New instructor mistakes
I find that one of the main new instructor mistake is that they start "too easy" and then try to pull in the reigns of the class later one. The instructor is never really able to do so. It would be better start very "strict" and stick to your stated expectations. Later once you have control of the class and the respect of the students you can relax a little and still have good classroom management.
Hi Pamela,
Set the standards high, yet attainable. Remember, you get from students what you expect.
Patricia
Oh, I think I went overboard on this one! I started out so “up tight†that the reception was not warm. I think I expected more from adult students and forgot that “adult†has a very wide age range. I have found that I need to adapt a bit in my expectations of my 20-something students and my 40-something students.
Hi Oneida,
NEVER READ to your students! It is the most borain thing in the world! Reading to your students will cause your students to lose confidence in you immediately. Paraphrase the material and lecture from prepared notes. Make it seem like you are just talking about the concept naturally, use good/real examples about the concept being taught.
Patricia
I did that with my tests and found it created alot of other problems in the end. I thoroughly think if each question now prior to asking it and make sure that the type of format I use for each question best challenges the student.
My "new instructor" mistake happened the first night of the first class I ever taught. I made the mistake of reading to my class. Not only did I bore the students, I bored myself.
