First Day
On the first day I give the students an overview of the class and tell them my rules. I do not come on overly strong. I also tell them I am an adult, like they are and will treat them like an adult unless they act like children.
Hi Mable,
Way to go!!!!!!! I commend you for your professional attitude plus excellent preparation. You are going to be an outstanding educator.
Gary
Your comment makes me smile. I completed my first class of the semester earlier this week. The students kind of took turns looking for a weakness in the presentation that I worked on for lots of hours. It was fun to watch them try it but I had my preparation done very well so the last laugh was not theirs.
I certainly agree you can't come off too strong on the first day. But what I find if you are too weak the students will exploit that weakness. I find the most important thing is that you are fair and the students must believe that you are there because you want to help them learn.
I agree with this. Some of my students are starting school for the first time and are nervous about being around people they don't know. So what we do is I introduce myself, tell them a little about myself and then I have them introduce themselves and what their major is and where they expect to be in 5 years. My teachers did this on our first day and it get's them talking to each other.
This is where the tone of the class is set if you come off strong you will lose some students but if you are to soft that can still accure you need to have a good ballance for the first day. You need to bring your "A" game.
I'm with you, Charles. "Need to know" objectives are a priority to establish on day one. I also let each student introduce themselves to the class and usually have them add things such as how they found out about the program they're in, where they're from, where they'be been and where they want to go. I find it that I can learn all of their names in 2-3 days by making jotting down this info while I build a seating chart.
I agree. You need to get them ralxed, but you also have to let tham know how you expect them to perform and behave in class.
Setting the tone is extremely important. Not just to set students at ease but also to let them know what is expected of them, what the boundries are because unfortunatel not all instructors follow school guidelines
The first day seems to be a day of shared anxiety. Students are wondering about the expectations and what material they will see. Instructors/teachers are anxious about the type of class they are getting and what pace they will take with the material. The most important thing that I learned early on was that I am the biggest influence in where this class will go.
On day one the information given sets the tone, reading the faces of the students helps as you progress through the first day. Who is tuned in and who is not. Hepl those who are not.
First day is very important. it sets the tone for the rest of the course. i like to have fun and let the students have fun. it seems to me that the students have a better learning experience if they can be more relaxed
I agree Idothe same Ithink its very important
I do the same I also ask them what they want to get out of the class
I like to break the ice with telling them a little bit of my experience in school and have them introduce themselves to the class
Hi Charles,
The key as you mentioned is to get to know your students. Once you have established rapport with them the opportunities for growth and progress in the course will increase due to their desire to learn and they knowing that you care about their success.
Gary
I Like To let my students talk and do introductions.... Tell each other where they are from what kinda car they drive and so on and so on
I try to give students all the information they need for my class on day one. I also try to take time to get to know each of them. Seems to make them relax a little.
We all have the first day jitters,I try to have a relaxed atmosphere so the students can settle in fast.
