Lena+McKinley 

Getting Started Reflection:

The mood and tone of how you want your classroom to be ran begins on the first days of school. That is why they are critical to carefully plan, structure and carry out. Middle school is a tricky age period because they are caught in the middle of being a child and adult. They need structure desperately but also have to be allowed freedom and expression. I want that to be the main idea the students catch on to during the first days of school. The first chapter of this book is extraordinarily helpful in designing and picturing your ideal first days of school. I want the first days of school to be a time period where the students get to know me and each other and feel comfortable in their classroom. Sitting in a classroom with twenty some peers and an adult can be completely overwhelming for a student and I never want that to hinder their input throughout the year. I think taking time to do some of the “icebreakers” or first day activities that this chapter mentions can save you a lot of time in the long run if as far as student contribution goes. Middle school curriculum, especially in language arts, is built around real life conflict, and relativity to the world around them. If students are not comfortable, they will not get the most out of the discussions, projects, and writings. After the students and I are better acquainted, I really want to get an idea of what my students interests and prior knowledge consists of. I can see myself on the first days of school doing a short introduction letter followed by taking interest surveys. I want to follow these more personal narratives with an interesting activity like the “fib” writing activity or the silhouette activity for more crafty students. Whatever allows them to express their identity is what I want as a product.