I too teach one of the first classes that a student here takes. It's very important to not only set the tone for this particular course but also for the entire curriculum while they're here at the school. The same thing I always tell my students also applies to us, "you only get one chance to make a first impression."
Hi Alice,
You have a great responsibility since you are one of the first instructors on the college level the new students are going to have. In your description of how you start the class and get them settled in I know they feel that they can have a future as a college student. Great job of giving them a vision so they will return the next day and the day after that, etc.
Gary
I agree. If you can really motivate the students and get them excited for the first day of class, it really bodes well for the semester.
Everyone's statements about the importance of the first day of class are clearly correct. The classes I teach are at the very beginning of the students' college programs, so each one is pretty aprehensive. Most have been out of school a few years, or many. Setting a comfortable, welcoming learning environment is as important as a well-designed syllabus for these new learners.
I do a couple of non-threatening "get acquainted" activities, explain my expectations, my testing and grading philosophies, and then I give them the beginning lesson activities. They soon see they WILL succeed and leave feeling enthusiastic and more confident...despite the rather heavy homework load I must give them.
I also think that on the first day all students, from all age groups and life-experience, should be made to feel motivated and feel excited and energized for the second class
Hi Albert,
You are right about how critical the first class meeting really is. It sets the stage for upcoming sessions. You make a number of good points about how the students need to be made aware of the upcoming course content and what they are going to need to do to be successful.
Gary
