Teaching a class for the first time.
Things you do to prepare for for teaching a new class
Tanya,
One my students like is to pair the students up and have them chat with each other for a few minutes. They exchange names, where they are from, something they have done (I call this an significant live fact.) such as hiking the Grand Canyon, etc.. Then each student introduces the person they were paired with. Great help in remembering names because each student now knows at the name of at least the one other student in the class. This is always a fun time for the students.
If you do a search for ice breakers you will come up with a host of different sites that will give you ideas for ice breakers. Then you can select and adapt them for use with your students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Anyone have any icebreaker ideas? I have done "two truths and a lie" but it's getting old...
Talking to teachers who teach the prerequisite classes, and the classes that yours is a prerequisite for is a great help. It establishes what you can expect from students entering as well as what they will be expected to achieve when they move on. Course objectives are great, but the extra insight into just how those objectives will be utilized when talking to other instructors is invaluable
Marissa,
Be confident in the knowledge and experience you are bringing to the class. Have an ice breaker you can use with your students the first class meeting to get them talking and laughing while learning about each other. During this time get comfortable with the students so you have a sense of the personality of the class (each class will have a personality). Have a well prepared syllabus to share with the students. Come to class early and spend a few minutes talking with individual students. Start the class on time and lay out the objectives for the day. Segment your instruction so your students will be able to keep engaged and focused on the content. Talk with other instructors and learn from them strategies and methods you can use. Work hard to earn the respect of your students and establish rapport with them. Before you know it you will in the full swing of teaching and your new instructor nerves will be gone. I wish you the best as a new instructor.
Gary
Im a very new instructor and haven't taught a class on my own anyone have any tips??
Hi Rena,
I think all of us instructors have been there. Thanks for sharing your first day experience with us. It gives hope to beginning instructors because they see even if they have a case of the nerves it is going to be all right.
Gary
I remember very clearly my first day.The first moment I was afraid to open my mouth an say something I was smiling but it was nervous smile.And of course I remember how badly I was sweating and my back was all wet!! But still I aws lecturing and the lecture and class was very successfull at that particular day!
When I was preparing for my first class I didn't really know where to start. I had never taught before and I was really freaked out. Being a recent graduate from college I knew how syllabi were laid out so they were easy for me to follow and make lesson plans from. The one thing that helped me the most was the suppot that I had from my new co-workers, they all knew what it was like their first time teaching and they helped me in everyway they could.
I read over the syllabus and scan each chapter covered. I make sure to add any real time examples/activities in order to show the students the true value of the course
i think i was nervous my first class i taught cause i wasnt sure of my own teaching methods and i was worried what the students would think but as an instructor you learn to adapt as an instructor and go with the flow of the class room
THE FIRST TIME I TAUGHT A CLASS I DON'T KNOW WHO WAS THE MOST AFRAID ME OR THE STUDENTS. I HAD READ MY SYLLABUS AND MADE MY PROSPECTUS WHICH I THOUGHT WAS VERY CLEAR AND PRECISE AND THE STUDNETS FOLLOWED IT VERY WELL. I DIDN'T HAVE AN ANSWER KEY SO I HAD TO MAKE MY OWN AND FROM THE 2ND CLASS ON I GAVE QUIZES EACH WEEK I WOULD ADD ONE, ie: wk: 2 quize on chapter 1 & 2 etc. EACH WEEK THE STUDENTS WOULD SAY WE'VE ALREADY DONE THIS AND I'S SAY YES AND YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT AGAIN. BY THE END OF THE COURSE THEY ALL SAID HOW MUCH THEY LIKED DOING THAT, THEY FELT LIKE THEY KNEW THE MATERIAL A LOT BETTER THAN THE WAY THEY HAD SONE IN OTHER CLASSES.
