planning
if you are prepared for your course you can help your students by outlining the days activities on the board before class so as the students arrive they can look and what the plan is for the day.
Jack, a student outline, whether on the board as you suggested or a simple hand out is a good idea to 1) decrease student anxiety 2) keep on track for the day and 3)inspire confidence in your students that you know what you are doing! In the field which I am teaching (health care) there is enough pressure and anxiety from the unknown. Students are literally dealing with life and death, so the prepatory step of outlining the day's plan goes a long way to decrease anxiety and focus on priorites.
