September is approaching and with it you may have new children entering the classroom as well as their parents. So on the very first day you can stand under the watchful eye of 25 pairs of children's eyes and in front of 50 pairs of eyes of adult parents or grandmothers. Which is a pretty big audience. 

Will this September be your first in the glare of such views? You may be nervous, but everyone else - parents and children alike - may be too. Will even the TV or the mayor come to you? That could happen too. You must and will endure. It may have been your childhood dream to stand in front of a full class. And now it's here.

Do not underestimate the preparation

Be sure not to underestimate the preparation. You'll be sure to have your classroom and supplies ready. You may even get a "classroom readiness check" from management during your preparation week, which may seem short in your first year of practice or in a new workplace. But what no one will check on, and what preparation should not be underestimated, in my opinion, is the awareness of what you want to leave in "your audience" on the first day?

Probably most of us remember our first impression of starting school. I see it in vivid color even today. Every time I prepare the children's school entrance certificates, I think of my "Pathway to School" poem sheet that I received the next day. Why? My first teacher had my name prepared wrong on the sheet - I definitely didn't have a double surname at that time :-). So, having learnt from other people's mistakes, I check names consistently and still have some blank paper ready and a fix for immediate possible correction if even the dates from the secretariat are wrong.

It can happen. And I don't want any of my schoolchildren to have an experience like mine. In general, even at other events or when handing out balloons, prizes and diplomas, I always have an extra piece in reserve, just in case... Similarly, I also have a bench with the prepared aids "extra". (Then everything is eventually returned to the economist or the school housekeeper).

What I want to say on the first day

I try to prepare briefly in writing what I want to say on the first day, but my notes are in bullet points, I definitely don't memorize anything. It would be unnatural and mechanical, and if you dropped the text you might be even more nervous about it.

Starting info

There are some things that parents and children in the rush of emotions do not remember - like dates, tools, etc... That is why I write a "1st short greeting" with an attachment - "starting info" to parents during the preparation week. Usually the parents write me back right away and the first contact is over in a non-violent way. And then you're not standing in front of brand new strangers. And if you can handle writing emails, you've already made your first impression. So watch out for that too - you can help yourself, but you can also hurt yourself if you underestimate or rebuild the email too! Alternatively, you could have information for parents printed on the children's desks. I would make everyone familiar with the contents of the pile so the kids don't try to explore it on their own and parents or you don't have to admonish them right at the beginning of the school year... let alone in front of video and photo records. Be prepared for that too, I don't think even GDPR will "prevent" parents from immortalising the day and of course you can be in the frame.

That leaves the other part of the audience. The most important one - your students, those who will keep you in front of their eyes for months, probably years. I always try to be natural. I don't speak in diminutives. Your pupils are no longer babies or kindergarten children. After all, they have been hearing for at least a year or more that they will be "big school kids" in September. So don't blow it by making them "little kids". They're not! On the contrary. You'll soon find out what personalities and individualities you have on your team. From the beginning, I treat school children as partners, I don't underestimate them, I guide them to respectful and healthy open communication. And that's what everyone should take away from the first day - children and parents alike. That they deserve your trust and that you will go out of your way to make sure everyone is happy and comfortable in the classroom.

Welcoming clothes

So what you should not underestimate is not only what and how you will communicate, but also in what you will communicate it! It may sound awkward, but before you speak, everyone will see you and will be looking at "our/our" new classroom teacher. Wear what you are comfortable and comfortable in. Don't force yourself into a skirt or dress if you are the trouser type. A teacher athlete who hates ties certainly doesn't need to lace it up. Ladies, watch the length of skirts and the depth of necklines. During my internship and preparation as a college student teacher, I had the opportunity to see hundreds of performances in front of the board and then in front of the camera. Invariably, the students were amazed when I mentioned this beforehand, and there was always someone who underestimated their outward grooming - including their hairstyle. Hair falling in the eyes or over the children, skirts pulled up, shirts buttoned the wrong way, that's probably not what you want your children and their parents to remember. So give some attention to the preparation of the "welcome outfit" as well. And the greatest decoration of all is a smile.

Time

Give yourself time to spare even on the first day. You may still be caught by the management in the morning that a student has arrived or checked out, that you haven't signed a document... and if you arrive "before eight", it can stress you out unnecessarily.

Welcome

Parents and children welcome to the classroom. Sometimes they walk in awkwardly, not knowing where to stand or wait. It is a good idea to invite them in and possibly show them if there is anything in the classroom that is immediately worth their attention. If you have some information posted somewhere, direct them or offer it to them in person in printed form. Although I think less is more. By the time they settle down and the kids take their pictures, "it will be eight". Sometimes the school year can be kicked off with a leadership speech in the garden, in the auditorium, on the radio. You can find out and possibly email the parents in advance so they too go to school more calmly.

Be prepared

So "bottom line" - Be prepared! - in every way, and that can make you calmer. Be natural, polite and refined - including manners, speech and appearance. From the first moment, not only your words speak for you, but also your appearance, your movements and your actions. And you can only make a first impression once!