At the beginning of every school year, we all want to ensure we start the year off on the right foot! The first week dictates the tone and the success of the classroom for the entire year. Students learn what your expectations are, and they feel empowered to create the learning environment with you that helps them thrive. Here are some tips for starting the year in the best way!

Have a Plan!

We are always told to plan for success and accountability, but that is never more crucial than the first week! Plan what you know will set the students up for a year of excitement, rigor, and expectations. As the great Lynne Jackson says, you allow every behavior that happens in your classroom. Be sure to only allow what you want to see for the entire school year so the tone for your environment is set from day one.

Starting the Class

Plan out who will be teaching the first week of classes. On my campus, it’s a team of 2 directors. One of us leads all the classes and the other helps with all the odds and ends - students coming late from another class trying to figure out their schedule, trying out late additions to the program, taking attendance, etc. The lead teacher is using the procedures we have set up together to have the same classroom expectations for the year.

• A teacher greets the students at the door while it’s propped open. On practice records turn in days, this teacher is helping the students remember to turn them into the basket.
• The greeting teacher is reminding students to get set up quickly.
• Students know that when the bell rings, they should no longer be having conversations. At this point, the lead teacher can start giving reminders for the beginning of class. The lead teacher also starts our timer that is counting down when they should be all set. For beginners, it is 2 minutes. For performing bands, it is 1 minute and 30 seconds. Many students in performing bands are ready before then if they enter the classroom quickly enough.
• As the year progresses and we have taught this, students know to have their tuner/metronome out in the Tuner Caddy along with a pencil so the lead teacher can check this at the beginning of the period during the timer countdown and give verbal reminders if they forgot to set it out.
• At the end of the timer, the expectation is to be in your chair with your supplies out and be ready for instruction. Reeded players may still be soaking reeds, but they are listening and ready.
• All cases are at their lockers, except smaller woodwinds and bassoons. This creates a clutter free environment conducive to foot tapping and room. Cases at their chairs are under the chair and neat. Backpacks go by their lockers flush to the wall or the locker banks. No bags at their chairs so it’s easier for directors to walk around through rows in the set up.

Classroom Management

For the first week, the same director leads the class the whole time so students get that consistency and know the expectations for behavior. Our classroom rules are:

• Use the Golden Rule - Treat others how you want to be treated.
• No food/gum in the band hall at any time.
• Be on time, prepared, and ready to learn.
• Don’t be afraid to make mistakes! That is the only way you will grow and learn.

Having clear guidelines so students know the rules is so critical. Do not make your classroom rules lengthy and don’t have too many. It’s easier to be short and sweet. Our school also has each class make a Treatment Agreement, so that is discussed and posted in the room as well. Be sure to have a plan for what to do if students are not compliant. We rarely have to use this plan, but it’s set up in our handbook or by the school (i.e. tardy policy). Sticking to these easy and clear rules all year is what creates the best and most efficient classrooms!

Band Hall Tour

Many schools require a specific curriculum for the first few days of school to get the year started off with the same rules for the campus. After you have these completed, be sure to know what you want to teach next after how to enter and function in the classroom. Our program does a Band Hall Tour every year so that students know where everything is located and what the names of items are as well. We even review this with the older students! Items on the Tour:

• Practice rooms and the rules/expectations for them.
• Our main ball hall location, our secondary teaching room, our storage room, and our percussion room.
• The office and the expectations for entering/hanging out in that space. We do ask students to knock before entering even though the door is open all the time. We also teach students to never enter unless a director is present.
• Band Hall Lost and Found.
• How to treat percussion instruments that stay out (timpani, marimba, bass drum, etc).
• Locker locations and students get to find their locker for the first time. They are labeled with their name, instrument, and band. We have them color coded by class so that it’s easier to know quickly for passing back practice records (i.e. blue is for Beginner Band, green is for Concert Band)
• Pencil, tissues, hand sanitizer station.
• Where to turn in practice records.
• How to use the restroom and where to sign out and back in, as well as where to get the pass.

Checking Supplies and Instruments

After students feel comfortable with your classroom set up, the expectations and rules, and are ready to learn, you can decide which way to go. Our program does supply checks next so that we can ensure that anyone who still doesn’t have an instrument or their required supplies gets a parent email by the first weekend of school as we start on a Wednesday. This allows for us to send a personalized email to the parent with links to Amazon so they can get supplies quickly, or with information about rentals from our local music stores. We require everyone to have their supplies by the next week, which is the first full week of school, so the students can begin playing toward the end of that week. We pass out their supply list in May of the prior year and send reminders at the end of the summer as well so parents can ensure their child is ready. Be sure to label everything!

Fire it Up!

At the end of those first few days, you should be ready to deliver content in some way. Many start with theory, note names, rhythms, parts of the instrument, etc. It is your choice for the order in which you teach, but this is a formative time. Be sure to assess their prior knowledge as well so you can make quicker connections from the previous year.

When you have a clear plan and expectations for the first few days of school, students feel comfortable and positive in your classroom. Be sure to take the time at the beginning to make your classroom the students’ favorite class and the one they will be talking about when they go home. This ensures quick buy in since parents are showing ownership with their financial support. Make the first week the best week!