It seemed like a good idea when you were planning the unit--taking a throng of teenagers to the largest museum in the city. But as the field trip approaches, your stomach whirls with apprehension. You imagine the phone call, hours after the trip has ended, from the parents of the student you left behind.
As the sixth article in the eight-article series on classroom management, this piece takes us out of the classroom and into the wide wide world of field trips. Below you will find strategies to help you coordinate a hassle-free excursion.
MAP. Visit the venue in advance. If you cannot visit, look at a map of the space. Locate the lobby, cafeteria, restrooms, and attractions. Review the map with students.
REMEMBER. Student meds. Allergy medicine. School credit card. Student rooster. Make a list of essentials--check it twice.
REVIEW. Before leaving for the trip, review expectations and consequences with students. One of these consequences can include a ride back to school if rules are not followed.
COUNT. Take a count of the students at every transitional period. Count your students after you have loaded the bus to leave the school and before taking off to head back home.
CALL. Have all supervising adults exchange cell phone numbers. Give numbers to students so that they can call in case of emergency.
STATION. Assign each teacher a group to chaperone--aim for a ten-to-one ratio. Also, station the extra adults in the lobby, the bathroom, and the cafeteria. Let students know where these adults will be so that students can find help if needed.
CHECK IN. If you will be at one venue for more than a few hours, designate a check-in time. Tell students they should come to a specific location and check in at the halfway point of the trip.
LET GO. Have students select partners and then allow them to move around the venue with their groups. Small groups may be more manageable than one adult herding around ten students.
TAIL 'EM. Have two adults follow your bus in separate cars. Having extra transportation is good for emergencies. Also, having extra vehicles will allow you to take a student back if he or she is unable to follow rules.
Plan your next field trip using the strategies in this article. Doing so will ensure a fun and worry-free excursion. Look out for other articles in this series, including the following:
As the sixth article in the eight-article series on classroom management, this piece takes us out of the classroom and into the wide wide world of field trips. Below you will find strategies to help you coordinate a hassle-free excursion.
MAP. Visit the venue in advance. If you cannot visit, look at a map of the space. Locate the lobby, cafeteria, restrooms, and attractions. Review the map with students.
REMEMBER. Student meds. Allergy medicine. School credit card. Student rooster. Make a list of essentials--check it twice.
REVIEW. Before leaving for the trip, review expectations and consequences with students. One of these consequences can include a ride back to school if rules are not followed.
COUNT. Take a count of the students at every transitional period. Count your students after you have loaded the bus to leave the school and before taking off to head back home.
CALL. Have all supervising adults exchange cell phone numbers. Give numbers to students so that they can call in case of emergency.
STATION. Assign each teacher a group to chaperone--aim for a ten-to-one ratio. Also, station the extra adults in the lobby, the bathroom, and the cafeteria. Let students know where these adults will be so that students can find help if needed.
CHECK IN. If you will be at one venue for more than a few hours, designate a check-in time. Tell students they should come to a specific location and check in at the halfway point of the trip.
LET GO. Have students select partners and then allow them to move around the venue with their groups. Small groups may be more manageable than one adult herding around ten students.
TAIL 'EM. Have two adults follow your bus in separate cars. Having extra transportation is good for emergencies. Also, having extra vehicles will allow you to take a student back if he or she is unable to follow rules.
Plan your next field trip using the strategies in this article. Doing so will ensure a fun and worry-free excursion. Look out for other articles in this series, including the following:
- Tips to Avoid A Classroom Horror Scene
- What to Do When All Your Students Hate You
- Five Things A Teacher Should Never Ever Do
- How to Deal with the "Problem" Student
- Tackling Talkers, Whisperers, and Note Passers
- Avoid Loosing Students, and Your Mind, on Field Trips
- How to Win Your Students' Trust and Their Hearts
- Stay Sane. Stay Organized.
Author's Bio
James Guilford, a graduate of Emory University and Columbia University, has worked in education for nearly a decade. Download the entire classroom management series for free at http://www.jamesguilford.com/free_resources. In addition to this e-book, you will find chapters from Guilford's young adult novel, The Pencil Test, lesson plans, and other free resources.
