Due to Reynolds influence, the main point that I will drive home on the first day is "I see you. I care about you. I am glad you are here today."

As a principal, I showed this to my teachers at our welcome back. Keep up the good work. Very Inspiring.

Yo, brand new teacher here. I'm talking like, I was hired last week and school starts in one day new. Oh and I don't have a masters, nor do I have any teaching experience besides some simple rock climbing classes at my last job. After hitting a wall in finding curriculum for one of my classes, I've been on a new teacher video binge and all I gotta say is the knot I had in my stomach an hour ago has been slowly turning into excitement about the first day. Thanks for doing what you do, and good luck to all those out there taking a walk in my shoes.

For new teachers I would suggest to over prepare, have thick skin (just in case), don't show that you're afraid to be in front of them, show that you like being with your students and that you have a passion for your content.

One First Day of School idea is Leave Me Question. Give each kid an index card or sticky note and invite them to ask you a question about anything at all. They can sign their name or not. They just drop it in a container on the way out. It tells you a lot about the uncertainties, anxieties and the sense of humor your class has. The box and index cards can remain all year. Later on this becomes a safe way for kids to tell you things without telling you.

I began teaching in January, so I have never had a first day of school. I'm teaching Kindergarten. If no one vomits, I'll call that a win.

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

Well, it's not what I did on the first day but every morning when I take the attendance instead of just calling their name, I ask a question the will give me an idea about the kind of person each one of them is and then they gotta answer when I call out their names. Turns out, they really enjoy this and they wait for their turn to tell me a bit about themselves.

Not a teacher, but I just wanted to say, good luck to all the teachers this year! Whether this is your first year, or you've been teaching for decades, what you do is amazing and I so admire you! Hope everyone has an amazing school year 🥰

I almost cried at him saving the letter and making sure they get them on the day they graduate. Wow, that's beautiful.

My most memorable first day of class was when my AP Environmental Science teacher start the class in media res with a lecture about coffee. It started off with what seemed like an impromptu conversation about coffee and by the end, he was going into how the supply chains that went into making a single cup of coffee affected the environment. Four years later and now I'm finishing college but still remember that first day more than the first days I had for this semester's classes.

You are exactly why I want to teach. Watching your videos reminds me that I can be my quirky self and still teach effectively. Thank you for this.

You saying that you allowed kids to eat in your room when they were alone at lunch reminded me of my favorite high school teacher ever. The world needs more teachers like you with that philosophy.

Well, this video made me cry. I graduated high school back in June, and my favorite teachers were exactly like this. I wish I'd had more of them. Your students are lucky to have you, and I hope they know that.

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.

What hasn’t worked: Going over the syllabus first day for me and just focusing on content. While I do understand setting up rules and procedures can be important, I am going to try to focus on building the relationships with my students more this year. That doesn’t mean I am going to let them act a fool in class but that does mean that I care about them more then just student A in class period 2 that sits next to the window

I used to be a part time teacher in my 3rd year of university in Turkey. I worked in a private institution with a class of 10, a mix of 5th/6th graders. My failure as an inexperienced teacher was, I got pretty close with students as a friend or as a big sister and this led to me failing at classroom management where I couldn't have my voice heard, no one was listening to what I was teaching and lots of other management problems. I remember coming home from work crying and didn't know what to do. The next week I put myself back together and decided to be clear with my students and tell them how i felt when they misbehaved and how we can all have a great classroom environment. I did that and it was a big thing for me. It truly helped me gain my confidence and control my distance with the kids while also being not so far away from them in an aspect of student-teacher relationship. This was my failure and I think I earned a lot from it that helped me so much at practicum with high school students and hopefully it will this year as an official teacher :)) Thanks a lot Reynolds for this video. It really encouraged me for my first year at teaching. 😊😊😊

I’m 36 years old, changing careers to teach social studies. My student teaching begins in January. Thanks for this resource you have provided. You help me to stay excited as I finish up my licensing!

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!

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.

