Hi Terrance,
What do you typically do to reduce instructor anxiety? I like to be extremely prepared and have a backup plan to every plan to reduce anxiety.
Patricia Scales
Hi Karen,
This is certainly a sign of a great teacher. You should always do what the students are to do so that you are familiar with the material. Preparation is a must.
Patricia Scales
I think this is a good ice breaker.
I make sure I read the material the students are expected to read, this way I know when they ask questions to direct them in the book for answers.
I also read the material to keep myself fresh in their perspective how the material flows. I can sometiems pick out ahead of time where difficult information is and I can focus on making sure that information is relayed in a way the students can understnad or relate to.
Hi Clay,
I can tell you want to be the very best you can be! I have been teaching for over 22 years, and I still review old notes so that I do not leave any stone unturned.
Patricia Scales
I like the idea of icebreakers. I think it would relax me as well as the students.
Before teaching a new class, I go over my syllabus and make notes about every subject covered as well as notes on professional experiences I've had with each subject. This usually reminds me of ways to express the importance of the material covered.
Accept the anxiety and remind yourself you've done this many times before, and succesfully!
I am also a big fan of deep breathing which always helps to calm my anxiety and nerves.
I always tell my students not to be afraid of making mistakes and remind them that you have to laugh at yourself sometimes. I try to remind myself of the same things when I feel that anxiety coming on.
Hi Ron,
We must be our students BIGGEST cheerleader. We have to give them some rah, rah, rah. Some students need more motivation than others, but we must work hard to motivate them all.
Patricia Scales
Prepare; prepare; prepare. Always have more material than needed. Always have back-up plans, case studies, articles and so forth. In this manner, you will always look prepared.
Lastly, involve them in activities or discussions, which eases your burden.
Some of the strategies in which can be used to reduce pre-class anxiety are to first motivate students in regards to being able to complete the course. Also, exaplaiing to students about the past success of students who once was in their place.
i just think if i ws the student what would i want the teacher incstructor to do
I feel completely relaxed and confident before I step into the class, after thoroughly preparing and rehearsing for it. Even if I had done the class before, I would still prepare, making any changes that I picked up on from my previous experience.
Ofcourse if we are prepared well more than half the anxiety is gone. And also we should have enough materiels to fill the time
I always get my class organized "on paper." By this, I make sure I have my lesson plan in front of me with details on which lecture notes, which handouts, which quiz materials, which demonstration materials, and anything else I will need to teach a 4 hour class. This reduces my nervousness.
Hi Kathryn,
Great way to be prepared for the unexpected, and you were certainly fair to your students about testing. As an effective instructor, we must know how to be flexible so that we can adjust to situations such as these.
Patricia Scales
Hi Michele,
Preparation is key! Preparation brings about self confidence and will definitely decrease anxiety.
Patricia Scales
I am a new instructor and I found that if I over prepare for classes it helps a lot. I usually have more activities planned than the class will allow with the most important planned first. My first class this term I discovered that the bookstore ran out of books so I needed to quickly change my game plan for the class. Thank goodness I had many different activities to fill the classroom time.I really had to change my game plan for the tests also because I didn't feel that it was fair that some students had books and others did not.
I am a new instructor and I found that if I over prepare for classes it helps a lot. I usually have more activities planned than the class will allow with the most important planned first. My first class this term I discovered that the bookstore ran out of books so I needed to quickly change my game plan for the class. Thank goodness I had many different activities to fill the classroom time.I really had to change my game plan for the tests also because I didn't feel that it was fair that some students had books and others did not.
Yes, being prepared is the best way, However, just knowing inside that it's ok to make a mistake will reduce anxiety.
