Do you give the same boring speech every year? Next month, when school resumes, here are a few suggestions to make you stand out as a cool teacher for your students. 
Try being different this year. Before classes start, compose
a letter of greeting introducing yourself. Send the notes a week before school
commences. Include a picture. Remember, it is often the fear of the unknown
that causes anxiety in children.

Plan an informal get together to meet your students and
their families. Open house is always crammed with speeches and information.
Teachers, parents, and students don’t really have an opportunity to talk.
Organizing a picnic at a local park is a relaxing way for students and parents
to get to know you. If you teach in the San Fernando Valley, try Lake Balboa.

On the first day of school give your important speeches. But
do fun activities in between. Here’s a wonderful class building activity.
Distribute brown bags for each child to decorate. Make sure names are
noticeable on each bag. Tape the decorated bags around the classroom. At the
end of the day, have students write something nice they’ve learned about
someone in their class. At dismissal time students can deposit their signed
notes in their classmates’ bags. After school, check to see if a child has an
empty bag. If so, write a note to him. The next day children can look into
their bags for their messages.

Have high expectations for your students, and enjoy your
year.

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