The first day of school brings up a host of emotions for both students and teachers. Tackle the turmoil of the first day jitters with the help of a professional educator in this free video.
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Hi, my name's Anto Boghokian, I'm a middle school teacher. And today, we're going to be talking about general tips for teachers on the first day of school. The first day of school can be fun, it could be exciting, it could be scary, depending on the student. Throughout my teaching career, I've noticed a few things. The younger students have no problem displaying their disposition by crying, by having a giant smile on their face. And, you can tell how that student's feeling. However, when they get older, some of that is held back, due to peer pressure, want to look cool, wanting guy/the girl to like each other. So, you really have to kind of dig in. However, they do have a keen sense of being able to tell if you're being yourself or not. Don't try to be their friend, they'll see right through it. So, be yourself. And, no matter what your teaching style is, that should really come out on that first day. I used to have these teachers that I was terrified of, once in fourth grade, and once in eighth grade. And, I could never learn anything in those classes, because I was just worried about getting yelled at. And, I look back, and I realize that there is a few mannerisms that they had in common. I was speaking to my math school teacher, and he pointed those out as well. He said, "When you cross your arms, it's kind of being closed. When you have them open, it's more inviting to questions. Your tone of voice, the calm tone of voice, is always going to get more responses than if you're yelling at them." As you're talking to a student, make sure that, maybe, you need to go down to their eye level, especially with the younger grades. So, the whole idea is to make the student feel safe. And, there's a few things you should remember, that learning and fear can't really coexist in the same environment, and every student is unique, and they have very unique way of learning. And, you have the entire year to figure that out. So, on the first day, take it easy, structured fun, have a plan, and you only get one chance to make a first impression. And, of course, don't forget to smile. Have a great first day of school. My name's Anto Boghokian, and I'm a middle school teacher. Thank you.
