MY usual first day
As a teacher in college that use the quadrant system; I have to meet new student every one and a half months, that means I meet many studenta for the first time. Usually I introduce myself at the beginnig then. after letting the students to introduce them self I try to make some joke about my life as a student, show them how beautiful and interesting is college life despite the stress of studying, I would use some examples of how the science I'm teaching apply to some popular movies, like " the whole nine yards" when I teach dental assistants, honestly I do not try to overplan my first day I try to go with the flow and listen to the students then connecting their concern with the course.
George,
Thanks for sharing this strategy with us. This is a great way to show the value they are getting by being in school and acquiring knowledge.
Gary
This sounds familiar, I'm the first teacher to meet students on there first day of class in our shcool. So I'm always trying to make them feel comfortable and let them know that I was a student here. This always helps
I deal with students that have issues with self-esteem and on the first day I usually have them think about the amount their program is costing them and ask them to decide if they are worth that amount of money. I also have some fake million dollar bills that I got from a toy store and I hand them out to my students and have them write on the back "someone thinks I am worth this: I have them tuck it in their wallets or somewhere and they have something that lets them know I am on their side when the going gets tough.
Karin,
A simple fun exercise that everyone enjoys while learning a lot about each other. Great way to get a class started.
Gary
my first day I try to make stundets comfortable with me as well as each other. If they already know one another I like to do a game where the write something down no one knows about them then make students guess who it is. Its amazing how much more we learn from one another. karin
This is great information. In my college the students take 6 weeks terms so not everyone is new to the course. Some students are from the previous term and others are new.
Ehab,
Good point about not "over planning" the first day. As everyone is meeting each other for the first time the atmosphere should be relaxed and time be spent in getting to know each other so the next class can be a growing experience for everyone.
Gary
