{"id":3063,"date":"2020-08-09T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-08-09T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itslitteaching.com\/?p=3063"},"modified":"2023-09-30T12:13:57","modified_gmt":"2023-09-30T16:13:57","slug":"teach-your-new-english-class","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itslitteaching.com\/teach-your-new-english-class\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Preparations You Need to Teach Your New English Class"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When I was a first-year high school English teacher, I had no<\/em> idea where to even begin planning and getting ready for my first year.<\/strong> It probably took me a whole three years of teaching before I had a grasp on what essentials I needed to prep before the first day of class. With another year about to begin, I thought I’d share what I’d learned the hard way. In this blog post, I’ll share the 5 things you need to prepare to teach your new English class!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Teach a New English Class Need #1: Kick-Butt First Week Activities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You want your students to know from the first day that this class isn’t going to be boring, routine, or predictable. But you also want to begin practicing routines and establishing expectations early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think about what teaching practices are important to you and how you want your classroom culture to feel.<\/strong> Try to incorporate those ideas into your first week, if not your first day, activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If discussions will be important to your class, make sure students spend some time speaking to one another during those first few days. If your teaching style includes hands-on activities, make sure you have students manipulate something with their hands early. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I used to do a long slideshow on the first day. <\/strong>I’d introduce myself, then present class rules and expectations, and end with some kind of “About Me” questionnaire for students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s nothing inherently wrong with this, but it wasn’t authentic to me or my teaching. I would essentially lecture for an hour on the first day, but never again during our semester. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And those questionnaires? I would glance at them, but they never actually helped me to get to know my students or put personalities and faces to names. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This Email Writing Lesson and Assignment is the perfect getting-to-know-you activity!<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Edit this FREE Back-to-School Scavenger Hunt to go with your classroom and your own expectations!<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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These back-to-school stations<\/a> include editable directions. Mix-and-match stations and customize directions to make this activity perfect for your first day!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Here are some of my favorite engaging back-to-school activities. Grab these and more right here!<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Think Differently<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Are you introverted? I am. That first-day lesson always left me anxious and drained. <\/strong>So before you plan that first day, take your personality into consideration, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, I start new semesters with a classroom scavenger hunt.<\/strong> Before class, I place policies and expectations around the room. Students then label a blank classroom map and find the answers to classroom policy questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the second day, we do Back to School Stations<\/a>. <\/strong>Students still learn about me, the classroom, share information with me, set up their folders, etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But instead of students being bored listening to me drone on and on for an hour, they’re active participants. They get to move and be creative. They are forced to interact with my classroom library and touch and flip through books they’ll be able to read. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best part? I get to walk around and interact with students.<\/strong> I’m not just standing at the front of the room running through slides, but I’m able to discuss books with students and comment on their “About Me” sheets as they work on them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the end of the first couple of days, I’ve learned a few names. I know my “readers” and “non-readers.” And students know that in my class, they’ll have to move, participate, and know that I will<\/em> be asking them questions about books!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How You Start the Year Matters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Admittedly, this year will look a little different since I’m starting virtually. Instead of these stations, I’ll have students use FlipGrid to introduce themselves. I’ll also be using the first week as an opportunity to teach some email basics and have my students write me a formal email about themselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those first few days set the tone for your class, your expectations, and your relationships with students.<\/strong> Don’t forget to put the same level of effort into them that you would for any content-driven lessons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Need some ideas? Check out these 5 Engaging Back-to-School Activities.<\/a> So long as the first week feels good to you, it should feel really good for your students!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Teach a New English Class Need #2: An Independent Reading Program<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I’m sure that others will disagree with me, but I believe that an independent reading program is essential <\/em>for any English class. If we are to turn students into lifelong readers, then we need to teach the skills around independent reading.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before your new semester begins, you should know how you want to incorporate independent reading into your class. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some teachers do independent reading as a whole unit. Others weave in independent reading through their whole calendar year. (I think the latter is best, but start where you need to!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can have students read independently at home or in class. I do one a week for thirty minutes because it works well with my schedule and curriculum.<\/a> Others do ten minutes at the beginning of each class period. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re not sure where to even begin, there are plenty of resources you can read to help you get started:<\/p>\n\n\n\n