Preparing for Your First Day of School with expert teachers Mrs. Becky Jenkins Irons, Dr. Rosemary Wong, and Dr. Harry Wong: Madeline’s Monthly Musical Tips Blog & Radio Show for August 2023
To prepare for your new school year we have included expert teachers, Mrs. Becky Irons, Drs. Harry and Rosemary Wong’s Procedures, and their First Day of School Scripts. Also included is Dr. Frank’s, “10 Creative Ways to Inspire Students & Curb Teachers Burn Out!”.
Our Radio Show feature statement for August 2023: Preparing for Your First Day of School with expert teachers Mrs. Becky Jenkins Irons, Dr. Rosemary Wong, and Dr. Harry Wong.
https://www.madelinefrankviola.com/one-minute-radio-show-2023/
Drs. Harry and Rosemary Wong are education experts and best-selling authors of “The First Days of School: How To Be An Effective Teacher”. Dr. Harry Wong says, “The very first day, the very first minute, the very first second of school, teachers should begin to structure and organize their classrooms, to establish procedures and routines.”
Dr. Rosemary Wong was asked by Education Week to “give an example of what you mean by procedures?” She responded, “if you could close your eyes and say to yourself, “This is something I’d like to have happen in my classroom, then you need to come up with a procedure for it. You need to teach the procedure, and there are three basic steps to doing that. The first is to explain it. The second step is rehearsing it, physically going through the procedure and making corrections as needed. And the third is reinforcing it, which you can do by acknowledging that the procedure is being carried out correctly.” Remember to teach all “three steps”.
Drs. Harry and Rosemary Wong spoke to over 1000 teachers and administrators at Polk State College. The Wongs said, “start by greeting your students at the classroom door each day. Choose one of the “three H’s” every morning: a handshake, high-five or hug.” Have “bell work” or short assignments posted on the board prior to the start of each day. Bell work, even if it’s something simple as silent reading gets students into work mode right away. Posting a daily agenda every day in the same place every day, eliminating questions.” What procedure do the Wongs use to quiet their classes? In their book the technique is called ‘Give Me Five’. “1) Eyes on Speaker, 2) Quiet, 3) Be still, 4) Hands free, 5) Listen. In five seconds, the class is quiet.”
Dr. Harry Wong says, “Classroom management is the secret sauce in education. Coaches don’t go into a game without a game plan. Pilots use flight plans. All teachers should have a plan. Starting today, start planning.” The Wongs said, “Classroom procedures should cover every second of the school day including what students are to do as they enter the classroom, how they are to be dismissed, and how they are to label and turn in their homework.”
Preparing for Your First Day of School:
Drs. Harry & Rosemary Wong’s “First Day Of School Scripts”:
https://www.teachers.net/wong/JUN00/
“Middle School Script”:
http://teachers.net/wong/FEB02/
“High School Script”:
http://teachers.net/wong/MAR03/page_2.html
Effective teaching:
https://www.teachers.net/wong/MAY11/
Mrs. Becky Jenkins Irons, our Radio Shows award winning 2016, Teacher of the Year shares below how she prepared and worked with her students during her August-December public school classes.” She has taught for 19 years in the public schools of Virginia and Kansas reading, writing, math, science, and social studies in kindergarten, first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grade.
1) “Mrs. Irons began preparing for her new students, weeks before the semester began, studying their files and talking to their previous teachers, to get to know them better personally and academically and to more effectively deal with any issues.”
2) “On the very first day of school, students were informed about rules and procedures and practiced them. Students continued to practice and be reminded.”
3) “Mrs. Irons dressed appropriately and at times dressed to reflect the theme of the lesson or story.”
4) “Mrs. Irons prepared daily so that time was spent on learning activities and not preparation during school time.”
5) “She encourages her students to do well and gives examples that students can relate to of why it is important to do well and stay in school.”
6) “Students know that Mrs. Irons take’s an interest in them and tries to see the good in each student and looks for positive things to say about her students.”
7) “Classical music is played. This helps students quiet down, stay calm, and focus more on their work with fewer distractions. They really enjoy the Classical music and ask for it.”