Hey CJ! Going into my 38th year in the classroom, and you have inspired me to do it differently! And I am super hyped about your ideas!!! (Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? ;-) )

Hi friends in the comments! These suggestions have relieved a whole lot of stress off of my shoulders as I prepare for my very first week as a teacher in a week and a half. You all rock!

I literally want to sit in your class the first day!!! Okay, every day! You just rock in every way! 😁😉

Mr. Reynolds!! I am NEW to education at 42, I’m GOING BACK to be a teacher! Im in MI, so I have to get certified, but as a white dude teaching in an urban school, you have helped me SO MUCH! Thank you for these awesome videos!! (Im currently a college and career advisor, and I love working with the kids!)

Amazing first day game plan! I would add that prior to asking scholars to write a letter to themselves, I would model that for them first by writing a letter to myself, thus briefly introducing myself to them. I’m so happy I found your videos, and can’t wait to learn more from you!

6:30 I'm just a student watching random videos, but wow that's awesome. Encouraging relationships with students in a positive, non-forceful way.

"Theres always next year! Unless you quit.. then you know.." "Umm I dont think this is math class!??" Ahahaha dying of laughter! Ahaha this is why you're my favorite KZfaqr! And because, you know, you help me allll the time hahah

Tomorrow is the first day of our school year here in sunny Queensland, Australia. I’ve taken to heart your ideas about class rules, and instead, I just have 2 words on bunting above my whiteboard- KINDNESS and EFFORT. If my students always act with kindness and effort, we don’t need rules. Thanks so much for everything you do, CJ. I am a better teacher for it.

Thanks for the videos, first year teacher here, jumping in with both feet! 6th and 7th English language arts... scared to death! But your videos make me feel empowered and drive home what’s important!

I teach EFL in Japan but do a lot of what is mentioned here on the first day. It sounds obvious but saying you like or love teaching the class make a big difference. I found out the hard way that rapport and consistency and positivity are better than the alternatives. Also I use the Ice Breakers that Rock from Cult of Pedagogy. Big recommend for English learners.

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

YOU ROCK! I teach in Clearwater Florida! 18th year! I’m Italian, I bring the same energy in my room! Started on Monday with kids and they have bought what I’m selling! Keep up the great work that you do!! God bless!! 😊

You are my teaching Spirit Animal! I teach in a wee school, K-12, on the Ak/BC border. We are in Canada but the kids in Alaska cross the border to come to school here. ( At least that’s how we’ve done it until the border closure and I fully intend to drive over to meet parents at the border in order to give kids their work!). I’ve been teaching humanities for 25 years and there isn’t a time when I’m not hyped about what I teach and to whom I’m teaching. Just carrying on the love!

I'm a high school English teacher and this is very helpful. Thank you :)

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.

I am student teaching and am currently working on how I'm going to teach expectations & set the tone & establish positive culture for the first couple weeks of my year once I'm hired. This video helped a lot; it laid down the rails in a great way!

I'll be teaching my first on June! I'm excited! Thank you so much for your tips! 😊

I appreciate this channel so much! I'm starting my first year and I've already had some discouraging moments. This gives me hope that I might be on a track that will work for me and my kids!

I start my first day tomorrow and am so glad to have these tips. I can see that you really love teaching!

I wish I had a teacher like you when I was in school.

Thanks Reynolds for the encouraging word...peace!!

That big yeah when he handed out the letters was awesome

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.

Your an awesome teacher!😊☺😊 God bless you more!😊

I'm about to start my first year of teaching drama in the UK and I'm nervous about my first day but this has massively helped, thank you

First time teacher here. Thank you Reynolds and Stacy. This was a life saver and students responded really well to my first day with them.

Thanks for this extremely inspiring video! This is my second year as a teacher but first teaching freshmen. I was really struggling to find the best way to start my class but thanks to you, I got some really cool ideas! Keep being awesome!

I'm very happy to see that I've already a lot of the things you recommend in the video on my first year in my office with my students. They do welcome this approach and the fact that we are placing ourselves in their shoes.

