meeting the class for the 1st time
Upon meeting the class for the 1st time, one should keep it very professional. Don't let your guard down and show favoritism to a friend who is now a student. Set the tone upfront. I've been in classes where a co worker was the Course director and called me out by my 1st name on day one, folks then begun to look at me as 1. a spy and 2. like I was the teacher's pet and would pass not matter what. Keep it professional.
I agree 1st impressions are very important and it sets the tone for your classroom environment. Students must have respect for the instructor and their classmates, and this must be reiterated. When a class starts on the wrong foot, it is hard to recover and you will find yourself using valuable class time disciplining instead of teaching.
Sharika,
Good advice for all instructors to remember as they start a new course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
DANIEL,
Good advice to share with instructors. The constant in this is to "keep it professional" as you mention. If you do you will not have problems with students understanding who the learning leader is.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree. Always keep it prefessional. Every student is the same. If you choose to call students by their first name, always use Mr. and Ms. That way the students are equals, there are no favorites, and they don't get the line blurred between student and instructor. In the event the student and the instructor know esch other prior to class, there is still that student/teacher relationship, business not personal.
