Teachers.Net March 2003 - HARRY & ROSEMARY WONG: A First Day of School Script - EFFECTIVE TEACHING


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December 2024

Vol 21 No 12

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Harry & Rosemary Wong

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About Effective Teaching

The most important factor in improved student learning is with an effective teacher. Written ten times a year, Harry and Rosemary Wong feature effective teachers and administrators and what they do to enhance student learning. The columns provide specific strategies and activities that you can download and use. An archive of past articles can be found at the end of every column.

These strategies and activities are all based on the teachings and works of Harry and Rosemary Wong and they are happy to share with the profession the work of effective teachers. If you have an effective strategy or technique that works, please share this by sending it to hwong@harrywong.com. The Wongs will consider it for sharing in future Effective Teaching columns.

About Harry and Rosemary Wong...

Harry and Rosemary Wong are teachers. Harry is a native of San Francisco and taught middle school and high school science. Rosemary is a native of New Orleans and taught K-8, including working as the school media coordinator and student activity director.

Harry Wong has been awarded the Outstanding Secondary Teacher Award, the Science Teacher Achievement Recognition Award, the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award, and the Valley Forge Teacher's Medal. He was recently selected as one of the most admired people in the world of education by readers of Instructor magazine. Rosemary was chosen as one of California's first mentor teachers and has been awarded the Silicon Valley Distinguished Woman of the Year Award.

Harry Wong is the most sought after speaker in education today. He has been called "Mr. Practicality" for his common sense, user-friendly, no-cost approach to managing a classroom for high-level student success.

Nearly a million teachers worldwide have heard his message. Because he is fully booked for two years, he has agreed to and has invited his wife to join him in doing a monthly column for teachers.net so that more people can hear their message.

About Their Work...

Harry and Rosemary Wong are committed to bringing quality and dignity to the materials they produce. For this, they have formed their own publishing company, of which Rosemary is the CEO. They have dedicated their lives to leaving a legacy in education and making a difference in the lives of teachers and students.

Their latest contribution to helping teachers succeed is an eLearning course, Classroom Management with Harry and Rosemary Wong. The course can be taken in private at the learner's convenience. The outcome of the course is a 2 inch binder with a personalized Classroom Management Action Plan.

This Action Plan is similar to the organized and structured plan used by all successful teachers. Details for the classroom management course can be seen at www.ClassroomManagement.com.

The Wongs have written The First Days of School, the best-selling book ever in education. Over 3 million copies have been sold.

The third edition of The First Days of School includes an added bonus, an Enhanced CD featuring Harry Wong. The Enhanced CD, Never Cease to Learn, is dedicated to those teachers who know that the more they learn, the more effective they become.

The Wongs have also produced the DVD series, The Effective Teacher, winner of the Telly Award for the best educational video of the past twenty years and awarded the 1st place Gold Award in the International Film and Video Festival.

They have released a new set of CDs with Harry Wong LIVE, called How to Improve Student Achievement, recorded at one of his many presentations. He is the most sought after speaker in education and his presentations are legendary.

When the book, video series, CD, and eLearning course are used together, they form the most effective staff training tool for developing effective teachers. Staff developers and administrators who would like to know how to implement the aforementioned book, video series, and CD are encouraged to consult the book, New Teacher Induction: How to Train, Support, and Retain New Teachers. Information about these products can be found by visiting the publisher's website at www.EffectiveTeaching.com or www.HarryWong.com.

Best Sellers

The First Days of School with Enhanced CD, Never Cease to Learn
by Harry & Rosemary Wong
$23.96 from Amazon.com
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The Effective Teacher (Video Set)
Presented by Harry Wong

8 DVDs, with Facilitator's Handbook in PDF, book The First Days of School, and storage case, $695.00 from EffectiveTeaching.com (volume discounts available)
More information

Classroom Management with Harry and Rosemary Wong
eLearning course for individual use, CEUs available Preview the course and order at www.ClassroomManagement.com $124.95 (Group discounts available.)

