No focus from the beginning
One of the most frustrating things that I experiance as an instructor is the first day of class. Rarely do all of my students show up for the first day of class. What is the best way to deal with this on the second day of class when they do show up? Obviously they have no idea what is going on, but the rest of the class is ready to dive in and start learning.
Hi Christine,
Good strategies. Thanks for sharing them with us. You are achieving results because you are helping the students to see they can be successful and that you are there to support their efforts.
Gary
I was glad to see this topic as lack of attendance on day one plays a huge role in the sucess of a student in most of the classes I teach. I have tried both reaching out via phone or email the first day to give them a leg up on what they may have missed and trying small group activites on the second day to allow them to feel more integrated in the class atmosphere. I have found both to be helpful in combating the fear many students have or returning to a school enviornment and in allowing them to get the information and bond with the class helping to create a sucessful envoirnment for the student.
Hi Joan,
You have hit upon a very common problem with starting a new class and that is a number of students that don't show up at the first class meeting. To help those students that don't show the first day get settled in is I have a small group activity. I start the second class with the small group doing a problem or case study. This way everyone can contribute comfortably. At the end of the class I pull the students that didn't come the first day and give them the syllabus and answer any questions they have. This way I am not holding up the class but still getting the information that is needed to those that were absent.
Gary
Hi Gary-
I agree with building value right from the beginning of the class, including the value of being there the first day. I think it sets the tone for the rest of the term about the importance of coming to class and being part of the class.
What are your thoughts about new students who are insecure about returning to school and do not come the first day? What can you do on the second (or third) day to make them feel included and still move forward for the rest of the class?
Joan
Hi Rob,
I like this approach because so many students just blow off the first day of class as being not important. By making it a learning opportunity plus having point value then the students will get the word out to others that "you need to be there the first day."
Gary
i often feel the same way, this is most common with the "older" stdents who know that little teaching takes place on the first day. It is important to put some value to the first day, i tend to assign a quiz for the second day, it is a self taught lesson and the student which came to class tend to do well and the students who skipped the class do poorly. The students know this is coming therefore they tend to show. hope this helps
