For the first day of class, I arrive early and stand the door and greet students as they come in. Usually, some will introduce themselves and that will help me relax as I begin a rapport with the class.
Hi Phillip,
Great ways to break the ice so that anxiety is minimized.
Patricia
Hi David,
As the "go to" person you really have to know your stuff so to speak, therefore, you will definitely prepare, which reduces anxiety.
Patrici
Andre,
Remembering that you were always the "go to" person really makes a difference in self-esteem going into the classroom. I also had been a go to person throughout my education and in industry. My remembering that worked for me as well to give me more confidence as a credible authority.
I let the students talk about themselves in the begining of class or I talk about a subject that is important to massage or my experiences in massage.
Hi Teri,
I like the extra effort on your part and the nice personal touch you provide to all students.
Patricia
One way I reduce pre-class anxiety is I like to get to the first class of the semester early so I can greet all of the students individually as they enter the room. I introduce myself and ask their name then hand them the syllabus letting them know that I will go over it in detail when class starts. The opportunity to talk with each one individually also gives me an extra boost to my memory for remembering their names quickly.
Hi Linda,
Preparation plays a vital role in teaching! I like to prepare a week in advanced for all of my classes. The more prepared you are, the more confidence you will have.
Patricia
Hi Richard,
What a great icebreaker. This is a sure way to ease the tension and pressure students suffer from on Day 1.
Patricia
Hi Peggy,
Yes, it will work online as well. It is a super icebreaker that is enjoyed by all.
Patricia
Hi Michelle,
Preparation is key! Being prepared leads to success.
Patricia
Ensure that I am prepared and all documents (syllabus)are ready for distribution on the first day of call.
I believe that preparation is the key. I like to plan way in advance so that I can complete small pieces at a time. I begin with the big picture. Where I want to be at the end of the course. Then I work on what a month might look like. Then I go to the week and finally individual lessons. This allows me time to think, time to develop different methods, and time to revisit what I want to do. As instructors we all know that the more interaction your students have with the material the better they know it. The same is true with us. The more you interact with the lesson the more confident you will be with the delivery.
I am curious do you do this on line too? I was just wondering? It sounds like a great ice breaker.Peg
Make sure you are prepared. If you are not they can smell it. It is the old saying like getting out of bed on the wrong side. It sets the pace of the class and also hurt your reputation. Make sure you have the handouts ready. Make sure all tools are working. Make sure the labs work. Even if you have to do the labs make sure they work.Peg
First class with an new group starts with students filling out a questionnaire about themselves. Then they exchange, and then introduce each other using the questionnaires. It reduces their anxiety, allows me to try to learn names, and it can be fun.
I try to always over prepare for the first class, arrive early and get everything set up. Once class has started, use ice breakers, discussion about career goals etc… to get to know your students. I find that once I know a little about my students, it makes me more relaxed in the classroom.
New instructors are only as good as the training information that is given to them. If a new instructor is taught well, has observed classes that they might end up teaching during the next term, and conduct practice session being observed by their "trainers", then the nervousness should be able to be kept at a minimum.
I think class preparation is the key to reducing instructor anxiety. In the module, overpreparation was mentioned. I have found that when I am prepared the class responds by being more engaged. When the class is engaged, many times all of the material is not even necessary for that class because learning is occurring and the excess material can be covered at another time.
By going over the lesson plan and reading the class materials prior to beginning the class. Beginning prepared is always a good plan to follow to minimize anxiety before beginning the class.