How to Improve Student Achievement
Hear Harry Wong Live! in this 2 CD set
$31.95
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New Teacher Induction: How to Train, Support, and Retain New Teachers
by Annette L. Breaux, Harry K. Wong

$24.05 from Amazon.com
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Pathways: A Guide for Energizing & Enriching Band, Orchestra, & Choral Programs
by Joseph Alsobrook

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Results : The Key to Continuous School Improvement
by Mike Schmoker

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Improving Schools from Within : Teachers, Parents, and Principals Can Make the Difference
by Roland Sawyer Barth

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A First-Year Teacher's Guidebook, 2nd Ed.
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Schools That Learn: A Fifth Discipline Fieldbook for Educators, Parents, and Everyone Who Cares About Education
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The Courage to Teach : Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher's Life
by Parker J. Palmer

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If You Don't Feed the Teachers They Eat the Students : Guide to Success for Administrators and Teachers
by Neila A. Connors

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Effective Teaching...
by Harry and Rosemary Wong

March 2003

A First Day of School Script

Effective teachers have a plan for every day of the year and especially one for the first day of school to start everything correctly. There is nothing that will take students into orbit faster than to suspect that a teacher is not organized. Model disorganization and the students will replicate this behavior and the classroom is soon in chaos.

In our June 2000 column (teachers.net/wong/JUN00/), we featured the first day of school script of Melissa Pantoja, who was a brand new teacher about to begin the first day of her professional career. She had a very successful first year as a teacher and one of the reasons was her classroom management skill of being organized with a script for the first day of school.

It is now four years later and Melissa is so effective as a teacher that she can leave directions for her substitute teacher and indicate the procedures that govern the effective operation of her classroom. People have recognized her effectiveness: 1) she serves on the school's improvement committee, 2) she is chairperson of the fine arts festival, and 3) an administrator has recommended that she work on her administrator's degree.

Daily Class Routine
Pantoja-Art
Substitute Teacher's Copy

Here is a list of routines to help you pace each of the classes from start to finish. I have tried to include the routine my students are familiar with.

Melissa Pantoja

Wait at door for each class of students to arrive

wooden door stopper will help to hold the door open

Ask students to quietly find their assigned seats at the tables

Explain the lesson for the day

lesson may be something we've been working on, or
a lesson prepared for the Substitute {Substitute Lessons for the Day}

Call out list of supplies needed for the project

Choose a quiet student from each table to be "Table Leader" and gather the supplies needed for this class period

the "table leaders" can help pass out the papers, get supplies/materials ready and at end of class -- put away
I use a chart to record who has been table leader -- they may ask about it -- you won't need to worry about this

If the class has already started the project their papers will be on the designated shelf (North side of room)

Remind the students of the 5 numbers at the front of the room

the numbers are incentives for working quietly
if it gets too loud, or the students aren't giving you full attention -- ring the timer (on ledge of white board) and take down the 5, and then continue pulling numbers as needed for warning the class
you can record how many numbers they kept at end of class
I use these numbers to allow the class to earn a POPCORN party

Taking care of the supplies: as the class works they may need to be reminded of taking care of the supplies - especially with paints, brushes and supplies that can be used over and over again.

Clean-up -- depending on how messy it gets -- you may need to allow 5-10 min. for clean-up before they leave

let the students know that you are looking for tables who are cleaned the fastest and the best -- this usually gets them moving!
table leaders can help to pick-up supplies and make sure they are put back where they belong or on the counter (some things may need to air dry)
you'll want to have the kids clean-up as much as possible -- this will make it a lot easier on you at the end of the day
I will usually clean brushes and things that need a little extra attention

Look for tables that all students are sitting quietly

you may call these tables to line up - one table at a time (the numbers are hanging above each table)

I have students sit on floor, parallel to computer table, as they wait

this helps me not to step on or over them as I open the door and wait for their teacher

Now that you're familiar with this
Daily Routine -- Have fun!

The day has just begun!

Melissa

A Middle and High School
First Day Script

In June 2002, we featured Sasha Michaels, a middle school teacher, and her first day of school script (teachers.net/wong/JUN02/). Sasha was the teacher who the assistant principal did not think would last a week. Without any administrative support, she lasted the year.

Effective teachers are able to see a concept or an example, and then implement a strategy, technique, or activity for their own classrooms. Regrettably, ineffective teachers will whine that things don't apply to them, unless they are shown something specific to their grade level or subject area. Sasha was able to take the script of Melissa Pantoja and apply it to her classroom.

Likewise, John Schmidt, a high school teacher, was able to look at Melissa Pantoja's script, understand the concept, and create a script for his own high school classroom. Granted, he had help because his school, the Homewood-Flossmoor High School District of Flossmoor, Illinois, has a three-year new teacher induction program with expert help in training and supporting new teachers to bring out the best in them. John Schmidt became so successful that the Homewood-Flossmoor Induction program used him as one of their demonstration teachers in his second year as a teacher. What a role model!

