I have not had my first class meeting yet, I am a new insturctor in a sense that, I will be instructing in a class inviornment. As a supervisor in the work place, when I am training employees, my ice breaker is to tell them how nervous I felt when I first started, and how before long they will be where I am or better. I believe it is about shifting the importance from you to them.
I was on the organizing committee of a school fundraiser for parents and someone suggested an icebreaker for the agenda. Another lady said, "My husband doesn't like coming to these things and he definitely won't come if there's going to be an icebreaker." Do you have a stategy to engage the students who might feel this way?
Hi Melanie,
We need to encourage our students to want to feel a part. Students look to us for support as well as encouragement.
Patricia
I agree...the more comfortable the student can be, the more likely they are to participate. I think most of us remember our "first day" of school and anything to break the ice would be welcome.
Hi Fred,
An icebreaker is always nice on Day 1. Students really feel more at ease and become more comfortable by doing an icebreaker the first day.
Patricia
In my first session, my ice breaker is to allow them to share their long term goals with each other. During that short exchange, their names are exchanged to make them feel comfortable with the potential to make new friends and partners.
I do a thing that called a book about me. We fold a piece of paper so that there are 8 pages. On the front they write their name and then answer questions about themselves on the other pages. Then they mingle with each other, finding out information. I collect the books and then ask the class questions about the person. Most correct answers gets a little prize
At my school we do a similar activity during the new student orientation. A great way to break the ice! Helps them connect with each other right away; builds rapport.
