A book on classroom management, The First Days of School by Harry and Rosemary Wong, was handed to a new teacher in 2000 by the school district where they started their careers. The copy still displays the original sticker from the “Office of Instruction and Teacher Center,” along with two yellow Post-it notes from their spouse. First published in 1991, the book has sold over 4.5 million copies across five editions, though its pages now carry the faded, blue-gray hue of age. The cover photographs of this particular copy have developed that distinctive, waterlogged tint—like it spent years submerged—despite having been purchased brand new.
The book’s design prioritizes functionality. Printed on 8×10-inch horizontal paper, it stands out on shelves, making it easy for teachers to grab when they need immediate solutions. The environment orientation ensures it doesn’t blend in with other vertical books, giving it a literal “handle” for quick reference. In an Education Week interview from 2013, the Wongs explicitly stated their goal: to create something resembling “an automobile manual”, a structured, step-by-step guide where classroom management is treated as a mechanical system requiring precise procedures and corrective actions. This analogy reflects their belief that teaching, at its core, involves interlocking routines that must function smoothly, much like the systems in a well-maintained vehicle.
Praise and criticism of structured teaching methods
This method influenced later works, including Teach Like a Champion (2010), which has also sold over 1 million copies and is now in its third edition. While both books emphasize structured routines, their rigid frameworks have faced growing criticism. Online discussions among educators, particularly on Reddit, often highlight outdated elements in The First Days of School, such as the absence of guidance on managing technological distractions or addressing neurodiversity and adverse childhood experiences.
Despite these gaps, many teachers still recommend it as a foundational reference, with Reddit threads like “I Threw ‘Harry Wong’ and ‘Teach Like a Champ’ In the Trash” revealing a surprising consensus: most educators view Wong’s work as a practical starting point, even if they later adapt or discard parts of it. A majority of commenters prefer The First Days of School over Teach Like a Champion, citing its more accessible, less prescriptive approach.
One teacher who frequently uses the book emphasizes its practical advantages. Classrooms, particularly in middle grades, benefit from clear routines that reduce disruptions and create an environment where students feel secure enough to take academic risks. The book’s focus on time efficiency resonates with educators who observe that wasted minutes, not gaps in subject knowledge, are the most frequent issue in struggling classrooms. Middle school teachers, in particular, report that structured routines help mitigate the chaos that often arises when students transition between subjects or activities.
Administrators’ rigid enforcement sparks educator backlash
The most common criticism from teachers is not the book’s content but how administrators apply it. Reddit threads frequently describe pressure to implement the book’s strategies with absolute precision, leaving little room for teachers to adjust methods to fit their students’ needs. This rigidity shows a broader tension: even when authors acknowledge limitations, such as the Wongs’ own recognition that no single approach works universally, most classroom management books still default to a “one-size-fits-all” model.
The frustration stems from administrators enforcing fidelity to the letter rather than encouraging teachers to use the book as a framework for customization. Veteran educator Dina Strasser, who co-authored Management in the Active Classroom, Second Edition (EL Ed Publications, 2021), notes that the challenge lies in balancing structured guidance with the necessity of adaptability, ensuring routines serve individual classrooms rather than imposing uniformity.
Harry K. Wong, the book’s co-author, died in February 2024. Rosemary T. Wong continues to lead the organization behind their work from San Francisco, where she serves as CEO of the company they founded to promote their educational resources.
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