Hi Angela,
Anytime I teach a class for the very first time, I thoroughly STUDY the material so that I can present it in a clear fashion that is understanding to the students. Getting with an experienced instructor in a course is always a good idea so that you can get pointers. I have a notebook for every class that I teach that includes notes, activities, quizzes, tests, handouts, etc.
Patricia
If I have never taught a particular course before, I start with reading over the material for the course, just as if I were a student. I then focus on handouts that would supplement the reading and reinforce concepts. If possible, I like to conference with an instrcutor that has taught the course before to see if there are any errors in the text that I can avoid and to get an insight on learning activities that I might not have thought of. If I know the course material and am prepared, I am not nearly as nervous! In my department, all of my instructors are required to keep a course binder of learning materials, handouts, notes, etc that can be shared with other instructors. This is also great if a subsitute has to step in at the last minute.
Hi Mary-Jane,
You must follow through! Students really do hold us accountable, and if you do not follow through they will call you on it. You will lose credibility by not following through.
Patricia
I agree when I first began I told my students this. If I didn't know I would find out and then i follow through
I agree with each of your points. My very first day of class went well with a brief bio and explaining what I believed I had to offer to the students. Then I went into the syllabus and related the class expectations in a way to show them what the course also had to offer. It took away the pressure of the unknown and helped both the students and myself become comfortable with the start of a relationship we were going to have for the next several weeks.
Hi Jon,
Experience is really the best teacher. Every opportunity you get, you should pick a seasoned instructor's brain.
Patricia
Early in my career i sought advice from some of the 'seasoned' faculty. This really helped relieve some of my anxiety. Just seeing their preperation and organizational skills made the transition smoother. I now lend the same advice to new faculty.
Hi Nicole,
I share the same information with my students about my personal life. It seems to relax the student when they feel as though, we are normal people too.
Patricia
During class introduction I always give the students my professional background and some personal history. Not to personal,but things like I am married, I have one son and three granddaughters. This seems to always break the ice and the students start to relax and realize I am just another person helping them achieve their goals.
Hi Kevin,
Since you mentioned pray, prayer is powerful, and it is certainly a calming mechanisim. The best thing about prayer is that you do it silently and no one every knows what is being done.
Patricia
Hi Ashley,
I've used this tactic as well, and students enjoy it. This practice makes for a fun, yet comfortable atmosphere.
Patricia
I read a posting about an icebreaker idea that welcomes the students to ask a question or two about the instructor. I thought this was a wonderful idea not only for the students but for the instructor as well.
One method that I use is to arrive to the classroom early enough to get a feel of the class, pray, and perform a light exericse to defuse the anxiety or tension.
When I first started teaching I was very nervous. The way I over came my anxiety was to take in a few breaths and remember I knew my material I was teaching.
Hi Bob,
It is okay to be nervous as long as you do not let the nervousness overtake you. After about a minute or so, the nervousness does seem to go away. Being confident and prepared will help minimize nervousness too.
Patricia
I know that when ever I start a new class, I get nervous and I have been teaching for awhile now. What I do is take a deep breath before I go into the classroom, this helps clear my mind and focuses me. I then introduce myself and let the class know my experiance, then I have the class introduce their selves. This not only breaks the ice but helps me put a face with the name.
Making sure you are prepared with all paperwork, lectures, demonstrations. Going over it a couple times before class so you know what you are going to talk about. Doing some sort of ice breaker or introductions to just talk to your new students before actually talking about the class helps.
Hi Carolyn,
I always have a daily lesson plan to go by. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Preparation is key!
Patricia
Linda, I agree with your thinking. It is important to learn a little about the students to tailor the class to fit their needs. Goes back to that buy in we talked about earlier. You might also ask what other classes the students have taken to judge where they are in comparison to their classmates. Are they early in their learning career or almost ending. This happens at times when classes are taken out of sequence.
I believe an instructor needs to come prepared for class. I set my major goal(s) on what I want to accomplish for the entire class period (calling this my LTG); I break my teaching plan into small bites (calling these my STG's) to complete/accomplish/achieve the big picture(my LTG that I set out to do). This can reduce anxiety immensely.
