What is Unit Zero?
Unit Zero is the crucial phase before diving into the grade-level curriculum. It’s all about laying the groundwork for a productive learning environment where everyone feels safe and ready to teach and learn.
By teaching your expectations before starting the curriculum, you minimize the time spent explaining rules later. Unit Zero includes more than just your procedures and routines; it also covers the course syllabus and class rules.
Let’s Start with the Course Syllabus
The course syllabus introduces your students (and their families) to your classroom. It provides an overview of the grade-level content, including units, topics, skills, major projects, grading policies, how to get extra help, and your contact information.
During Unit Zero, review the syllabus with your students, and have them take it home for their families to review. You might ask for a signature to ensure receipt and understanding.
For older students: Allow some independent time to read and annotate the syllabus with questions or comments. Then, review it together, pausing for questions and allowing students to share their thoughts. Avoid assuming students aren’t interested in reading out loud; the first days of school are essential for getting to know your students, building relationships and setting high expectations.
For younger students: Focus on the engaging aspects of the syllabus, such as your excitement for the year, major topics, and any visuals. Engage students by asking which units they’re excited about and encouraging them to talk about what they already know or want to learn.
This is also a great opportunity to gather data on your students’ personalities, group dynamics, and energy levels. Use this information to tailor your lesson plans to meet your students, social, emotional and academic needs.
Routines, Procedures, and Expectations
After the syllabus, it’s time to review your routines, procedures, and expectations.
Here the exact list that I cover (get the download):
Entering the classroom
Getting ready for math
Student agendas
First 10 minutes
Individual work
Partner work
Group work
Whole class instruction
Questions, comments, and concerns
Transitions
Leaving the class
Last 10 minutes
End of class
Filing out
Homework assignments
Reflections and other written assignments
Asking for help
Late assignments
Make-up work
Re-taking quizzes
After-school
When reviewing the routines, procedures, and expectations for your classroom, be thorough - but engaging. Use discussion strategies like “turn and talk” or “think-pair-share” to make the review interactive. For younger students, rehearse routines multiple times with enthusiastic reinforcement. Older students also benefit from practice and opportunities for re-dos, but be mindful not to overdo it. Keep energy levels high and adjust activities as needed.
Bringing your personality into the review, remember you are using this time to get to know your students, but also to allow your students to get to know you. Use a little humor.
Class Rules
Establish your non-negotiable class rules by or before Day 2. After years of teaching, I found that having just three rules works best.
Here are my three non-negotiable rules:
Everyone must always be able to learn.
I must always be able to teach.
Everyone must feel physically and emotionally safe.
Fewer rules are better—ideally 2-3, with a maximum of 5. Your rules will be more effective if students understand and internalize them. Create a mini project where students define what each rule looks like, sounds like, and feels like. This engagement helps with internalization and accountability throughout the school year.
FAQs
How long should each component of Unit Zero take?
Try to complete all three Unit Zero components within 5 days. On the east coast where I am, school starts after labor day. I typically use the first days back to review unit Zero and slow start with the curriculum the first full week of school.
Course Syllabus: (10-minutes or less) Review key parts of the syllabus and answer any questions. Consider having families review and sign the syllabus. ProTip: offer a small treat for those who bring the syllabus signatures back the next day or by the end of the first week. *Prizes: mini fruit snacks, lollipops, hard candies, mini bags of pretzels, stickers, stamp etc.
Routines, Procedures and Expectations: (30 minutes on the first day) Review the entire document. The next day use a similar version of the document for a (15-20 min) review of the expectations.
Students work with partners, filling in the blank and correcting sentences. Then we review the answers together. ProTip: encourage students to hold on to this document for the entire school year. On the last day of school I handout snack bags to students who still have their document at the end of the year (snack bags have: juice box, mini water, bag of chips, and cookies)
Class Rules: (30 minutes) Students work together or independently for 10-15 min to come up with how the three classroom rules look, sound and feel to them. We then spend about 20 minutes discussing what each rule means. This allows us to get to know each other while also developing and agreeing to a common understanding of the rules.
How do I segway into the curriculum?
On the last day of your Unit Zero, let students know what is coming up next. For example ‘thank you all so much for engaging in a review of how our class will function so that we maximize learning. The next time we meet we will be getting into the curriculum…’ Provide a reminder of what students can expect when they arrive. Example ‘there will be a handout at the door, please take one, find your seat and get right to work. The first 5 minutes of class is silent. I will be circulating around to take attendance and make sure the aisles are clear.’
What is the best seating arrangement for unit zero?
I personally like rows for the first few weeks of school. However, students do move in and out of partner work and small groups during this time; which we review as part of the Routines, Procedures and Expectations work.
What if I run out of time?
Pacing is EVERYTHING! If you are a new classroom teacher or a veteran teacher who struggles with pacing - keep working on it. As part of your lesson planning, include times next to each part of the lesson. Use your phone to set multiple timers. You can also enlist your students to help you stay on pace. The key thing to remember is keeping up the energy and engagement by providing the just right amount of time for each activity. Visual timers built into your digital presentations are also very, very helpful.
What if students lose focus during the review?
Pause. And wait. For 100% attention. This is sooo important. The first days of school are TONE setting days. Do not talk over students. Maintain a neutral expression and thank students who are meeting your expectations. And wait. For 100%. Attention.
What if after the review students are not meeting the expectations?
The time you invest upfront, ensuring everyone is clear on the expectations, will pay dividends as you get into the curriculum. Periodically, you will need to revisit the Routines, Procedures and Expectations - in parts or the whole document. I call this tuning up. The great thing is you will be referring to an already established set of expectations, common language and agreed upon rules. Be transparent with students, let them know what isn’t going well (and the impact on learning), then carve out time to review and practice the areas that need to be improved.
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