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Email Harry Wong: harrywong@teachers.net

Gazette Articles by Harry & Rosemary Wong:

If you spot a link that appears to be out-of-date, please alert us at webmaster@teachers.net!

A Grateful Goodbye After 15 Years (Jun 2015)
Love, Marriage, and Babies, Oh My! (May 2015)
Retention Rate Is 100 Percent (Apr 2015)
Teacher Effectiveness and Human Capital (Mar 2015)
Training Teachers to Be Effective (Feb 2015)
Making Deals Is Ineffective (Dec 2014 / Jan 2015)
Retrieving and Carrying Electronic Devices (Nov 2014)
Sharing to Succeed (Oct 2014)
How a University Prepares Its Students (Sep 2014)
Effective Teaching (Aug 2014)
Your Future Is in Your Hands (June/July 2014)
The Classroom Management Book (May 2014)
When Students Succeed; Teachers Succeed (April 2014)
Teaching New Teachers How to Succeed (March 2014)
Execute and Praise (February 2014)
Shaping a Solid Foundation (Dec 2013 / Jan 2014)
The Most Misunderstood Word (November 2013)
How to Start Class Every Day (October 2013)
Prevention: The Key to Solving Discipline Problems (September 2013)
Planning, Planning, Planning (August 2013)
Are You THE One? (June / July 2013)
Practical Examples That Work (May 2013)
A Disability Is Not a Handicap (Apr 2013)
Totally Inexcusable (Mar 2013)
Be Proud of Public Education (Feb 2013)
Structure Will Motivate Students (Dec 2012 / Jan2013)
Orchestrating the Classroom (Nov 2012)
The Lasting Impact of Instructional Coaching (Oct 2012)
Learning, Laughing, and Leaving a Legacy (Sep 2012)
Twenty-two, First Year, and Legit (Aug 2012)
A Master Teacher of Teachers (June/July 2012)
Where Going to School Means Success (May 2012)
A Nationally Celebrated High School (Apr 2012)
The Highest Rated School in New York City, Part 2 (Mar 2012)
The Highest Rated School in New York City, Part 1 (Feb 2012)
The Importance of Culture (Dec 2011 / Jan 2012)
You Can Teach Classroom Management (Nov 2011)
Seamless, Transparent, and Consistent (Oct 2011)
Coaching Teachers to Be Effective Instructors (Sep 2011)
How a Principal Creates a Culture of Consistency (Aug 2011)
Graduation Begins in Your Classroom (June/July 2011)
The Inspiration of a Mother (May 2011)
How to Be an Effective Leader (Apr 2011)
Learning Objectives: The Heart of Every Lesson (Mar 2011)
Even Shakespeare Had Structure (Feb 2011)
Effectiveness Defined: It's Not a Mystery (Dec 2010 / Jan 2011)
Surviving Without a Principal (Nov 2010)
Achieving Greatness: Locke Elementary School, Part 2 (Oct 2010)
Teaching Greatness: Locke Elementary School, Part 1 (Sep 2010)
Effective from the Start (Aug 2010)
Ten Year Summary of Articles, 2000 to 2010 (June/July 2010)
The Success of a Culture of Consistency (May 2010)
Training Teachers to Be Effective (Apr 2010)
Learning to Teach, Teaching to Learn (Mar 2010)
Turning Teaching Dreams into Reality (Feb 2010)
Dreams and Wishes Can Come True (Dec 2009 / Jan 2010)
Success in a State Controlled School (Nov 2009)
Inner City Is Not An Excuse (Oct 2009)
Exceeding All Expectations (Sep 2009)
Teachers Are the Difference (Aug 2009)
Nine Year Summary of Articles, 2000 to 2009 (Jun/Jul 2009)
Teachers Are the Greatest Assets (May 2009)
The Tools for Success (Apr 2009)
Assessing for Student Learning (Mar 2009)
To Be an Effective Teacher Simply Copy and Paste (Feb 2009)
The Sounds of Students Learning and Performing (Dec 2008)
A School That Achieves Greatness (Nov 2008)
Boaz City Schools: Professional Learning Teams (Oct 2008)
It Was Something Close to a Miracle (Sep 2008)
A Computer Teacher Shows the Way (Aug 2008)
Eight Year Summary of Articles, 2000 to 2008 (Jun/Jul 2008)
