The primary focus of this podcast episode is the significance of making a powerful first impression during the open house, an event that serves as the initial opportunity for teachers to engage with students and their families. I emphasize the importance of transforming names on a roster into real, living individuals, thereby establishing a foundational connection that fosters trust and sets the tone for the academic year. The meticulous preparation of the classroom environment is discussed, not solely in terms of aesthetics but in creating a space that communicates to students that they are valued and welcomed. Furthermore, I reflect on the necessity of a genuine approach when meeting families, underlining the impact of meaningful interactions that convey commitment and high expectations for their children. Ultimately, this episode serves as a guide for educators seeking to cultivate robust relationships with students and parents right from the outset.

The episode delves into the pivotal moment of an open house for educators, emphasizing the profound impact of the first interaction between teachers, students, and their families. Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve, reflects on the emotional anticipation that accompanies this occasion, describing the feelings of excitement and nervousness that inevitably surface as the day approaches. He underscores the importance of transforming mere names on a roster into real, living individuals, thereby fostering an atmosphere of welcome and belonging within the classroom. The physical environment is meticulously crafted to convey warmth and readiness, yet Mr. Kleve posits that the essence of this event transcends mere decor; it resides in the authentic, heartfelt connections established during that first greeting. He articulates the significance of eye contact and genuine communication, as these elements lay the groundwork for trust and rapport that will underpin the educational experience throughout the year.

Takeaways:

• Establishing a welcoming environment in the classroom is paramount for fostering student engagement.
• The first interaction with students and their families sets the tone for the entire academic year.
• A teacher's genuine excitement and commitment can significantly impact students' perceptions of their educational experience.
• Building trust with students and parents begins with meaningful interactions during the open house event.
• 
  

Links referenced in this episode:

• beafunkteacher.com

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Be a Funky Teacher

Yeah, he's Mr. Funky.

He's Mr. Funky Teacher.

Mr. Funky Teacher inspires greatness, makes you feel good.

Like your favorite playlist.

Keeping that fresh and funky.

Yes, he does.

He got some funky cool ideas to share for all you teachers.

He can empower others, students and teachers.

It's all about hard work and creativity.

He brings out the kindness in everyone.

He's got the passion to teach.

You hear it when he speaks.

He knows how to build strong relationships.

If you're seeking the best bunkiest, he is it.

He will empower you to improve.

You'll be helping others and loving it too.

He's Mr. Funky Teacher.

Yeah, he's Mr. Funky Teacher.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

This is Mr. Funky Teacher with Be a Funky Teacher dot com.

I'm coming to you with another Be a Funky Teacher podcast.

Well, this podcast I'm going to be focusing on is Before They Walk in, Preparing for the first hello.

Before we talk about that, I do want to talk about three things I'm thankful for.

One of the things I'm thankful for is the anticipation.

That electric, can't sleep, butterflies in your stomach feeling before students arrive.

That means it still matters.

What we're doing still matters.

The excitement building up still matters.

The another thing I'm thankful for is this pause before the first hello.

I've had several days here to kind of get some stuff sorted out here in my classroom, to have some meetings, get ready for students coming tomorrow.

They're not coming for a school day.

They're coming for an open house.

And so this is where possibilities truly live as I get ready for that very first hello.

And then the third thing I'm thankful for is just the opportunity to start fresh.

Not only just starting fresh in a new school district, in a new community, but also with brand new fifth graders coming into my classroom.

Now, I've taught fifth graders for 22 years, but I haven't taught these fifth graders.

And well, you know, I may be excited and have shared excitement for different things in learning over the years.

These students haven't experienced that.

So I'm excited for the possibilities there and the opportunity to to bring in that excitement with them.

So no matter what last year looked like, I had a great school year last year with the fifth graders.

But no matter what last year looked like, next week we get to begin again.

I get to begin again with a brand new group of fifth graders.

And that is a pretty exciting place to be in for me, I would say.

Now let's talk about open house.

When names truly become faces.

Open House is tomorrow.

And that, you know, this is that moment when the names on the roster become real, real, living, breathing human beings.

It just becomes real.

Now.

I've been preparing, I've been really putting a lot of work into my classroom.

Straightening out desks, putting up those last minute posters on the wall, setting up some systems in the class for the help with the flow of the classroom, prepping the lockers.

There's all just getting the classroom set up so it looks sharp and it gets students, creates that space where students feel welcome and it'll pop to them and get them excited to be coming in the classroom.

And I want that welcoming vibe that I want to send to those students.

You know, I.

But you know, here's the thing, y'.

All, it is not just about the decor.

It's about students walking in and saying, this space, this space that this teacher that I know nothing about was made for me.

And this is a space that I'm going to be learning this year now, you know, it means so much to me to have the opportunity to meet students, to meet parents, grandparents, guardians, siblings, aunts, uncles.

The people who are going to trust me to work with their children this year, they, they want the best for their children and they're trusting me.

And what an opportunity it is that to have that where I can meet them, look them in the eye, let them know I'm excited to work with their children, let the children know I'm excited whether they trust me or not.

It's just that first impression.

