Greeting the Class
Something I have never done as an instructor on the first day is standing at the door and greeting students as they enter the room for the first time. This is a great idea that I intend to use in the future! In the past, I have stood at the front of the room, waiting for students to get settled in their seats. I realize now that this may come across as intimidating and may not help make the best first impression. By greeting students individually as they enter, I will be able to impact their learning even sooner than waiting until everyone has assembled.
What ways do others here greet their classes?
I am currently going through NIT training and am absorbing as much as i can so i will be prepared for my first day instructing. Greeting students at the door sounds like a good approach and mixing it up with some of the students prior to kicking things off might take the edge off for both student and instructor.
Sometimes it takes a class one or two meetings to "warm up". As I teach math, I have the opportunity to walk around and talk to each student personally while they are working, and I can thus tailor our conversation to the personality of the student.
I like to you this time to find out why they are in my class and what they hope to get out of it, I also have a little fredom to move things aound to high light things that they might be more interested.
I tend to walk around the class and greet each student individually. Doing this, I have to make sure I do not leave anyone out. But the students seem to feel more comfortable when I do that.
Many times I get to meet the students before they actually start my class.
Hi Casey,
Besides using the greeting method I have walked around the classroom chanting with the students about misc things, like sports, community activities, etc.. Anything to get them talking to me and feeling comfortable in the classroom.
Gary