An Amazing Kindergarten Teacher (May 2008)
Schools That Beat the Academic Odds (Apr 2008)
Academic Coaching Produces More Effective Teachers (Mar 2008)
Coaches Are More Effective than Mentors (Feb 2008)
Wrapping the Year with Rap! (Dec 2007/Jan 2008)
The Floating Teacher (Nov 2007)
Taking the Bite Out of Assessment—Using Scoring Guides (Oct 2007)
Ten Timely Tools for Success on the First Days of School (Sep 2007)
First Day of School Script - in Spanish, Too! (Aug 2007)
Seven Year Summary of Articles, 2000 to 2007 (Jun 2007)
Effective Teachers End the Year Successfully (May 2007)
Training Gen Y Teachers for Maximum Effectiveness (Apr 2007)
Classroom Management Applies to All Teachers (Mar 2007)
Students Want a Sense of Direction (Feb 2007)
Rubrics in Two College Classes (Dec 2006/Jan 2007)
How to Write a Rubric (Nov 2006)
Assessing Student Progress with a Rubric (Oct 2006)
A 92 Percent Homework Turn-in Rate (Sep 2006)
Effective Teachers Are Proactive (Aug 2006)
Five Year Summary of Articles (Jun 2006)
Hitting the Bulls Eye as a Beginning Teacher (May 2006)
They're Eager to Do the Assignments (Apr 2006)
The Success of Special Ed Teachers (Mar 2006)
What Teachers Have Accomplished (Feb 2006)
Fifty Years Ago, The Legacy (Dec 2005/Jan 2006)
The Emergency Teacher (Nov 2005)
Classroom Management Is Not Discipline (Oct 2005)
A Successful First Day Is No Secret (Sep 2005)
The Most Important Factor (Aug 2005)
Four Year Summary of Articles (Jul 2005)
Improving Student Achievement Is Very Simple (Part 2) (Jun 2005)
Improving Student Achievement Is Very Simple (Part 1) (May 2005)
Never Cease to Learn (Apr 2005)
His Classroom Is a Real Life Office (Mar 2005)
The Power of Procedures (Feb 2005)
The First Ten Days of School (Jan 2005)
PowerPoint Procedures (Nov/Dec 2004)
The Saints of Education (Oct 2004)
How Procedures Saved a Teacher's Life (Sep 2004)
How to Help Students with Their Assignments (Aug 2004)
Three Year Summary of Articles (Jun/Jul 2004)
His Students are All Certified (May 2004)
What to Do When They Complain (Apr 2004)
A Well-Oiled Learning Machine (Mar 2004)
The Effective Teacher Adapts (Feb 2004)
How to Start a Lesson Plan (Aug 2003)
Applying for a Teaching Job in a Tight Market - Part 2 (Jun/Jul 2003)
Applying for a Teaching Job in a Tight Market (May 2003)
The Effective Substitute Teacher (Apr 2003)
A First Day of School Script (Mar 2003)
How to Retain New Teachers (Feb 2003)
No Problem With Hurricane Lili (Dec 2002)
A Class Size of 500 (Nov 2002)
Effective Practices Apply to All Teachers (Oct 2002)
Dispensing Materials in Fifteen Seconds (Sept 2002)
How To Start School Successfully (Aug 2002)
Teaching Procedures Is Teaching Expectations (June - July 2002)
$50,000 to Replace Each Teacher (May 2002)
Even Superintendents Do It (Apr 2002)
Impossible, No Job Openings? (Mar 2002)
A Stress Free Teacher (Feb 2002)
A Most Effective School (Jan 2002)
Van Gogh in Nine Hours (Dec 2001)
The Effective Teacher Thinks (Nov 2001)
How a Good University Can Help You (Sep 2001)
How to Motivate Your Students (May 2001)
How to Recognize Where You Want to Be (Apr 2001)
What Successful New Teachers Are Taught (Mar 2001)
A Journey of the Heart (Feb 2001)
The Miracle of Teachers (Jan 2001)
It's Not the Students. It's the Teacher. (Dec 2000)
The First Five Minutes Are Critical (Nov 2000)
How to Start a Class Effectively (Oct 2000)
The Problem Is Not Discipline (Sep 2000)
There Is Only One First Day of School (Aug 2000)
Applying for Your First Job (Jul 2000)
Your First Day (Jun 2000)

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