5 Things You Need to Know When Taking Over a Class

With only five years of teaching experience I know that I still have a lot to learn about teaching. However, when it comes to taking over a class after the year has begun, that is a topic I feel I have earned the right to speak from experience.

Out of my five years teaching I have spent one of those as a building sub including teaching the first week of a kindergarten maternity leave. The year after that I took over a second grade class three weeks into the school year. The following year I took over a third grade class two weeks into the school year.

I found that the more I took over classes the easier it became, and by the end of that year in third grade I really felt that I had completely transformed that class. I guess the third time is the charm.

If you are preparing to take over a class, here are the five things you need to know:

1. Build Relationships
It is very important to build relationships with your students whether you start out with them on the first day or take over a class later in the year. The students will be more likely to get on board with any changes you are making if they know that you care and want what's best for them.

How to Do It: One way that I built relationships with students was by taking small groups into the classroom during lunch to eat with me. During these mini lunch bunches I would ask the students questions to get to know them better. Other great times to connect with students are at recess, breakfast, and dismissal. Simply taking time to get to know and follow up with students goes a long way.

2. Allow for Student Input
When taking over a class it is important to recognize that the students have been used to a certain way of doing things. That doesn't mean that you need to continue all of the same routines and procedures. However, not all of the routines and procedures may need to be changed. A great way to invest students in the classroom is to let them contribute suggestions as to what things need changed and what seems to be working fine.

How to Do It: I would hold a class meeting with the students to discuss what things are going well and what the students would like to see changed. During this meeting I also had students set expectations for me as well as expectations for each other. We called these expectations our non-negotiables.

3. Be Consistent
Once you and your students have decided on the expectations together it is important to be sure that you are following through. If you are not consistent it will be very easy for your classroom management system to fall apart.

How to Do It: While you collaborate with students on the classroom routines and procedures spend some time having students come up with the consequences for breaking procedures. You will find it easier to give out a consequence to a student that they agreed to, and the students will be more accepting of the consequence since they had some ownership in it.

4. Build Community
I know that it can be tempting to want to jump right in to the curriculum when taking over a class to either keep the momentum going or to get students back on track. However, investing time building a strong classroom community will save you many headaches down the road.

How to Do It: Classroom community can be built by designating a portion of your morning meeting time for students to greet one another, share about themselves, and role play how to effectively communicate. You can also incorporate team building games and challenges.

5. Set High Expectations
When taking over a class it is important to make it clear that things will be different from the previous teacher. Also give students clear expectations, like the non-negotiables I discussed earlier.
The students will rise to your level of expectations. If you expect them to do something they will. If you don't expect them to be able to do something they won't.

How to Do It: As you set those expectations and non-negotiables be sure to explain the why along with the what. Let students know why you have such high expectations for them. Last year I talked a lot with my students about their responsibility as leaders in the school as the second oldest grade. I was so pleased to watch them rise to the challenge throughout the year.

What do you feel is important to do at the beginning of the school or when taking over a class?

-Carly

I hope you have found this blog post helpful. To stay connected with Carly and Adam's teaching tips and classroom freebies be sure to follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Teachers Pay Teachers, and subscribe to our blog!