Registration Day

Our district holds registration in late July for parents to bring their proof of residency, pay for yearbooks and provide the school with all updated forms to enroll their child in public school. I feel for them since it's about 10 different forms they must fill out for each child. This also gives families a chance to sign up for after-school care, join the PTA, and get information on buses. The added bonus for parents and students is they get to find out who their child's teacher will be and possibly see who else will be in their class.

As teachers, we don't receive our official role until a week before school begins. It's always exciting when a parent and student comes to you after they have been told their child will be in your class. That moment is filled with nervous energy, anxiety, and lots of excitement (and that's just explaining the Teacher!)

Once I receive my class roster, I love being able to look at the latest yearbook so I can put a name to a face. In Harry Wong's book, "The First Days of School: How To Be An Effective Teacher", he recommends establishing a positive relationship with students day one, by meeting them at the door and calling them by name. I firmly believe this and love the look on their faces when I meet them, shake their hand, and call them by name. That is the moment when a great relationship begins and lasts far beyond the 180 days of a school year.