The First Days of School

How to Be an Effective Teacher, 4th Edition

By: Harry K. Wong, Rosemary T. Wong

Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor

The bestselling book ever on classroom management and teaching for student achievement with over 3.7 million copies sold. The audiobook walks a teacher, either novice or veteran, through structuring and organizing a classroom for success that can be applied at any time of the year at any grade level, pre-K through college.

The book is used in thousands of school districts, in over 120 countries, and in over 2,114 college classrooms, and has been translated into 5 languages. It's practical, yet inspiring. But most important, it works!

This is the most requested book for what works in the classroom for teacher and student success.

©2009 Harry K. Wong Publications, Inc. (P)2015 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Re-Read it Often

This still holds up as one of the best books in education. I've read it numerous times and with it on an audio format, I can listen again every year as I set up my classroom. I love how it emphasizes having a good attitude, viewing teaching as a career just as important as any other profession, and simple as well as more complicated means of gaining student's respect, attention, and admiration. It is truly a hefty and worthy encyclopedia for teaching and, of course, the all encompassing importance of classroom management.

A MUST READ for New Teachers!

A great book with so much valuable information information! I feel empowered and encouraged to begin teaching!

This is the best recommendation and lifesaver I’ve used

I’m a new classroom music teacher. I have over 30 years experience in giving one-on-one private lessons, being a teaching artist, directing ensembles or leading music workshops in classrooms and auditoriums for audiences of all ages. But nothing truly prepared me for being a classroom teacher.

Especially in this post-pandemic time many younger students have lost years of training in classroom behavior and expectations. Even though my resume is more based in university and high school teaching and band directing my new school gave me two classes of special needs 6th graders. I have no experience in either elementary school teaching or special needs teaching. I know my subject material like the back of my hand but I had no methodology or classroom management for elementary school or for special needs.

This book has been a lifesaver. There is also a follow-up called “The Classroom Management Book” also by Harry and Rosemary Wong (make sure you get the book they wrote and not a similar title written by someone else). The First Days of School gives the theory and some concrete examples but The Classroom Management Book gives these theories as concrete lessons you can implement one at a time. Together they are a Godsend for people like myself who need a higher level of classroom management and teaching strategies to address the needs and education of young students coming back to school after the pandemic.

Thank you Wong & Wong and to the other authors who contributed to this milestone manual of teaching! NOW we can communicate the content to our students. What a difference a set of structured routines and philosophies makes! Big difference in the outcomes academically and how everyone feels about being in an environment of higher learning.

Great

If you could sum up The First Days of School in three words, what would they be?

great for new and old teachers

What other book might you compare The First Days of School to and why?

nothing I've ever read

Which scene was your favorite?

the part where it explained the simplicity of it all

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

I got this!

A Must Read for All Teachers

I don't know how I taught for five years before reading this book. This book is filled with actionable items to implement in the classroom today. If you are going into education, read this book. (P.S. listening at 1.25x speed helped me with the narrator.)

I love this book!

Every year as the school year begins, for the past 5 years I have read this book. It gets my mind set back into teacher mode and ready to set high expectations for myself and my students.

really great read

This audio is great for the beginning teachers. Read this when you are feeling overwhelmed and fatigued by the type of school you work at. They have sound and effective advice.

Best suited for paper format

Was a good listen but the book is formatted more to be read in print than to be listened to if you want to use it to its fullest. Will probably end up buying print or Kindle as well.

Clear and encouraging

Our school system has encouraged many programs that fit into the structure explained here. But the "whys" are answered here and the listing approach in the presentation of tasks make it more manageable in application.

"Informative"

This is a much needed book. It should become summer reading for all teachers.