Pondering the Impact of the First Day of School

Reading reading and more reading, my sociology professor once told me that I should read everything that I can get my hands on, while I still have the time! She was right! 

As a pre service teacher we read, reflect, and write. For the next 15 weeks I will have the opportunity to read hundred of pages of insight, knowledge and skill that will begin to prepare me for my student teaching expereicences and my future career as an agricultural educator. In addition, I will have the opportunity to reflect and blog about my thoughts on the material  via weekly writings, how exciting!

http://www.boerner.net/jboerner/?p=1407

Now I shall begin...

This week we looked at factors influencing decisions about teaching, principles of teaching and learning, and the first day of school.

The article about the first day of school was quite intriguing to me. The main premise was that teachers are rarely prepared for the first day of school and its impact on the rest of your days, weeks and the year.

The author then went on to explain how many teachers go into the classroom wanting to be pals instead of a paragon, something that I believe I will struggle with as well. I recently engaged in a service based learning project with high school seniors and I found it difficult to determine the line between educator and friend. I realize the importance of establishing these boundaries and can understand how setting the tone for the first day of school can help eliminate problems in the future. 

What I wonder is how should procedures and expectations be explained to students? The first day seems like a great challenge, not only should we provide expectations and procedures, but we need to engage the students to be excited for our class, and we should teach something related to the content area. I just do not see how to get it all done in an effective manner. 

I guess the answer to these questions is the difference between the 4 categories of teachers that Wong talks about, fantasy, survival, mastery, and impact. One day I hope to achieve the impact category, I think that all the teachers that have stuck in my mind as being great, are remembered because they were impactful. Currently I know that I am between the fantasy and the survival stage. I believe that I have some reality of what a great classroom should be and I understand the importance of engagement and student achievement, I just am unsure how to effectively carry all of this out. 

As I continue my endeavors through this methods class I am sure that my many thoughts will be answered through interactive mock labs, failure, and the resilience  to try again. 

Upon reflecting on this article further I googled the first day of school and found a website that talked about the first day of school survival kit, I thought this could be modified to be a fun interactive way to talk about the expectations of your classroom... check it out 

http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin278.shtml