i WOULD AGREE THAT RESPECT IS UTMOST IN EARLY IMPRESSIONS WITH NEW STUDENTS,BUT TIME WILL USUALLY TELL STUDENTS IF WE AS INSTRUCTORS REALLY ARE ON THE BALL AS WE APPEAR.I still think some people just dont make good first impressions,but can be excellent instructors, just a thought.
joe knight
It is essential to make a good first impression! If you don't start on the right foot in your classroom, you can very quickly and easily lose the respect of your students when you are trying to gain it.
A positive first impression can be the first step toward losing the math phobia most students bring into my classroom. I am usually fighting a losing battle. While in other classes there are students who are interested in the subject, my subject is required and usually shunned if they had any choice in the decision. My most common question is, “why do we have to take this course?†My answer is that they will be required to analyze different situations in their career and notice irregular and regular patterns. I help them practice analyzing patterns and acting on their analysis. If I can relax them the first day, their receptive nature will allow them to increase their self esteem and will get more out of the course.
This positive impression will carry along with it a sense of enthusiam and excite our students so they believe they made right choices about their class selection.
joe
Hi Douglas,
This is called bringing your A game to the class. You are organized and excited about having the chance to share your knowledge and expertise with your students. This is what helps to "sell" the class to the students from the first day on.
Gary
By making a positive first impression, I feel that as an instructor, you set the tone for the remainder of the class. High energy, voice inflection, attire and eye-contact are a few of my strategies that I feel have worked well for me to make a good first impression.
Hi Ruston,
Very true. The earning of respect leads to the development of rapport and rapport leads to a professional relationship that can last for the duration of a person's career. This is what makes teaching so great--the impact we have on the lives of our students.
Gary
Hi Thomas,
EXACTLY! We have to show we care about our field and our students. Our excitement is catching.
Gary
Hi Dana,
The greeting at the door can be a deal maker for many students. They feel accepted and start to realize that they are going to be able to be successful in the course. Great way to start a new learning experience.
Gary
I agree that first impressions are key, and I too place a huge emphasis on first impressions. They size both you and the class up that first class. And remember, a person makes a judgement with the first 7 seconds of meeting a person or situation!!
Along with setting the tone for the course, I feel that the first impression is important to win the respect of your students personally as well as through your ability to help them learn. I have found that gaining the students respect reduces class room disruptions, improves attendeance, and encourages more "on time" assignments.
First impressions most certainly SET THE TONE for your entire class. I put lots of thought into my first class meeting with all my students to ensure they "get" me and undertand my course expectations!
I think learning it is just the first step: using it, applying it, creating from it all are futher steps that need to be taken.
I agree. Excitement does create motivation for the students and an invite to involvement.
Want to emphasize developing an understanding of the material and making something their own, getting into it, rather than just learning the material.
If you are not excited why should the students be?
Puts individual in a more comfortable state of
mind, when greeted w/an introduction of my name
and the fact I'm their instructor. "welcome to
class, we appreciate you being here". Works for
me and usually see a sign of relief in their eyes. It sets the tone for an inviting educational environment.
This is an absolutely critical part of instruction! It helps you appraise the class, get to know the students, learn of issues that may be present, allows you to answer questions for the students if they have them, helps the instructor get into the mind-set of the class, creates a bond between the students and instructor, helps provide credibility for the instructor, relaxes the students, etc. It is absolutely key!
The first day sets the tone for the entire class. Students are coming in to a new class and don't know what to expect from the class or from the instructor. The first day is the time to establish an open line of communication between student and instructor.
YES I am being critical. The instructor is setting an example, a standard to strive for. That is why we are the instructors; because we are supposed to be doing things correctly. Just because this forum is not being graded doesn't mean the writer shouldn't continue to strive for correctness. When I see sloppy emails, sloppy text messages, etc. I am immediately turned off by that. Maybe because I am older and more mature I am reluctant to accept shoddy work, whether it is in teaching, the medical field, or in typing a response to a message. How can you demand something from your students that you don't demand of yourself? I would hate to have someone sloppy doing surgery on me; and I would hate to have a teacher who doesn't care enough to spell a word correctly (or use a dictionary if needed). Don't take it so personally.
