What I Do on the First Day of School | High School Teacher Vlog

This video is awesome and so inspiring! Going into a long term sub position and this made me look forward to the possibility of being a full time teacher. Thank you!

First year teacher here, I strongly recommend that freshly-graduated new teachers NOT come in with the goal that they will be the "cool" teacher. Also try to avoid letting the students know that it's your first year teaching, you only partially know what you're doing, or YOUR AGE(22/23). I teach Juniors and the moment they realized I was about the same age as their siblings or even younger, they instantly viewed me as an extended friend or "pal".

Plenty of students call me "dude" and "bro" but that just comes with many of these young minds. I strongly recommend dressing professional, and take a look into The First Days of School by Harry Wong. It's well worth the read and will help you step into that "professional mindset" of a teacher! Best of luck to all teachers

I thought that I shouldn’t have to explicitly say what the rules were but I’m continually shocked at what my students think is acceptable behavior.

I love your approach bro! respect brother keep it going man you're doing God's work! mad love from Brooklyn!

Man if I said or asked some of these things I’d be out on my ass so quick

I'm one of those who no longer teaches in the classroom. I MISS TEACHING SO MUCH!!!

Damn, you just motivated me so much!

Thanks for this. First year teacher...Starting the fourth week, and this is a good way to help me stay motivated. I did a lot of similar things on the first day, but I am definitely losing time in transitions. Thanks for the tips!

Great way to start the first day. Thanks for sharing,

We think and discuss about what kind of classroom they want-how they want to be treated by peers and the teacher, how they should carry themselves. We break down the word respect, we try to set foundation for how we want to feel when we’re in this particular learning space. It’s mostly student driven after I share my thoughts. Great stuff here thank you!

Hello, Ryan! Thank you for your channel! Could you please make a video of one of your lessons someday? As a literature teacher I'm looking for new methods ans styles of teaching))) Maybe other teachers also would like to watch!

Very touching video !🥹

Thank you!

I wish I had a teacher like you when I was in high school. And now that I’m a parent, I pray that my kids have teachers like you enthusiastic they want to teach they want kids to ask questions. Not like what they’ve had in elementary school we’re teachers just want kids to be quiet and work on the computer but sad they really kill there’s for knowledge my kids love to read my kids love to inquire about their teachers are boring.

I wanted to let my kids come to my room during lunch, but my supervisors said it may not be a good idea as nowadays bad assumptions can be made…unfortunately.

First-year teacher coming from a career in engineering, I love the vibe you have, I love your positivity! Thanks for the video

Your daughters husband is going to have a lot to live up to. Great job Dad.

2nd year teacher! Love this video! Super encouraging :)

How long are your class periods? Do you find that this plan takes up the whole first class period?

This isn’t my first time, but my first time in this role. This video was as motivational as informative. Thank you

Thank you so much. Love this!

Im glad you said that you are teaching because you like teaching. Im transitioning from corporate to teaching highschool and I always wanted to teach but its only now that I can afford to teach.

Amazing & Great video! As a former teacher myself, It is exciting and challenging to face students ang interact with them specially students are different personalities. Thanks for sharing!

Love this!!! This is me!

I absolutely love this. I always get looks when I don’t go over the syllabus and the “rules” thank you for the confirmation I’m on to something awesome.

and when they refuse to write a letter, either they are revolting or in most case .. they do not know what to write! how to you scaffold them? how do you store the letters? in a sealed envelope? how do you protect their privacy?

Great video. I have to disagree though about the part of avoiding rules or in better terms 'expectations'. I think that it's essential to at least summarize for them.

Love this overview. I'm a second year teacher and need some great ideas like the ones you presented. Subscribed!

I can agree with some of this. I’m in the process of beginning my teaching career at age 41.

Ryan, I am entering my third year of teaching, and this video still inspires me. I discovered this video days before I started teaching, and it provided me with a sense of purpose and comfort. Now I return to it every year to remind me why I do what I do and that it is okay to be different from other teachers. Thanks for all your great videos.

