The customized First Week of School (FWOS) workshop provides a detailed guide to how to start your new intermediate class. Ray Myrtle shares  'What, Why and How' to prepare for each day in the booklet and videos. This is supported by handouts and a new index of ideas. Over 1500 of BC's early career teachers attended this workshop in person.

Download the entire zipped file of the FWOS booklet, handouts and index to the strategies.
Tip: Watch the step-by-step videos while making notes in the booklet and referring to the handouts.

The workshop references this resource, a comprehensive booklet he developed detailing how to set up your classroom for success.
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Blackline Masters
  1. Let's get acquainted (PDF to Print, Doc to Revise)
  2. Graph the class prediction (PDF to Print, Doc to Revise)
  3. Graph the class (PDF to Print, Doc to Revise)
  4. Class list template (PDF to Print, Doc to Revise)
  5. Seating plan (PDF to Print, Doc to Revise)
  6. Sample entry procedures (PDF to Print, Doc to Revise)
  7. 1-100 Chart. (PDF to Print)
  8. Class list for number skills (PDF to Print, Doc to Revise)
  9. Draw and predict (PDF to Print, Doc to Revise)
  10. Abstract design (PDF to Print)

Additional resources

Literature Circles (Members-only)
Learn how to implement this engaging reading strategy.
Building Math Confidence 
Learn how to build students' Math skills and confidence. 

Videos Overview (PDF)
Part One: Introduction (How To Use This Workshop)
​(14 minutes)

Teaching is a performance! Rehearse BEFORE you need to, Apparent vs underlying goals, studying and selecting activities, what TO Do and Get.
Part Two: Tuesday (Your first impression)
(15 minutes)

It’s usually ‘only’ an hour, but it's very important! HOW do begin to set the stage
Part Three: Wednesday (before recess) A BIG DAY!
(13 minutes)

Learn the three goals of the first week. Each activity you do should advance 1 or more of the 3 key goals of the first week @ 4:23 

Using a class survey we will begin teaching routines and class climate. We   begin teaching several procedures such as Attention Please!
Part Four: Wednesday (after recess)​
(25 minutes)

Assess reasoning & written fluency with graph & listening, & conversation & reasoning through ‘Read Aloud’
Part Five: Thursday
​( 14 minutes)

​Read Aloud, Personal Web, Draw & Predict
Part Six: Friday
​(20 minutes)

Entry routine-put Name card on desk, Work on the Web, Marking Art
Part Seven: Wrap Up
​(4 minutes)

Ray wraps up with key teaching points from the workshop, and suggestions for a new teachers as an education student, a TTOC or in a first contract: talk to teachers about their teaching. Don't be afraid to ask 'how' as well as 'what'. Good teaching!