Hi Bindu,
Great way to get your students settled and ready for the upcoming course content. Ice breakers are always a help in getting the students familiar with each other and you the instructor.
Gary
My First Day is important to me. I start by introducing myself to the students. I discuss the Syllabi, rules and regulations handout. After going through all that. I sit down and during the class I have my students sign in on a sheet.
My goal for first day is to make the students feel comfortable with me and their peers. I start by calling the names and ask each student to state their name, tell them about themselves and ask them to name a characteristic that best describes themselves starting with the first letter of their first name. After that I give out handouts that are icebreakers for them and their peers. The handout has a grid on certain things such as "i have a cat". Each student is to go around the classroom and fill up the 10 grids with 10 different names of people who either have a cat, is wearing red...etc.
This icebreaker i feel helps them to be comfortable with each other and its a fun activity. The first day is my best day and I don't usually scare them by starting the first chapter. I don't want them to feel intimidated by it all.
Bindu Pillai
Hi Yolanda,
It's very true that the first day of class is vital to student's retention.
On their first day, I always make sure they know I am the authority, they know of my professional background so they will be convinced of my competency on the subject and they know I will be there for them (I care) especially for the nontraditional learners.
Teresita Fregans
Hi Yolanda,
I agree with you on the introduction portion of day 1. Have you considered also asking them to tell everyone why they are taking the class? It may give an insight into their motivation as well.
-Chris
Hi Brandi,
Sounds like you have a very clear understanding of what your expectations are for your students and then use a set of strategies to get them settled into the course. Good job!
Gary
I really look forward to the first day of class. I usually introduce the syllabus and objectives for the class. I often start with icebreakers. I like to do a couple of icebreakers before "we get down to business." The icebreaker I use the most is called Introduce Your Neighbor. In this activity students pair up, introduce, and explain a few interesting things about their neighbor. After we are done with that, we usually do another icebreaker to become more comfortable with each other. I like to keep my classroom light and educational! I always use cooperative learning strategies in each of my classrooms and it is very important that the students are comfortable in their environment, their neighbors and with me.
Hi Raymond,
Thank you for sharing your success strategies for getting a class started quickly and efficiently. You method gives you a leg up in getting rapport established with your students.
Gary
I use the meet and greet method and find that it works very well in making the students comfortable with me and what I expect from them in my classroom. We only get our students for 3 to 6 weeks depending on the class so we have I have to make them feel comfortable in my class as soon as I can. Getting them to introduce themselves and their own expectations of my class and their career is a great way to do this.
Sometimes I get a student that isnt willing to participate in this method so I have to respect that wish and move on. After that class I try to have a discussion with that person to assure him/her that I am only trying to personalize my class to make them more comfortable and able to learn with less stress. Getting to know ones peers seems to make my class go smoother.
I have noticed that for some of the students who may tend to be intimidated or frustrated by the rules and regulations of school, the first few days of school/class are integral to their success. If they see that staff and faculty are caring and responsive to their needs they are much more likely to "stay the course" and complete their education. Of course, much of this depends upon their attitudes they bring to the first day of class. Lack of paying attention, goofing off, or a general air of indifference is not going to encourage instructors or their classmates to dedicate any extra time or effort on their behalf.
It's unfortunate, but too often it's clear on the first day of school who will have academic trouble. It's those students who are able to break the mold and turn their life around that inspire us all to hope for similar results with other students.
Hi Phillip,
You are on the right track in terms of getting students comfortable and ready to learn. Change is hard for many people so it takes some time for them to adjust to change when it occurs. Students have this happen all the time so they are constantly in a state of adjustment. Anything instructors can do to help students get settled in will serve to make them focused on course content.
Gary
I have been toying with the idea of having the first day be more of a meet and greet where the starting class is seated in each the classes that they will be attending to meet the instructors that teach that class. My hopes are that the introduction of the classes and the instructional staff in this manner will ease any fear that may arise when being put into a different class environment every 30 days and expecting the students to just take off.
Hi Corrine,
Thanks for sharing this introductions strategy with the other participants. I am sure they will benefit from using it.
Gary
Hi Yolanda,
I have recently started using a method in which students generate a few "interview" questions and then pair the students up to swap papers and answer one another's questions. This seems to me to be a thoughtful way to get students thinking about themselves and one another. After the questions have been answered and the pairs have had a few moments to talk, I ask everyone to introduce the person they interviewed. I've found it to be fun and effective.
Hi Yolanda,
You are off to a great start to in getting new classes started. Keep up the good work. I like to have an activity that revolves around using some new information/content that the students can have fun with and see how they are going to acquire new information and skills in the weeks to come.
Gary