As a college professor, I do this same type of thing. I always assume that every other class they’ve had up until my class or will have on the first day the prof will go over the syllabus. Trust, I have plenty of do’s and don’ts as well as procedures, but on the first day I always want to outline a few things in regards to class environment/culture and content: first of all, to your point in this video, I always want students to know what they’re getting in me - the real. How enthusiastic I am about what I do, what type of professor I am in terms of how I rely material and how I function in general (even some things I don’t do well i.e.: slow on email). Secondly, what I expect from them in terms of creating an open and engaging classroom environment. Lastly, type of content/things we’ll learn or be open to over the course of the semester. Then I always end with either passing out hard copies of the syllabus, or more these days referring them to where they can find the syllabus online. Have them to look at it by the next class and that way they now have a glimpse of the type of professor they’re getting and the course expectations as laid out in the syllabus. In my case as a professor where students can add/drop, and do add/drop based often on how hard they think you will be or how they think they will or won’t relate to you as a professor, I want them to come in the first day and feel a connection with me (or not) then decide. Maybe they’ll think, yes the material will be tough but I’ll have this person helping me to navigate it so I’ll take that path. Establishing a personal connection and that you care what they learn and how is important at every level. Great video.

Greeting the kids at the door EVERY day

I'm so afraid to be nice. Students just start disrespecting my rules. And if I make jokes, They could care less.
I appreciate your energy and you are very helpful

New teacher starting out loved this!

I just changed jobs. Moved to Qatar. Wow, I did take your strategy. Excited to try this

When you said you would find the students to hand them letters even if they quitted, it brought tears to my eyes. I just want you to know, you are a wonderful teacher.

Prepping for my first days of the summer semester, thank you for the best advice

I start teaching next month, January, 2023. I have no experience and no teaching credentials. I am teaching Computer Science, an elective, at the high school I actually graduated from. I think my one true advantage is that 5 years ago, I was in high school. I may be 23, going on 24, but I still struggle with 99% of the problems I had in high school, so I can relate to my students more . I probably won't last after this semester, but I'll go out knowing I gave it my all. I feel like I was hired out of desperation and not my actual skills, but I will take an opportunity regardless of how I got it. Not to down myself.

Oh... I am going to save this video❤️ and watch it at least 10 times, to learn all these amazing tips❤️

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you❤️

You are so inspiring ❤️🇳🇮

Thank you❤️

Thank you

What an excellent way of building rapport with your students. Can't wait to try this in 2023.

Thank you so much! You inspired me!

Just found your video. I'm a Drama teacher in London, UK, but want to move to America to teach. Anyway, I love you vibe and will borrow some of your teaching habits and strategies 🙂

This is my first year teaching. Thank you for this wonderful idea. More power to you!

Idea for elementary teachers- 4-5th graders. I'd call each home before meeting their children. Introduce myself and share 'me' and my excitement to be their child's teacher. Like Reynold's, occasionally I'd get asked- are you talking about my kid? Laughter is soothing. Share a little about my goals for the year and assure the parent I will get in touch at the first sign of any academic or behavior struggle. And ask as casually as possible, 'Oh by the way, who should I call if I need a family member to redirect your child's behavior?' The answers are always surprising because families have their own power structures...sometimes, it may be dad or mom, but also granddads and grandmas. Occasionally, it's an uncle, Godparent or once- it was the pastor. Rare moment to bother anybody because the kids would come in knowing the grown people had had their talk. On day 1, kids would come in and say, 'My mom already likes you!" and not in a happy tone for mom and me. lol. And when I did have to use the info, it was a whispered reminder in the ear ' I think YOU need to call Uncle Bill' to redirect. I'd also ask for a funny baby story from each family- you know the special one somebody brings up every Thanksgiving and create a BINGO like grid and this is how my kids would get to know each other from day 1. We'd start the year laughing. I taught behavior expectations using Bloom's Taxonomy. Sharing with kids my anxious moments- first three levels...and my reward ...when they could have fun with the learning at the last 3 levels. Then I'd ask them, if I'm grumpy and edgy at the KNOWLEDGE and COMPREHENSION levels- what should your behavior be. Remember, I'm already a little on the edge! And they'd tell me what they needed to do to keep me from acting the fool! lol Sharing what's involved in teaching and learning was very helpful. The learning objective would be visible (always posted an agenda because I absolutely loathed hearing, 'what are we going to do today?' and beside it the letter indicating where we were on the taxonomy- K, C, A etc.

I like this approach. I have a different mindset of the first day instead of drilling down the rules. Thank you!

First time teaching and I'm lost. I feel like the new kid and don't know where to start

I love this! Great ideas for teachers who have been doing the same old thing every year! Keep up the great work and sharing of videos!