first day intro
The first day of class is always my favorite. It sets the tone for the rest of the 13 months I will be with my students. I always start with getting to know the students, and try to get the students to interact with each other through some fun activities.
For ex. students are put in very small groups to get to know each other. Groups are rotated to meet everyone.
This lasts about 45 min.
They then pick anyone from the class to tell the rest of us about that person.
What do you do on the first day?
Hi Patrica,
Great bonding game and a super way to find people who have things in common as you do. I am sure the students have a lot of fun with this game.
Patricia Scales
I like to do introductions by using an interactive game called "People Find", where students are given a sheet of paper with questions printed in boxes on it, like, " Can you find someone who has lived in another state?" and they have to get up and walk around the class room introducing themselves and find & place people's names in the appropriate box that answers the question. They are encouraged to ask me questions as well and can "win" if they get all the questions answered.
Hi Ronald,
Great response! I agree! The first day is crucuial. All rules, expectations, policies, etc. must be shared. A strong first day presentation can make the entire grading period run a lot smoother.
Patricia Scales
I am a massage therapy instructor, I feel that the first day is the most important day of the entire program. It sets the tone for the rest of the program and the rest of the classes and instructors. I feel that I make sure that the students are in the field for the right reason and I put expectations on the students to have fun and learn and enjoy the curriculum. We are fortunate that the class sizes are usually in the 2-5 students so it is easy to get personal and learn each facts about each other and I always find out who is the motivator of each student...it might be a love one,a child, a parent, sibling, grandparent etc. Then when the student has a difficult time, I remind them that they need to do it for that individual....
Hi Kristen,
This is great! Ilike how you take this approach to ease their nervousness about speaking in front of others. Great way to ease the students into public speaking.
Patricia Scales
This makes me wish I taught chemistry - what a fantastic first day intro!! I teach public speaking and the students are usually nervous on the first day so rather than having them give a speech introducing themselves, I pair them up into teams. After interviewing each other, they go up together and introduce their partners. It is easier to go in front of the class with a "buddy" and it also helps build rapport.
On the first day of class I tell the students a little bit about myself. I also have them intoduce themselves to me and the to rest of the class so all the students get to know each other. I also have each student say a little something about themselves. I then review the course objectives, the syllabus, and review why the class is important in their choice of study and future job position.
Hi Jerry,
Great exercise to help students keep their eyes on the prize.
Patricia Scales
Based on a faculty meeting discussion at my college, I gathered information from students the first day that included their career goals. I had them list what type of position they would seek following graduation, where they saw themselves in their career 3-5 years after, and then what goal motivated them outside of their career (what goal does your career provide for).
I feel this exercise gave students the opportunity to think about life after school and re-focus on why they are beginning another course to work towards those goals.
Hi James,
Students feel more cofident in your abilities when you share your educational credentials and background with them.
Patricia Scales
The first day of class is a good time to introduce your self so the students know were you came from and your background which you came from. They need to know your qualifications you have to teach the course.
Hi James,
Wow, you had my full attention just reading this. I can imagine if I was sitting in the classroom. What an awesome activity to do on Day 1 to get your students excited and involved. I understand your eager anticipation for the remainder of the course.
Patricia Scales
Hi Shannon,
What a thorough overview on the first day and great bonding activities as well.
Patricia Scales
I will always remember the intro done by my high school chemistry teacher in a small country high school during the '40s in the small 10-table laboratory. He, at the teacher's bench, had two small beakers with a clear liquid in each. In from of him were two small metal plates, and a holder of test tubes and glass rods. After class settled, he held up his hand for us to be quiet and watch. He took a hollow glass rod, dipped it into one of the beakers in which he said was hydrocloric acid. He dripped some on the metal plate and we watched, fascinated by the spurting/bubbling/hissing and vapors coming off it, eating into the metal. He took another hollow glass rod and took a sample from the second beaker, stating it was sodium hydroxide, otherwise known as lye, and dripped it onto the second metal plate. Again, we watched fascinated as it bubbled and hissed, eating into the metal. He then took a graduated test tube and carefully poured some of the first beaker into it. He carefully and slowly added some of the second beaker, and stirred the mixture slowly with a glass rod and set the test tube in a glass of ice water. He then slowly took roll, and when he finished - all of our eyes were on that test tube - he picked up the test tube from the glass of water and drank it. Talk about getting the attention of the class! That set the stage of the rest of the course. We couldn't wait for each class after that, and we eagerly and whole heartedly participated in every assignment. (For you non-chemistry students, the two chemicals reacted, ending up in heat and salt water).
On the first day of class I first introduce myself,give a brief description of my background experience and qualifications. I then go over classroom expectations and do a syllabus overview. Then lastly, prior to the start of lecture and objectives for Day 1. I play a couple of Ice Breaker games such as, 2 truths and 1 lie and/or "Ive done what you havent" To give the students as well as myself a chance to get to know one another.
Hi Robert,
I understand when time is of the essence. I teach at an accelarated level as well. I am with each group of students for 5 weeks. I do the best that I can to build a rapport with my students in such short period of time by having small talks, smiling and greeting students, complimenting them when they do well, etc.
Patricia Scales
The classes that are teach are accelerated so I only have 6 weeks with each group of students. This can make it difficult to generate that "community" feeling that is so important to the learning process. I actually devote my entire first class to introducing myself, explaining my educational history and career background. I also provide an outline for the course and discuss what the students can expect over the next 6 weeks. I also have added an introduction assignment for students to help increase classroom discussion and interaction.
Thanks,
Robert Stephens
Hi Mark,
I do a get-to know icebreaker that consists of grabbing some M&Ms from a dish and based on the number of M&Ms the student has, that is the number of different things the student has to tell about him or herself. I too introduce myself, and I thoroughly go over the syllabus and calendar for the module.
Patricia Scales