I just love this, and I bet the kids love it too. They are used to the mundane first day of school stuff.

I'm preparing for my first year right now. I see your point with the "let's not hammer in rules," but I want to counter. Many rules are "Don't do this, don't do that." That's boring. You know what's more interesting? POSITIVE rules, or PROCEDURES. That can include a tour of the room--only takes 2 minutes. Even better would be, "This is a tradition in my classroom. This is how we do it." That goes with you talking about speakers and projects and cool things you do. It gives them a sense of structure and expectations, which is really important. But it isn't about "I don't trust you, so I will tell you rules you have already heard." Unless they are really specific (like keep your hair tied back when you're near the Bunsen burner), kids don't ignore rules because they don't know them. They ignore them because the rule is not sufficiently important to them to ignore whatever reinforcement they get by ignoring it. Telling kids "the rules" is not formative. It doesn't explain what TO do. We want kids doing specific things every day that promote a good classroom. So that's my plan for the first day. Let's go over what things we WILL do in this classroom. And yeah, I want to "be real" about myself for a bit, too. Thanks for all these videos.

I'm #teamtoomuch and #extra too! 😂😂😂

I watch this every year before we start. Thanks for all your great advice!

This is my first time teaching High School, I'm starting in the middle of the year and your video is very helpful and inspiring, thank you so much

This is great! I'm going to school to become a high school literature teacher and this is exactly the type of class environment I want. Great tips!

Our school year starts next week. This is such a helpful video. I particularly like the focus on what kids CAN do instead of what they can't or shouldn't do. I'll definitely use your tips when coaching teachers on how to approach the first day of school.

You seem like a great teacher! It has less to do with your actual strategy (which I think is solid, no hate there), but just more to do with the fact that you actually care enough to actively think about it. The best teachers are always thinking about and working on their craft. You seem like a shining example of that.

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

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.

Awesome video!! Thanks a lot Ryan. So many great ideas and strategies to start off the year in such a positive and engaging way.

Wow! This was an awesome video! This is my second year teaching high school english/literature and last year was rough. I'm anticipating a much better year this year and this video provided some -much needed motivation and ideas. Please keep them coming! Blessings for the new school year for you as well.

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!

I wish I had this teacher... he's so awesome

So glad I found this channel. I decided that I'm going to go back to school to study drama teaching and early education. You're the type of teacher I always loved in school and the type I want to be.

Love it! The letter is awesome; I have seen it but students write to themselves and elaborate on what they want to accomplish, where they want to be at graduation year, etc. I am definitely going to try "no rules" and see what happens.

Im a special education so on the first day I talk to my new students. I start by asking them if any of them has ever felt stupid or if they ever felt like they don’t know what’s going on. Then I tell them how I was in special education since I was in kindergarten till 11th grade. I tell them I’m not stupid. I have my Bach and I’m working to my masters and I still suck at spelling. Not being the best reader or speller doesn’t make you stupid. What could though is not excepting the help from a teach like me that will bend over backwards to help them learn. I also tell them that what they go through now will make them stronger as adults.

Great ideas for starting out the year. I am digging the energy 🤜🤛

Good stuff Reynolds! I'm in my last year of school and I've been anxiously inquisitive about what my first day/first week will be like when I become a teacher next year. I love that you are 100% for the students and you keep it real. Thanks for always being positive.

I'm a new teacher starting in a philly burbs middle school soon, and I'm soooooo thankful to have found your channel. Thank you so much

This was great! Starting the school year this week after 3 years of subbing after being laid off and I loved your video! Thanks!

I will be doing my Practice Teaching this 3rd week of August. So happy that I watched this before handling my own class😊

Awesome vid, Reynolds. We write the graduation letters on the first day as well. It's been a tradition at our school for decades. We give them out to the graduating seniors on their Class Night. If anyone out there doesn't write these letters with their freshmen ya gotta do it, it's a ton of fun for the kids.

