I have just been hired on a waiver to teach special ed. student for grades 6 through 8. I am already feeling rather overwhelmed and school hasn’t even started. As someone with no formal teaching experience, I just don’t know where to begin. I have read so much information and I just feel like my mind is on overload. My question is how to handle the first days of school. Yes, I will have students my first day (in asking other teachers they have told me, oh you probably won’t have students, and offered no real advice.) I am not interested in how to decorate my room, I am interested in how to handle my room to make it a positive learning environment for my students. Any recommendations on class rules and classroom management techniques would greatly be appreciated. Also, how do you go over class rules with your students? I’m assuming that you do more than just read over them and move on. I am teaching Language Arts, Reading, Math and Independent Living Skills. Obviously, I will have some of the same students in each of my classes. So some students will have to hear the same speech more than once about rules and such and I am planning to have students fill out information sheets, do you have any recommendations as to what I can have these students doing as the “new” students are filling out their info sheets and hearing about the rules.
Also I have been reading over the files of my students and I have a student that has a history of severe behavioral problems that leads to constant classroom disruptions. Any recommendations on how you would this student would be much appreciated.
I appreciate any advice that anyone could provide. I hope my questions don’t seem to silly. I am very excited about my position and I just want to be as prepared as possible for my sake and the sake of my students.
Thanks!
Michelle
Re: Please help a new SPED Teacher
Well, hopefully you have a separate class period for each of those subjects. Day one sets the expectations for your students and a positive environment is one that is productive and meaningful. Organization and structure from the moment they enter the room.
Have no more than five rules on a poster, but then kids can have a kind of outline that they fill in as you talk about each rule. For example 1) be prepared to work each day (on the poster). (on their notes - have a notebook with paper and pencil, pen (demonstrate), sharpen pencils before class or during work time-not while I am teaching. 2) be in your seat when the bell rings (not running in the door, not standing around your friend’s desk)
Have meaningful work for them to do the first day. Perhaps a paragraph introducing themselves to you or a questionaire including What would you like me to know about you? A short reading passage, proofreading passage, student information sheet - all give you valuable information. (Do they know their address, city, state, ) What do you hope to learn in math class this year? What are your goal for this year?
Be nice enough, understanding enough to put them at ease, but be business like. You expect them to work hard this year, they have so much to accomplish.
Give them homework, something short, but pertinent.
Very important, find out what they are reading, writing, studying in regualr education classes so you can give them the same thing with modifications. If their peers are reading a particular book, be sure you cover it somehow, too. So they have a common experience.
Have a clear discipline plan - first offence, a reminder, second offence, copy this short paragraph about my rule, third offence- copy this paragraph about my rule and have it signed by your parents, fourth offence - I call home. Does your school have a schoolwide discipline plan that all teachers follow? A teacher monitored detention program?
I know this is not the most organized information you have gotten, but hopefully it gets you thinking about how you want to manage your classroom. I’m happy to give more suggestions.
Re: Please help a new SPED Teacher
1.) Going over rules - Don’t worry about the students who have already heard the rules from the previous class. It is not going to “hurt” them to listen to them again. But, if you if want a “buffer” just tell them to you know they have already heard the rules, but their patience is appreciated.
2.) Behavior Management - There are so many things to do. You could work on individual behavior and/or whole group behavior. Students seem to respond well to something “concrete”. Example: Have a chart board with their names Or initials. One column can be labeled “on task”. That is where everyone starts. Second column can be labeled “Warning” which is a warning. Third column can be labeled “C-1” which is consequence 1. Fourth column can be labeled “C-2” which is consequence 2. And, so on. Everytime a student is breaking a rule, his/her name gets moved to the next column.Have specific guidelines that goes with your idea of “on task”. And, then you could do some sort of reward at the end of the week Or however long you decide for those students who were able to stay on task or not get past warning for 4 out of 5 days. Or 5 out of 5 days. Whatever you think is reasonable. Their rewards could range from computer time to a piece of candy to library time, etc.
3.) concerning the student you have read about with behavior problems - First give him the benefit of the doubt. Let him start with a clean slate. Different environments create different behaviors. However, if problems do arise, talk with your EBD / BD teacher. He/she will have many suggestions of how to help the student.
4.) HANG IN THERE! First year can be difficult. But, it does get better! Just rely on your co-workers or other outlets to help you through. GOOD LUCK
Re: Please help a new SPED Teacher
The following “How to Discipline” book is short and to the point. I have found it very helpful. Go to http://www.OnlineReadingTeacher.com/discipline.html . For worksheets within the ability of special ed students (with large print and one message on a page) go to http://www.OnlineReadingTeacher.com/word_skills.html and http://www.OnlineReadingTeacher.com/linguistic_exercises.html .
1st day ideas
I always give my homeroom kids an inventory of personal information and favorites to fill in. It gives me an idea who they are. I fill one out too. Then in November, I read them aloud and the kids have to guess who it is.
I got these ideas from a website maybe even this one, but I copied what I liked and threw out the printout. I teach the same grade level, and I wrote these down for myself: Tell the students what you expect of them in terms of behavior, materials, etc. and then ask them what they expect of you. Have the kids design an advertisement for themselves with a picture, a slogan, and bullet points on their likes and strengths.
Keep whatever rules you establish simple. I’ve tried many variations, but I’ve been using only these the last three years: Respect each other (person and property), Respect the School (rules and building), respect the staff (person and property).
For your “behavior problem” student, I agree, that he should start with a clean slate. You need to read up on behavior management techniques, but I suggest you speak to the teachers who have had this student in the past to learn what works (don’t get sucked into a complaint session on how bad he is). If you start having problems, call him in for a conference. Start off with an observation, “I noticed that you were calling out in Math class.” and ask him how you can help him learn more or control his behavior. Come up with a contract including an unobtrusive warning sign you can give him if he’s losing it so he has a chance to regain control. Set up reasonable consequences for noncompliance and rewards for compliance. Make sure that the reward or consequence are given shortly after the behavior, because many of our kids can’t wait. If the student doesn’t comply, be very neutral and matter of fact about the consequences.
My last bit of advice is be structured and consistent.
Good luck!!!
Michelle,
Read, read, read! Read as much as you can - there are some great books out there for educators. I am just finishing “Learning by Heart” by Roland Barth. I think if you read anything by him it will get you off on the right foot.
Many schools talk about their vision for creating life-long learners and a community of learners. One way that you can create that type of environment right at the beginning is to share with your students your own excitement about learning, what you learned over the summer, what you learned that day, etc, etc. Then students will be more willing to talk about what they learned, what they hope to learn that year, how they learn best (especially if you talk about how you learn best). You have much to learn from your students - take advantage of it! And have fun.