8) “Students are spoken to in private, concerning behavioral issues and are not embarrassed in front of other students.”
9) “Cooperative learning groups and differentiation are used in the classroom. Students get to be a part of completing hands-on-tasks successfully as a group in a fun but challenging atmosphere. They get to make choices when doing activities that vary by content, process, products, and/or learning environment.”
10) “Articulation, inflection, and timing are encouraged when reading and when learning key phrases and clues. Repetition of key phrases and clues through song, dance, rhyming, hand motions, and cheerleading help students remember concepts.”
Mrs. Irons says, “By creating a classroom environment where students want to come to school, they enjoy learning, and every child finds a measure of success.”
Radio Show Feature Question for June 2016: Becky Jenkins Irons is our “Radio Show’s 2016 Teacher of the Year”. Mrs. Irons, can y3ou share with us your approach for teaching and motivating your students?
https://www.madelinefrankviola.com/one-minute-radio-show-2016
Becky Jenkins Irons: Radio Show 2016 Teacher of the Year: Madeline’s Monthly Article & Musical Tips Blog for June 2016
https://www.madelinefrankviola.com/becky-jenkins-irons-radio-show-2016-teacher-of-the-year-fathers-day-wishes-madelines-monthly-article-musical-tips-blog-for-june-2016/
Becky Jenkins Irons’ Creative Ways to Teach On Zoom: Madeline’s Monthly Article & Musical Tips Blog for March 2021
https://www.madelinefrankviola.com/becky-jenkins-irons-creative-ways-to-teach-on-zoom-madelines-monthly-article-musical-tips-blog-for-march-2021/
Radio Show Feature Question for March 2021: Becky Jenkins Irons is a master teacher, and won our “Radio Show’s 2016 Teacher of the Year” award. Mrs. Irons, can you share with us your creative ideas for teaching your students on Zoom?
https://www.madelinefrankviola.com/one-minute-radio-show-2021/
To hear Becky Irons February 2014 Radio Show:
“Becky Jenkins Irons, as a teacher for kindergarten, first, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth graders, did your students perform better on class work, tests, and quizzes listening to Mozart Symphonies in the background?”
https://www.madelinefrankviola.com/one-minute-radio-show-2014/
Dr. Frank’s, “10 Creative Ways to Inspire Students & Curb Teachers Burn Out!”
1) Effective teachers and administrators agree to have “an assignment on the board” for students to start on the second they walk into the new classroom.
“A well-planned lesson eliminates 90% of discipline problems.”–
“Before your first day of school have your “First Day of School Script” ready with the “Procedures” you will use for your class and implement them by rehearsing your class until all the students know your procedures and understand them.
*For example: What is your procedure for students having a cell phone in class? -In your “Procedures” include Mrs. Hamilton’s definition of “Character”. “Character is knowing the right thing to do, doing the right thing even when no one is watching, and taking the consequences for what you do. The first step to develop character from the First Day of School is to teach that definition, and challenge students to build walls of character around themselves in the weeks ahead.”
- Remember to decide your procedures and teach them to your class on the first day of school.Harry K. Wong and Dr. Rosemary Wong’s book “The First Days of School: How to be an Effective Teacher” is a must read for all teachers’.
Have your smile in place, your student’s seat assignments ready during social distancing, and your first assignment on the board for the students to get started immediately after sitting down and have your classical music, Mozart Symphony or string music by Baroque composer J. S. Bach (slow movement with strings) on in the background of your classroom.
School starts the first minute the students enter for the new school year.
Be prepared! Start preparing and rehearsing this summer. Remember students need to feel safe and secure! They need procedures.
2) Before the first day of school decide how you are to dress for success in bright colors to get your students attention. Remember first impressions are the most important.
3) Do you remember the middle school and high school Chemistry and Math teachers playing Classical Mozart Symphonies in the background of their classes and how much better behaved and smarter the students became? Well you can do this too! Put on your Classical music and help your students get smarter, work faster, and calmer.
