Blast from the Past: Setting Up Your GLAD® Classroom

In a recent coaching session, the teacher I was working with (who has tried an amazing amount of strategies this year) mentioned that she was already anticipating the fall and asked what she could prepare this summer to get her GLAD® classroom started right. 

So, here's a blast from the past! This blog was originally published in August of 2023 and describes three things you can do to be ready to roll out your classroom routines on day 1. This one's for you Mia!

The beginning of the school year brings with it the feelings of anticipation, excitement, and nervousness for students and teachers alike. Dusting off our classroom libraries, moving furniture, and preparing bulletin board space for our students’ first projects are physical tasks we do to set up our classrooms. But we also think through the classroom structures and routines we’ll use. 

Were the management structures you used last year effective? Are revisions needed? 

Here are 3 quick easy steps using tried and true strategies to set up your GLAD® classroom. 

    Create your heterogeneous seating chart

Place student desks in teams of 3 or 4. Use any data from last year you have available to create your best guess of heterogeneity. Mix up students of different reading levels, problem solving abilities, language proficiency levels, behavior, gender, etc. You’ll be able to update your seating chart the second time around as your beginning of the year assessments are complete and you get to know your students better. 

          Gather Numbered Heads Tool

You’ll need a way to randomly call on students. Gather 4 popsicle sticks, spoons, a spinner, die, or whatever tool you prefer to use to call on students. Students are numbered 1-4 in each team. When you pose a question, all students put heads together with their team to discuss. To pick a reporter, pull one of 4 numbered sticks out of a cup. The team color is in the teacher’s control, the student reporter is random. For example, “Green team…number 2. Please report your team’s answer.” 

      Choose Your First Social Skill

Start by creating your blank t-graph for social skills chart and a team points chart on brightly colored butcher paper, like yellow. Next, pick which social skill your class will practice during the first month of school. Remember the t-graph is a chart that highlights team skills, rather than individual behavior. Social skills such as teamwork, collaboration, or cooperation are great starters. Change your social skills chart every time you change the seating chart. Think of skills that would be good to work on later in the year, such as integrity, perseverance, synergy, honesty, participation, engagement. 

Thanks for reading!

Jody and Sara

To find out more about how to take your Next Steps with Project GLAD® visit us at https://www.nextstepsprojectglad.com