Public school teachers across the city reported for duty yesterday as Chancellor Joel Klein asked for their support in implementing the system's biggest educational changes in decades.

"It isn't going to work unless our teachers, our administrators and our support staff is behind it," Klein told teachers at Public School 154 in Harlem.

The start of classes has been delayed until Monday, giving the city's 80,000 teachers a chance to brush up on new citywide reading and math curriculums - the core of Klein's classroom reforms.

Some educators expressed concern that they were being asked to do too much, too soon. But others said they appreciated having a few days to work together to prepare for students.

"Hopefully, we will be figuring out our curriculum this week," said Robin Cornelison, a third-grade teacher at PS 220 in the Bronx. "Last year, we had no real support, so I'm hoping this year completely changes it."

Books have been delivered, school-based parent coordinators have been hired and trained, and many teachers this week will work with new literacy and math coaches.

White House tip

First Lady Laura Bush, appearing with Klein at a Mercy College event for the city's teaching fellows program, gave incoming teachers a pep talk, and some advice.

"No textbook can prepare you for 20 sets of eyes staring at you," she said.

While educators hit the classrooms, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum began a tour of newly completed school construction projects around the city.

"We're all set, we're raring to go," said Intermediate School 5 Principal Steve Katz, who guided Gotbaum through a 35,000-square foot addition at the Elmhurst, Queens, building.

In some parts of the city, crews were putting the finishing touches on classrooms that had been created in the space that formerly housed some of the old 32 community school districts.

"We were literally bursting at the seams," said Barry Friedman, principal of Middle School 172, which now has about 330 new classroom seats in what used to be the District 26 offices in Flushing, Queens.

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