So while it's so important to set up a classroom decor where it's welcoming and that the students feel like the space was made for them, that very first interaction, the first welcoming interaction is so powerful.

That moment of eye contact with caregivers saying, I see your child, I care and I'm here and I'm as committed as you are.

And I have high expectations for your child too.

And so what a great opportunity.

I was so excited for it.

And you know what's kind of really, kind of crazy cool that I think is just so awesome.

They actually, because I, I've mentioned that I'm working on a Native American reservation.

They are doing a powwow on the field next to the school.

And that's how there, there, there's a powwow for, for half the day.

I think it's, I think it's like a three hour powwow.

And I get to go to it.

I'm so excited.

I get to go out to it and see it.

I've Heard I may get to dance at it too.

You know, I'm not going to pass up an opportunity to dance if, and try to learn and just kind of savor every second of it if I do get to do that or just even just watch.

And I think there's going to be some students going to be, you know, are going to be in their cultural and some of their cultural wear and, and get to see them do some of the, the dancing and take such pride and joy and sharing that with the, the school community there at this school powwow.

I'm so excited for that.

You know, that'll be a unique and new experience for me because there's a three hour powwow and then we come inside and, and then we have people who can come in and see the classroom and visit teachers and boy, that's going to be, that's going to be exciting.

I just, I talk about not being able to sleep because I'm so excited.

I can't, I can't wait.

I really can't wait.

So you know, I was thinking about it, you know, this weekend coming up, the, the last weekend before the first day starting mid next week.

You know, I know I'll have nerves too, I'll have excitement.

But boy, I, I, I, you know, I've taught over 20 years and still I get those butterflies while I butterflies still kind of nervous and excited to meet families tomorrow at the open house.

But I'll really have those butterflies when I have those students coming into my classroom and I get to work with them and start building those relationships, those connections and convey how excited I am to have them there in my classroom and how we can learn and grow together.

What an opportunity that is.

And so I know there's, after tomorrow there's still more nerves and butterflies come in.

That's just, you know, that's just how it is.

And I'm okay with having that.

I think it shows that I still care and that I'm pretty excited about working with this new group of students.

Here's the thing too, my mindset going into this, into meeting students at the open house tomorrow and going into next week, day one with students is not to be perfect.

It's about, for me, about the present.

It's about setting a tone for belonging, that students belong in my classroom, that I'm happy they're there, I'm excited they're there.

I'm looking forward to working with them and kind of set up an expectation of what the year is going to look like.

So I You know, really, really what matters the most in this moment too is, you know, it almost sounds, you know, almost as cliche in a way.

You know, like, like, oh, like knowing your why or remembering your why, but it, how it is true.

I, I think about going in and starting to work with kids.

I am thinking about my why, I am remembering my why.

I am focusing on my why.

Because that's going to build that strong firm foundation that I can build the whole year on.

If, if I go into this kind of just sloppy and kind of just not, not really with, with my mind, right.

My mindset, right.

It, you know, it, it could totally tank the start of the school year.

So getting my mindset around what I need to do, how I need to do it, not only having logistical things taken care of for having the physical environment set up, but going into being in the right mindset for my students, meeting them and welcome, welcoming them, that's so important and something that I don't want to get wrong.

It's not going to be perfect because nothing is perfect, but it, but I want to come into it with a genuine approach, a very authentic, meaningful approach that, that students can feel that I'm being warm and sincere now.

I'm also, I'm not going to try to learn as many names tomorrow or even the first day.

I am going to listen closely.

I'm going to smile.

I, of course we speak a lot, but I'm going to try to do some smiling.

I'm going to kind of create that rhythm, the kind of the early on rhythm and kind of the feel.

And I need to, you know, here I just think about trust.

Trust is built in.

The foundation for trust is built in, in the first few days, not just by going over as many rules as possible, but by building those relationships.

Sure, I'll go over expectations.

Sure, I'll go over rules.

Sure, we'll have those conversations.

There's more.

My mindset is focused on the trust aspect.

You know, here's a couple ideas that I want to encourage you to do that.

I know I will talk about another, other aspects or I will talk about another podcast.

Also is greeting every student at the door.

I will greet every student at the door.

Just like I, I've done it for years.

I, I say goodbye to every student at the end of the day, giving them air fives.

I give.

I, I want to give my students something to feel proud about, you know, by acknowledging them and, and, and just that personal touch.

A personal touch is so powerful.

And then I encourage you also to find a moment to reflect privately, like before your first day or after your first day with students or your open house.

Just take some time to reflect on that before you leave school, even five minutes, and reflect on how that went, did it feel?

Is there things you liked about the interactions?

Is there something that you would have changed for maybe future years or, or day two, you know, so something to think about.

So, you know, this whole podcast here, the focus here was before they walk in, preparing for the first.

Hello.

This is great.

I'm so excited.

I can't.

I'm excited to come and talk more about how things go here, but I want to you to remember to inspire greatness in young people.

And don't forget to be a funky teacher.

Bye now.

He's Mr. Bunky Teacher, yeah.

He's Mr. Funky Teacher, yeah, yeah, yeah.