Starting the School Year Right
We have all probably heard the expression “It’s a marathon not a sprint” connected to some aspect of life. As a teacher I believe it is important to remember this saying when the school year begins. As teachers and students begin the new year there is plenty of energy and anticipation for “things” to begin. How effectively this energy is used and maintained throughout the year will be very much determined by the first few weeks of school.
So how do I set the initial pace for my courses? When students are provided with an organized agenda to their academics it is much easier for them to develop a pace that will work for them in the long term. At the beginning of each week, I digitally present to the class the topics, homework assignments, and assessments that will be covered. This digital calendar of events also gives them all the due dates of this work. This makes clear to all students what is expected of them at certain times within the course. This will enable some students to complete assignments earlier than the due date, which will allow more flexibility based on their individual schedule and needs.
Early in the school year, I also make clear the “big picture” goals for the class. Some possible goals could include improving student critical writing, or teaching proper collection of data, or showing students how to become active and effective in group work settings. Establishing and conveying these goals to the class, early in the school year, gives all the students the big picture. It points the students to the finish line at the beginning of the race. It allows students to work on daily topics but reminds them to always keep one eye on the desired outcomes of the course.
Finally I believe to successfully reach course goals, students must be constantly aware of their current progress in the course. Giving feedback quickly from quizzes, tests, labs, papers, and other class work is very valuable to the student. Improvement going forward in the course is very much connected to student always having present moment understanding of how they are doing.
Most high school, middle school, and elementary school calendars contain over 180 day of scheduled classes. The goal for all teachers, students, and parents is that these days of instruction provide a meaningful, productive, enjoyable experience for all the students involved. I believe that setting the tone early in the course, establishing clear goals early, and showing students their progress regularly, all contribute to a successful academic school year.
