Prepare for Your First Classroom
Colleagues
Introduce yourself to colleagues, and build relationships with experienced educators on your campus who are willing to
discuss strategies and challenges.
The help of a mentor can ease your transition from education major to educator. Think
of your mentor as a coach who will guide you through your first months on the job. Find out if your campus or school
district offers a new-teacher mentoring program or join ATPE for mentorship opportunities.
Campus Performance Objectives
Ask if your campus has a curriculum guide to aid you in delivering instruction to meet its performance
objectives. Review all teaching plans and textbooks available that are applicable to your assignment,
then meet with the grade-level or subject-area coordinators to chart a sequence of lesson plans for the
year that reinforces campus performance goals for students.
Campus Policies
Policy information is usually provided during district or campus orientations. Familiarize yourself with
policies pertaining to arrival and dismissal times, student attendance and discipline, illness, injury
and medication and the instructions for fire and other emergency drills.
Prepare a Parent/Guardian Letter
Write introduction letters to your students’ parents. Include the school phone number, your extension,
e-mail address and parent-teacher conference hours. Inform parents of the school’s lunch procedures,
dress codes, playground rules, and disciplinary and attendance policies.
Establish Procedures
Determine how you will handle the beginning and end of each class period; distribution and collection of
instructional materials and supplies; cleanup of work areas; safety routines; and homework assignments.
Expect these routines to take a little longer at the beginning of the year when both you and your
students are adjusting.
Classroom Environment
Careful planning and personal touches will make your classroom a home away from home for your students.
If you make the classroom a place in which your students feel at ease, you will have a better
opportunity to produce willing, active learners. Try the following tips:
- Determine a seating arrangement and make sure it is appropriate for the
instruction or activities you have planned. Desks should be arranged so that all students can comfortably see
blackboards and overhead screens.
- Create learning centers (fun activity areas and comfy reading spots).
- Select a low-traffic area in which to store materials and student belongings.
- Don’t underestimate the value of a creative bulletin board. Bulletin boards
provide visual stimulation and information and add an element of artistic flair to your classroom walls. Try
planning thematic bulletin boards. Seasonal, cultural or historical themes may be appropriate for weeks at a time.
Are you ready for your classroom? Review this handy checklist.
Classroom
preparation
 Seating chart
Audiovisual equipment
Bulletin boards
Instructional
materials
Curriculum guides
Lesson plans and grade book
Student textbooks and teacher
editions
Management
preparations
Name, desk and bus tags
Attendance forms
Locker assignments
Campus/district discipline policy
Student background information
Planning for instruction
A list of first-day activities
Class rules and procedures
Textbooks and materials
Supplies
Lunch count and meal tickets
Cafeteria and special area
procedures
Fire drill procedures
Arrival and dismissal procedures
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