How to be an Effective Teacher: The First Days of School by Harry Wong and Rosemary Wong.

3/5 rating. 323 pages.

Book #39 of 2022. Read October 11, 2022.

This book is a resource for new (and possibly established) teachers on their first days of school.

Teaching is a profession that encompasses so many different areas that it is hard to keep track: from classroom discipline, to pedagogy, to lesson planning, and instruction. Sometimes it’s hard to keep this all straight and know how best to ensure that every one of your students thrives and is successful. As the Wong’s lay out in this book, that process builds upon the things you put in place during the first few weeks.

While this book was not exactly enthralling, and was somewhat of a slog to get through, I think it has a lot of very useful advice for the optimal way to start the school year.

Some of my favorite comments:

• “Laura, the good life begins when you start making choices.”
• “The most important thing to establish the first week of school is CONSISTENCY.”
• “Education is not teaching people things they don’t currently know. Education is teaching people behaviors they don’t currently practice.”
• “I do the very best I know how, the very best I can, and I mean to keep on doing so until the end.” – Abraham Lincoln
• “The person who does the work is the ONLY one who learns.”
• “The only limitations are those you place on yourself and those you allow other people to place on you.” – Jean Driscoll
• “There is nothing revolutionary or new about becoming an effective teacher. There are only two requirements:
• 1) You must have an undying belief that every student has the ability to learn and succeed.
• 2) You must persevere.”

• “The quality of the choices you make today will dictate the quality of your opportunities tomorrow.”

Additional Quotes:

“Some 200 studies state the obvious but profound finding that no other intervention can make the difference that a skillful, knowledgeable teacher can make on student achievement.”

“For what you do, know that you are respected, indispensable, and loved.”

“The sincerest form of service comes from listening, caring, and loving.”

“The average child receives 12 minutes of attention each day from his or her parents.”

“By age 18, most Americans have spent more time in front of the television than they have with friends or parents.”

“The quality of the choices you make today will dictate the quality of your opportunities tomorrow.”

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