Planning ahead and being consistent
Planning ahead is a big thing. Always being prepared with the proper coursework for that lecture and class and the proper amount of copies and materials for the students, they like to see that the instructor is prepared or it sets a bad example and makes them not trust the abilities of the instructor.
Being consistent also builds trust in an instructors abilities. Students look up to their instructors as role models and they tend to put the instructor on a pedestal. Being consistent with the same rules for all classes lets them know that your not bending rules for certain students or playing favorites, rules are rules for everyone equally.
Planing ahead and being prepared is very important to me. I also get the students involved.When I start a new section with my students I tell them that I want them to partcipade in the process. I ask them to study the material for the day and work on a part of our project because they will do the same skills I show them in the next section.
Hi Daniel,
Right you are. I like your story about preparation. By being ahead you greatly reduce your need for Tums to calm the stomach. I am sure your fellow instructors were trying figure out what to do as you walked causally to your classroom ready to start the new class. Thanks for sharing the value of preparation with us.
Gary
Preparation really IS huge!!! Somewhere in our tutorial it also talked about making a list of items to cover so that you do not miss something. That is a key point of my own preparation. I also arrive early and lay out my materials in a manner that makes sense to me and my teaching routine. Finally, I try to get my materials together way ahead of time. Recently, we started a new semester. I tweaked and copied my syllabus the weekend before classes began. The rest of the instructors waited until the morning of the first day of class -- and our copy machine broke down. They were all in a frenzie, while I was calm and relaxed.
Hi Megan,
Welcome to teaching! You are going to love it! I have been teaching for many years and I cannot think of anything I would rather do than this. That being said it does take a lot of both hard work and emotion to be successful. As you develop your instructional expertise you will be able to enjoy the interaction you have with your students and that is where the real reward come in. I wish you a very successful teaching career.
Gary
Hi Tim,
So true about preparation taking time. This is why I tell my new instructors that it will get better as they work their way through their first course. Once they know the next time they teach the course they will have more time to concentrate on other parts of the course due to the good planning foundation they have created they relax a bit and start to enjoy teaching even more.
Gary
Being a new instructor, I find planning ahead helps calm me down and helps me feel comfortable relaying the course content to students in a confident manner.
Preperation is huge when you are becoming an insructor. It takes being consistent and being the best role model you can be.
