planning and prep
Having a clear blue print with goals and objectives set ahead of time gives not only you a base line for class, but also your students will have a road map leading them to success.
Nnekia,
A clear and concise syllabus is important but as you say it needs to have some flexibility built into so that as the course develops and student needs change you can make adjustments.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I prepare a detailed syllabus which I explain in detail to students on the first day. However, I have a calendar that is flexible. I find that it is sometimes necessary to allow more time for particular standards and less for others. This can sometimes vary from class to class.
AmyLyn,
Thank you for sharing your experience with instructional planning as a new instructor. You are doing a great job of keeping your students focused and moving forward in your course. This type of planning pays off as you have said. Knowing this will be valuable to other beginning instructors.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree with having clear goals and spending extra time on the planning and prep end, in order to have a great class. I am a new instructor and have been making a weekly agenda that each student gets at the beginning of class. This keeps all of us on track for our 4.5 hour class and lets everyone know what we still need to cover for the day. I have found that this extra detailed step keeps everyone very engaged and on the same page.
Peggy,
Yes, we must bring our A game to class each time it meets. To do any less is to cheat the students of their maximum learning opportunities.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
This is so important. Students can tell when an instructor is having a bad day or is unprepared for class. They will lose faith in you.
Sylinda,
Thank you for this strategy. I know it will be of benefit to other instructors.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I make a list on the board before class starts that outlines what will be covered in class daily. It keeps me on track and my students know what to expect from the time they walk through the door.
Heather,
Instructors have some many things to plan and remember that a checklist becomes essential. It is easy for a student to make a request and for the instructor to forget about the request by the next time the class meets. So the more we stay organized the more we will be able to respond to our students and keep them moving forward with their learning.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I completely agree. I prepare my unit plans, lesson plans, instructional materials but then I also have my own personal checklist as a way to make sure I've covered everything I needed to for the class. I also make checklists for students sometimes when we're working on longer, more complicated projects. It helps them keep track of their progress and keeps them on task.
Kristin,
This is so important in setting the tone and direction for the class. If the students don't know what the goals and objectives are how will they be able to stay focused and/or know when they have accomplished them?
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
