By Lisa Neubert

The first day of school can be a nerve-racking experience for beginning teachers. Last year was my first year teaching and I have three things that I learned will make the first day/week go smoother. The first is to be prepared or even OVER-prepared! Printing syllabi, creating seating charts, and having some lesson plans ready to go are great ways to lessen the stress of teaching the first day of school. Also, the copy machine is a great place to meet/talk to other teachers before school starts! J

The second is to memorize names as fast as possible. I know the task of memorizing 25 names seems daunting, but playing name games is great for students at any age. High school students may groan, but if you are into the game and have a great attitude it will rub off on them. Once you have the names under your belt, classroom management and building the rapport with students becomes so much easier.

The third tip I have for the first day/week of school is to be confident. Students can smell your lack of confidence, so take a deep breath and know that you are a great teacher and you care about your students. The aura you give off in the classroom is reflected in your students. Also, many of your students are nervous and scared on the first day of school as well. Many are coming to a new school and most have a completely new teacher, so your confidence can help your students feel more confident in you as their teacher.

Please watch for my future posts as I reflect on my first year of teaching. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave a comment below. Also, please add any tips that you have for the first few days of school. They are exciting and nerve-racking every year!