ways to reduce anxiety would be to state something which occurred that is funny and ge everyone to laugh. Laughter is a stress reducer
and creates a pleasant and comfortable atmosphere.
Hi Charles,
I like how you put yourself in the student's place. I do this a lot to become extremely effective with my teaching strategies.
Patricia
Just knowing you have been given an opportunity to present you knowledge, skills and forsight to waiting students. See yourself as one of the students waiting to be presented knowledge and new information from someone with a professional background.
Hi Maggie,
If over preparing eases your anxiety, continue to over prepare. I try to always have two days worth of work prepared, just in case.
Patricia
No matter how long I have been teaching I still experience the pre-class jitters. The best way for me to calm them is to over prepare for a lecture. If I know that I have an abundance of material, I do not need to worry about running out of topics. Most times, I never get to my last assignment and keep that for the next lecture.
I like being organized,have my daily lesson plan,the audio video equipment working in case I plan on using it during my lectures.I also like seting up everything needed for a clinical skill demo before class,so I wouldn't have to look for equipment or materials needed for my demo during class time.
At the beginning of the class,each day,I like to greet my students by addressing each of them as they enter the classroom,and welcome them .I like to constantly communicate with my students to get to know them better,and thus individualize my teaching.
Hi Robby,
You have it! Preparation is key! Students know when you are unprepared. Everything goes wrong when you are unprepared.
Patricia
being prepared is one of the best ways to reduce instructor anxiety. know what you will say next. pausing will increase the anxiety of the instructor. dont get me wrong you should pause and say the right thing than to speak repetitively. practice at home or during your break, anticipate questions.
Hi Rhonda,
Preparation is key! Students can tell immediately when you are not prepared. You lose credibility going into the classroom unprepared.
Patricia
Patricia,
This is the big one! Preparation cures 90% of it. Relaxing into the routine, setting some "get well material", and slowing your pace helps with the other 10%. I have found that my get well notes keep me on time if I'm ahead of schedule and I can skip them if I'm behind. Remember that the students are also anxious the first few days. Being prepared and adding humor relax the atmosphere and get the ball rolling.
Greg
I try to remeber my students are just as nervous as I am and relax
Make sure that you are prepared for class. If you have the opportunity meet as many of your students beforehand as possible (eg. student orientations or another class) Create a game or activity as an icebreaker. The students are probably anxious and nervous also.
Be prepared...be over prepared. I make sure I have material to cover two days worth of classes. Ice breakers....at least two. Short DVD or video appropriate to the course helps break up the lecture. I will ask the the class what do they expect to learn.
I may start a new class with a questionaire about what they think they know about me such as:
Do I have any pets?
What kind? Names?
What state am I from?
What do you think my 3 favorite foods are? Least favorite?
etc, etc,...
I read them out and we usually have some good laughs. We all tend to relax now because they can see I have a sense of humor.
Instructor anxiety can be reduced by being prepared and organized for class. Even if an instructor cannot answer an unexpected question from a student, the instructor can explain that they will research the question and answer will be discussed in class.
I always find that if I am over-prepared for class it can help reduce my anxiety! That, and make them laugh.
Being well prepared for the class helps immensely."Over prepared" is better. Having lecture notes, setting up a demo ahead of time, looking over the names on the roster are some of the ways to reduce anxiety.
Always be prepared for class and know your subject matter
In order to reduce any anxiety I may have about a class, I take a few minutes the day before the class to write down key points that I want to be sure to touch apon during my demo. I also write myself a list of everything I will need in order to have an organized and smooth demo, down to sheet pans sprayed and lined with parchment ready for the ovens. This way I know that my demo will be able to proceed smoothly.
For complicated topics I plan out what I want to put on the white board as part of my advance. prep.
I find that doing this puts me at ease as I prepare for class the morning of that complicated demo.
Carol Kravitz
You are absolutely correct. It's very important to make that connection.
Hi Herb,
I prepare thoroughly, and I lead by example in all areas. I am a true professional!
Patricia