4) Don’t just lecture tell a story. Make the material visual. Be creative by becoming a teaching artist! Example: Dr. Madeline Frank’s “Musical Notes On Math”, teaching fractions and decimals to children in K-5 through the rhythm of music, Winner of the Parent-to-Parent Adding Wisdom Award newly updated kindle edition
https://www.madelinefrankviola.com/musical-notes-on-math
5) Make your course come alive. Make it fun to learn. Remember that Alicia Keys and Dr. Condoleezza Rice both studied the piano learning Classical music and skipping grades in high school. They were both at the top of their high school classes all through school because they played Classical music every day. Playing Classical music made them smarter! Dr. Albert Einstein was able to win his Noble Peace Prize and make his scientific discoveries by playing Classical music on his violin or piano every day. Dr. Judith Resnik astronaut and electrical engineer made perfect scores on her SAT’s through playing her Classical piano music every day for one hour. Louis Armstrong learned Classical music on his cornet at age 13 and his life was changed forever! Your students can be smarter too by playing Classical music every day!
6) Involve your students in your course by posing a problem and helping them solve it! Make them into detectives. (Sherlock Holmes and his side kick Dr. Watson) Help your students work cooperatively. (In a musical String Quartet, members work together cooperatively with set goals and without violence.) Put on your Classical music to help your students concentrate better.
Mark Reimer & Mrs. Adlyn Reimer said to “Set the tone from the beginning—your class/rehearsal style is fun, informative, and fast moving, and everyone there is important to you.”
7) Help your students gain self-esteem and self-worth by showing them kindness & patience.
8) Romayne Leader Frank, Mother, friend, Family Advocate, teacher, & Lawyer, always said, “Every child has one gift.” Find that gift and accentuate it!
9) Dr. Frank’s favorite saying is “every student is a gem in the raw.” Start with that thought and work with your students. Believe that each of your students, on the first day of school, wants to learn your course and desires to learn.
10) Does anyone here like to work? No, then make it fun to learn. Put on your Classical music or Baroque string music! © 2023 Madeline Frank
Remember on your First Day To:
Have your Classical music/ Mozart Symphonies on your CD or iPod before your students enter your class to improve their concentration, for them to stay focused, relaxed, work faster, and remember more. On your first day of school have your “First Day of School Script” ready and rehearsed. “Have your “bell work” or short assignments posted on the board prior to the start of each day and post a daily agenda every day in the same place.” Be prepared! Have a smile on your face and put your best foot forward!
Students: Classical music has the power to organize the brain while listening to it as background music while you are doing your homework, to help you relax after a hard day of work or while doing exercises. Begin listening or playing your musical instrument for 30 minutes at a time. It helps because of its highly developed mathematics, complex rhythm, and therefore exercises the brain as physical exercise exercises the body.
“The Secret of Teaching Science & Math Through Music” by Madeline Frank, Ph.D. is available in book form, and newly updated as an e-book on Kindle, Nook, or iBook:
- com(Kindle)
- Barnes and Noble(Nook)
- iTunes
“Musical Notes On Math” by Dr. Madeline Frank teaches your child fractions and decimals, the fun easy way, through the rhythm of music, Winner of the Parent To Parent Adding Wisdom Award is available in book form, newly updated as an e-book on Kindle, Nook, or iBook.:
- com(Kindle)
- Barnes and Noble(Nook)
Wishing you and your family a happy month of August from your Non-Invasive Medicine…Music Expert, Madeline
For over 30 years, Dr. Madeline Frank has helped children and adults overcome problems through Classical music. Madeline Frank, Ph.D., DTM is an award-winning teacher, an amazon.com best-selling author, researcher, speaker, conductor, and concert artist. She has discovered a scientific link between studying a musical instrument and academic and societal success. Madeline Frank earned her Bachelor and Master’s degree from the Juilliard School of Music. Her education has included scholarships at the Juilliard School, Indiana University, and the University of Cincinnati and she has a violin performance diploma from the North Carolina School of the Arts. (C) 2023 Madeline Frank.