Rating: 
Summary: I hope there are better books out there
Review: I've read Harry Wong's book as have many teachers. This seems to be a popular giveaway to new teachers. The advantages of the book are that it does a good job of informing teachers of what they will face. I don't, however, feel it does a good job of preparing you to face your new job. Here are a few observations on the book:
- Wong comes across as a know-it-all frequently
- Wong judges the reader as if he knows the teacher in question.
- Some of the strategies seem a bit hurtful to students.
Finally, I am a high-school teacher, and while the book helps all teachers in theory, most of the practical, usefull applications suggested are immature and would get a secondary teacher laughed out of the classroom. If your students think you are a schmuck, they won't learn much.
Rating: 
Summary: Devious
Review: I am in a school district that gives this to every new teacher. Pity. I won't re-hash many of the other reviews who quite rightly recognize this book as having a dim view of students. I will simply relate one part to the prospective buyer.One student manipulation strategy suggested in the book involves making a large construction-paper heart on a bulliten board, with smaller hearts bearing your students' names pinned to it. When a student misbehaves, the teacher is to remove the small heart bearing that student's name from the larger one and pin it somewhere else. It is then the student's job to earn his way back into the teacher's heart. The implications of this are sick and inhuman: 1) Love is conditional, like grades, and may be forcibly withheld to gain control of other human beings. (I disagree with the author; love is not a "prize" for doing well, and it's arbitrary removal is inhumane at best.)
2) The reason you should behave as I tell you (allow me to control your behavior) is so you can earn my love. This is the goal of your scholastic endeavors. (Once again, I disagree. Using emotional manipulation as a form of motivation won't help children to learn, only to submit.) I could go on, but you get the point. This example is indicative of the base, devious techniques suggested in this book.
Rating: 
Summary: For Elementary Beginners
Review: This book served me well since I read it BEFORE the first day of school. It has great suggestions for classroom management and classroom setup. Many topics in the book are common sense type things, but worth a read for the beginning teacher
Rating:
Summary: Check with your school/district if they've free copies.
Review: Apparently I spent money when my district gives out the book. Oh well, it's worth every penny.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: This book really helped and provided practical easy to follow classroom management techniques.
Rating:
Summary: Great for new teachers!
Review: I read this book before interviewing for any job and after accepting my first job. While it is filled with "common sense" advice, I found it extremely helpful to see that common sense stuff put into black and white. It helped me prepare for interviews by showing me how to articulate what I already knew, and it helped me prepare for my first teaching job by giving me outlines for discipline plans, ideas for classroom management, and some incredible inspirational messages. While some of Wong's advice should be taken with a grain of salt, this book is a well-organized guidebook for teachers!
Rating:
Summary: This is the stuff they don't teach you in college
Review: I received this book as a gift my 2nd year of teaching and it found to be most helpful. Too bad I didn't have it my first year! It could have helped to make my transition into my own classroom much smoother. Teachers are so busy their first week of school that novice teachers tend to learn by the seat of their pants. This book may help to give the beginning of a new career solid footing.
Rating:
Summary: A must-read for teachers!
Review: Bravo to Dr. Wong for writing the Teacher's Bible. The First Days of School should be required reading for every educator in America. Priceless!
Rating:
Summary: One of the BEST Books
Review: I'll keep this short and sweet. This is a GREAT BOOK. I originally received it as part of my district's induction program, and read it constantly. It confirmed and supported ideas from my mentors, gave me encouragement and new insight, and was even borrowed by some of the teachers who had been teaching for years. When I had a student teacher, I purchased another copy to give to him, knowing that he could and would find the book invaluable.
Rating:
Summary: Unimpressed
Review: I agree with the other reviewer, don't waste your time or money on this book. If you don't already have the common sense that Mr. Wong peddles as "words of wisdom" in selling you this book, you have no business being in the classroom!
| 
