Toolkit for "The First 100 Days"

Essential Questions

1. What are our classroom values?
2. In the remaining days of the school year, how can our class make our school and community a better place?

Procedure

In “The First 100 Days,” Ms. Allen and her students create a 100-day plan for their classroom. Inspired by this plan? Follow the steps below to create one with your own students.

1. Read “The First 100 Days” with your students.

2. Go over the four questions for readers.

Right There (In the Text)

Why is the narrator disappointed about the results of the election?

Think and Search (In the Text)

What was the purpose of the First 100 Days exercise?
 

Author and Me (In My Head)

What did Ms. Allen do to help her classroom? Describe a time a teacher helped you resolve a conflict.
 

On My Own (In My Head)

Describe a time you were upset when something didn’t go your way. How did you handle it?

3. Tell students that your class will come up with its very own plan for the remaining days left in the school year. Handout “Our ‘100 Days’ Plan” to each student and go over the first section, explaining the difference between a value and a priority. Fill out this section together.

4. For each of the remaining section—Our Classroom Values, Our Classroom Practices, Our Helping Priorities—go over each section one at a time, inviting students to suggest ideas and brainstorm together. Complete these sections.

5. Once your class has filled out the handout, find a way to display your new plan (for example, by creating a poster or school announcement).