This week is my first year teaching my very own class! I really appreciated this video, and I plan to use it for my first day. I find myself very nervous going back to teach during covid as many activities I would have gotten the students to complete would have been in groups or close proximity to each other. The idea of writing a letter and giving it back to them at the end of the year (I am only there until next June) sounds memorable and fun for a group to teens! Thanks for the great idea! :)

Thank you!! You are an inspiration my dear!! God bless!

Thank you so much for your time in making these videos! I've been teaching for a few years and I'm always looking for ways to improve and this is the perfect place!

Really enjoyed this video! I'm suppose to start teaching for the very first time this new school year and I had no idea what I would do or say. Your tips where perfect. I believe I'll be implementing maybe all of them!😃😀😄

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

Yes to making sure that people are in the right class. I always say "this is your last chance to leave before it gets embarrassing and awkward for you...!" But I would say I'm more like how you described Cho-- I'm very tough and firm about things like behaviour, uniform, etc. but I will crack jokes to let them know it's a safe space and the course will be fun/interesting, I just expect them to show respect. I like how you explained that their parents didn't raise them to be fools. I may use that this year.

I started at a school in December due to a teacher leaving and this coming January is really my first full semester of teaching. I can't say enough how this channel has helped me, especially as a male teacher, to prepare for the upcoming semester. Reynolds, thank you for sharing.

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!

For the last 20 years I've taught elementary. I made the decision to move to high school so that I can teach what I love, math. I knew that the way I started with 1st graders was definitely not the way to start with teenagers, but I didn't know what to do. I found your channel a couple of days ago and have been watching videos about everything. I've got a good idea how to start the year and what to do once that is done. Thank you!

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!

New teacher starting out loved this!

You're such an inspiration. I have been an ESOL adult teacher for almost two decades. I am just about to start teaching an ESOL/languages Arts 12th grade class at the local high school for the first time. Your suggestions are definitely great. Thank you

What a great video! Your students are so fortunate to have you!!

Your box shelves one the wall 🤩. Gotta go shop now lol

This is my 1st year teaching, and I've been given list and lists of rules and material to cover.... I was so not looking to next week (first day for kids) and I was thinking of everything except how much I love art and am excited about sharing that with them. THANK YOU for this

I like to meet each student one by one individually, briefly, shake their hand, and ask them what they want to be. I want to see if they know what they're best at and to know that they can be whatever they want to be and do whatever they want to do - so that at least ONE person in their life has told them that. To start from that level with each kid is a great predictor of your future relationship and how they feel about you. Works for me.

This was helpful I am still new to all of this and always looking for ways to improve ... Thanks for sharing 🙂

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

Great tips. Thx Reynold 🙏🙏🙏

Awesome stuff! This will be my first year teaching ever, and I am both nervous and excited! While I intended some icebreakers to get to know my incoming scholars more, I feel like I'm definitely gonna modify that first day with Reynolds ideas. Ty for being a role model for us newcomers!

I know I’m really late to this party but I’m commenting anyway! I feel like finding you has been a life saver. Last year I taught 4th grade in an elementary school but this year I’m teaching 5th grade in a middle school. Last year was less than ideal in many ways and I needed a fresh approach to things. You have given me tons of ideas! Thanks!

Hello Mr. Reynolds! I have taught primary for 5 years now. I'll be teaching 6th grade Language Arts for the first time this year; it's been my longest desire. I am beyond excited that I encountered your youtube vlog! They give me so much hope and confirmation with how I want to start off the first week of school! Right on! It's great to know there are teachers that think like you, makes me feel like I am not alone! Thanks man! Keep up the awesomeness. Btw I'm borrowing your "Make something from nothing". Much love from Kansas!

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.

i love your videos. I can feel your passion as you talk. I hope to become passionate teacher in the future!!

I just want to say thank you!!! Priceless video👍

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

I plan on sharing this clip with new student teachers prior to their first day. Thank you!

Really enjoyed this video as a new teacher. Keep up the good work!

first video i've ever seen from you...subscribed within the first two minutes. amazing.