One thing they don’t teach you about being a teacher is how to teach procedures. In this blog post, we’ll explore the common mistakes made when teaching 2nd grade classroom procedures and provide valuable insights to help you avoid them.
Before we dive into the mistakes, let’s start with a little backstory. During my Master of Arts in Teaching program, I had an amazing mentor teacher. However, I missed the opportunity to observe her teaching procedures. As a result, I found myself guessing how to get my students to behave correctly.
Mistake 1: Not Modeling
One of the biggest mistakes I made was not modeling the 2nd grade classroom procedures. Instead of showing my students what it should look like and sound like, I would simply tell them what to do and expect perfection. I failed to apply the principles of modeling and practice that I had learned in my education classes. It’s essential to always model the procedures for your 2nd grade students.
Mistake 2: Not Providing a Visual
Another mistake I made was not providing a visual reminder for my students. After telling them once, I expected them to remember it. However, at the 2nd grade level, it takes practice and visual cues to reinforce the procedures. For example, displaying the ABC song in the bathroom or a sign for raising hands never crossed my mind. Visual reminders are crucial for helping students remember and follow the procedures.
Mistake 3: Not Reviewing
I would tell my students the procedures once and never review them. I felt like I was repeating myself a thousand times, but I failed to realize the importance of consistent review. As a result, my classroom management suffered, and I relied on incentives to motivate my students. It took time and growth to understand the significance of regular review in establishing successful procedures.
Conclusion
These were the top 3 mistakes I made when teaching 2nd grade classroom procedures. By learning from these mistakes, you can confidently avoid them in your own classroom. Stay tuned for our upcoming blog post where we’ll discuss the right way to teach 2nd grade classroom procedures. Don’t forget to like and subscribe to stay connected with more helpful teaching tips. See you soon, teacher bestie!