Strategy #1: Greeting Students at The Door

Greeting students at the door, at the start of every class is very important because this is where you start beginning to build relationships with your students. I plan on greeting my students every morning by having them choose what type of greeting they would like to do with me. I will be creating a poster like the one pictured here and the students can pick which one they'd like to do by pointing to it or saying it out loud. They would have various options like a hug, handshake, fist pump, etc. However, due to COVID-19, right now the only option would be a simple smile and a hello so we could remain six feet apart. I believe that greeting students at the door is very effective because it builds stronger relationships with your students and it gives them something to look forward to when they come to class. Sadly, some students don't feel love or appreciated at home and they look forward to feeling acknowledged by someone. This can be the highlight of a student's day and that is why I believe it is very important and why I think it should be implemented in every classroom.

Strategy #2: Playing Music

Playing calming music at the start of every day is also very important and effective because it sets the tone for students and it can help them begin their day on a good note. The right type of music can make the most hyperactive child less hyper and the angry child less angry. It has also been proven that in the autistic brain, the only time the whole cerebral cortex of the brain lights up is when they're listening to music. Music can also help students remember something related to the common core much faster and easier because students enjoy music and can make connections to the common core with it. I will be implementing music into my classroom by playing calming music at the start of class and by playing music that reviews certain topics for them. For example, there are songs that sing formulas for math and other subjects. I believe using music in the classroom is very effective because students will be able to make more connections between math and music. This will help them learn the material better while also remembering it for a lifetime.

Strategy #3: Start the Class with Something Positive

Starting the school day on a positive note is very important because it allows for the students to start the day off with a smile and by being grateful. I would implement this into my classroom by having my students turn to a partner sitting next to them and giving them a compliment. Another way that I could implement this into my classroom would be if I had my students turn to a partner sitting next to them and simply saying to them, "I'm glad I'm here!" Both of these are great ways of starting the day off with a positive mindset and it also allows for them to feel good about themselves and to start the day off with a smile on their faces. I believe this is very effective because if students start their day off on a positive note, then it will only set them up to have a great day full of positive thoughts, feelings, and remarks. If students are thinking and feeling positively, they will learn what they are being taught much better. This will also help the teacher manage her class much smoothly because students are less likely to have bad behavior if they are thinking positively.