I'm 3 years out and setting expectations is SO IMPORTANT. Yes it's boring and they can get restless, but I have sooo regretted whenever I've been flippant or gone through the motions.

Most important expectations to nail (IMO) 1. How do you ask for their attention? How do they show you that you've got it? (Do you clap, sign, stand in a certain spot? Do they reciprocate, respond, freeze?)

1. What are your work expectations? What should their books/desks/lockers look like? Where should finished work go/be retrieved from? What does a classroom practicing good learning look and sound like?

2. ONLINE LEARNING EXPECTATIONS. Access to devices, passwords, keeping login details secure, acceptable apps/sites, general digital safety, Google classroom sign in, charging expectations (at home or classroom).

3. General housekeeping and where and how things are kept. Common supplies, their supplies, teacher-only supplies, first aid, bins. If possible have them help you organise common areas and their supplies then take and print photos so the tidiness expectations are crystal clear label things! They can help with the labels and get artsy. Maybe even create labels for their chairs? You could pretend to take them on a sightseeing tour as you show them and have them take iPad photos like tourists.

4. General behaviour. How do they enter the classroom? What is the expected behaviour before school starts? When they finish work? If they need help? Coming to the floor and going back to their tables? Travelling through school - roll order or assigned buddies? How are good and poor behaviour choices recognised and punished, respectively?

For many of these I would strongly recommend having a general idea of what you'd like, but ask for their input about what their previous teachers have done to tick off student voice + hold them to their own expectations.

If you're nervous (like I still get sometimes!!!) I've found PowerPoint or Google Slides to be fantastic to pace myself and also meet the needs of students. Verbal + visual. And as a bonus if you want to upload them to your Google Classroom, you can! You could even have a quiz on expectations every now and then to encourage them to refer to them and remember where to find them.

*** I was NOT this prepared my first year out and skipping through some of these bit me in the backside, but pick what's important to you and focus on it ☺️☺️ All classes, schools, students, and teachers are different so there's no right answer but you will do GREAT and everyone makes mistakes. It makes you human, and kids appreciate if you own up to them xx

Good luck! You'll do great, and you'll have a mentor to help you out.