What should I look like on the first day of school?

What does the first day in middle school in the United States look like?

• I am writing a novel, and the protagonist is starting the eighth grade. However, I am unfamiliar with the American school system, and it is very different from the one I know. I would like to get a clear picture about the homeroom, the first hours, the course planning etc.

• Answer:

  For nearly every class, the first day is pretty much the same.  It is the single most important day as a teacher, and the kids consider it a blow-off day. You as a teacher have to establish classroom rules and procedures that set the tone for the rest of the year. If you listen to Harry Wong, that means a great deal of practicing classroom procedures until the kids know exactly what you expect for a smooth running classroom. The first day also entails getting-to-know-each-other exercises to help establish and build trust. Often these merge together somewhat. For instance, I used to have my students participate in what could best be described as a "structured chat" while we practiced quieting down when I gave my signal that I needed the while class's attention. I'd let them chat with the person on their right (or whatever side I chose at random) for a minute, then I would raise my right hand and say "Ladies and gentlemen" in my "teacher voice" and they would gave me two stops and a start... that is stop working, stop talking, and start listening. If you have any more questions that I didn't answer, let me know.