Opening Procedures

North Star Academy works. Not only that, but I think  I can help make it work this year.

We started our professional development last week with workshops on the school opening procedures. Uncommon Schools believes that a strong opening to every lesson will ensure that students are motivated, enthusiastic, and ready to learn, without wasting a single second. Urgency. It’s all about urgency.

Every lesson starts the same way, so the students know what to expect.

First, students line up (silently) outside the classroom. The teacher greets them, and then gets eye contact and a handshake from each student before they can enter the classroom and sit down to begin their Do Now. If they don’t do it right, or don’t stand up straight, or don’t make eye contact, they have to go to the end of the line and do it again.

After the Greeting, the students go right to their seats and begin the Do Now, which is already on their desks (or whiteboard) ready to go. They work silently, while the teacher circulates to check understand and ensure compliance.

Following the Do Now, we do the ever-exciting and motivating Words of Inspiration. This involves all students standing behind their chairs, and following the teacher in a shot, motivational chant (such as: “Good, better, best/Never let it rest/Until our good is better/And our better is our best!).

The last part of our opening procedures is the Oral Drill. Students (still standing) are asked review questions in rapid succession, answering in complete sentences every time. It is a good review and an opportunity to get students engaged in the material for the day.

I had a good time practicing the opening procedures. I was able to run through it, both as a teacher and several times as a student. It got me excited about this, but it was also comforting to know that every class begins with the same, familiar routine. It made me feel like I could be an important part of North Star.

First teacher took responsibility and made and action plan to remedy specific problems, before the second teacher had even finished absolving himself of responsibility