First impressions are just that!! I prefer it to be POSITIVE from the beginning. It's smoother sailing, the rest of the semester, if it's positive. I always do my best to dress accordingly and set a firm but relaxed atmosphere at the start of courses.
This is the time where you give a first and lasting impression to your students. It is very crucial that you set a good first impression for students to consider you a good role model and make the learning experience more meaningful to them.
A positive first impression is important because it sets the tone for the day. No one knows how everyone is feeling or how well their mornings or days have gone so far. It’s important to show up for class, rested, clean and ironed, and ready to go. Let the students know no matter what has happened prior to class they are where they belong and ready to learn.
Janice,
Well said and such a critical part of the career development process for students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
We are training the professionals of tomorrow. You must be professional so they understand what is to be expected. Model, Model, Model. If you strive to be the best the will rise to be the best also!
Joseph,
It is fund when you have a great first class and you have made a positive first impression. You know you have nailed it that day and that your students are going to be coming back to class excited about what they are going to learn over the next few weeks.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
First impression can make or break you. A poor first impression leads to an instructor having to work harder for the students respect. A great first impression engages the student, and most times will keep the student interested.
Janis,
Your last sentence really captures the essence of how the first impression sets the tone for the class. You are right about the students expecting a professional role model to be before them. We can never forget we are their learning leader and are helping to shape their career development.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The first impression is a lasting impression be it the impression of the (teacher/instructor) or the the first impression of your student. We must be very careful to make that "lasting impression" one of respect and professionalism. We must show from the first day of the course that we or knowledgeable, organized, timely, and we expect respect and will give respect that it is a two way street. We must let our students know we are their for each and everyone of them and as I say "will leave no one behind". If the students see this in you and you genuinely care and let them know that, there should be little or no problems. Students expect when they set down in a class to have a good role model in front of them.
you establish a good rapport with the students that way.
China,
You make a key point about helping students to know they have made the right career choice as a result of how you set up the class. It is a building process from there on.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
GERAR,
Good plan that helps to get everyone on the same page. Helps to achieve the objectives for that class session with this type of opening.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Kathleen,
Good point about the impression instructors make and how we perceive the class going as the result of those perceptions. I know I have had a number of professors that did not seem to care about being prepared for the first class session and as a result I have negative feelings toward the class. Some of the professors changed my perceptions later on in the course and others reinforced the fact that they really didn't care about teaching or us as students. Sad situation for sure.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Luanna,
Good points for how to start a new class. These preparations set the stage for a positive and engaging class to come.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Making a positive first impression is important to yourself and the students. It gives the students a sense of feel of being able to be comfortable with you teaching them in the field the they chose a carrer in.
It is good to be direct, do a quick preview of what will be taught and the expected results. Also, carry out the instructional plan without falling off track,this will set a positive impression for your students.
A positive first impression will set the tone for the class, we have all had instructors who did not make a good first impression and when leaving that first class, we thought what were we in for, thank goodness this was usually not true and the class was enjoyable, but as they say first impressions are the lasting ones
I agree.
A positive first impression for students include the following:
being there before the students,
making any copies prior to the day of the course,
knowing the content of the day's events
Amanda,
You have expressed a well developed rationale for making sure we model the behavior and professionalism related to our field. Our students need to see how professionals in their field conduct themselves so the know how to develop themselves for career success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
As instructors we are the role models to our students. We set the expectations of what we desire in our classroom. By making a positive first impression we have set the bar to our standards. The students look to us for reassurance, guidelines and professionalism. We can not expect them to be any more accountable than we hold ourselves.
If our class is important to us than it will be important to them. Our enthusiasm for the subject will be contagious.
