It may be Dwayne Reed’s first year teaching, but he’s already proven that he’s a professional when it comes to engaging both students and the entire country.

Reed created a hip-hop inspired welcome song for his incoming fourth-grade students last month and his video has since been viewed over one million times, helping to raise awareness to the need for community donations in both the school he teaches and in similarly under-resourced areas.

Teachers are often encouraged to find new and exciting ways to welcome students into a new classroom at the start of the school year, and many agree that Reed has nailed it with his catchy and enthused effort.

”I just kind of wanted to spice up the old-fashioned newsletter, so I thought . . . 'Let's go ahead and put a song that will get the kids excited,’" he said to ABC News. 

That enthusiasm is heard in his lyrics: 

It’s my first year teaching so it’s all really exciting

Got some ideas and I’d really like to try them

Like making songs to remember what you hear

We’ll be learning so much by the end of the year

Reed touches on many of the topics teachers want their students to know before coming to class-like how they’ll be expected to work hard and respect each other while being pushed to succeed.

“Absolutely no day dreaming, working hard till the bell starts ringing,” Reed sings.

“We gotta keep it positive that’s the key. Have respect for each other and don’t forget me. . . . Having fun can be cool when we’re following the rules.”

Related Resources:

• Welcome Letter Template 
• Back to School Archive 
• Does Your School’s Atmosphere Shout ‘Welcome?’

Nicole Gorman, Senior Education World Contributor

9/18/2016