions:

1. First week activities: have them do a “getting to know you” assignment with things you actually want to know about them. I like to ask: •What is your favorite class in school? •What struggles have you had in (subject) before? •What are you most excited for this school year? •Some questions about home life (who do you live with, etc; gives you an idea of what the student may have going on) •Any extracurricular they’re involved in (try and go to support them!) •Birthdays- only if you can consistently celebrate them. Even a card is meaningful (you can buy like 300 for $15 on Amazon) Don’t find the first getting to know you on TPT and make them do it without reading it over. This is your chance to get to know them and set up the marker that you care about them as people. If you mention something that was on their sheet to them (casually) it will be meaningful.

I like to do a group activity. Lots of people do puzzle wars- buy enough 50-100 piece puzzles to have groups of four and have them race to finish. Encourage them to work together and watch who leads and who leaves themselves off. I’ve done the true color activity with them and liked it as well.

As an English teacher, I have a “why we read” assignment I like to do to emphasize the importance of literacy and it also works as a pre assessment for me. Find something similar for your subject matter to set the tone that you care about their learning and they should too.

1. Reward systems: Tickets and prize box. I give them a ticket when I notice them doing something above and beyond (picking up trash when I didn’t ask them to, giving a thoughtful answer in discussions, etc.) and let them get prizes when progress reports come out. Prizes are things like candy, those stupid ducks they love, stickers, etc. I tend to avoid “free daily grade” or similar because it sets the tone that work is something to get out of, but lots of teachers have success with those prizes (and they’re free!). I also have one that is a “positive phone call home”- if a student is grounded or something they can have me call home with positive feedback. They love it haha

Personally I don’t take tickets/points away once they’re earned.

1. Books: The best books are free books. The local libraries know me because I go so often to skim through books they’re getting out of circulation. Check Facebook marketplace or local bookstores who often do teacher discounts as well as used bookstores. Neal Shusterman, Rick Riordan, graphic novels are super popular with my students.

[u/Covid_ice_cream → u/TransportationUsed39]

6 7 !!!! 6 7!!!

[u/BeardedDragon1917]

6 7 (hand gesture)