Hi Patricia,
The best way is to be prepared actually overally prepared. Have plenty of handouts and activities to do in case there is time left. I teach primarily accounting classes. I'm lucky because there are endless exercises and problems to do in class and so many topics to discuss.
Cheri Elkin
Hi Heather,
I do the same thing. Preparing a week in advanced has worked beautifully for me. It puts me at ease, and I am eager to teach each day.
Patricia
Hi Terri,
Preparation is key! I always prepare a week in advanced.
Patricia
Hi Michael,
Wow, I can tell you are not a procastinator. Preparation and organization are key.
Patricia
Hi Peggy,
This is so interesting when you try to play out every scenario. Just when I thought I had each scenario played out, something new came along. I've been teaching for 21 years and new questions are continuing to surface.
Patricia
I like to practice the entier lecture/demo and try to imagine every possible question or mistake that could happen. I will the create a "game plan " for each. I also have thought out a few responses for when something new happenes in the class.
One of the biggest things I get from fellow instructors, especially inexperienced ones is that they are afraid that someone will ask a question that they can't answer, and it will make them look stupid.
What I do in this case, is use it as a learning experience. I will either say "That is a very good question, and a perfect topic for a research project, You can present your findings at the next class meeting." In a case where this doesn't work, I simply inform them that this is not a topic I am very familiar with, but I will have an answer for them the next time we meet. Either way, it leads to a learning experience, and I have never had a student tell me they thought it was wrong not to know everything, instead it lets them know that even instructors are always learning.
I find that I can keep my preclass anxiety down if I make sure to allow myself plenty of time to prepare. This preparation goes a long way in helping me.
The best way for me to reduce anxiety is to make lesson plan a month earlier. I like the ideal of over planning and being organized.
Over preparing is good way to reduce instructor anxiety, especially for new instructors. It is also helpful to make sure that the lesson plans are not all lecture. Including some activities or small group exercises to get the students more involved in the course topics will likely also reduce instructor anxiety.
The number one rule is to always be prepared.
I have learned to write out all of my notes for an entire chapter at a time.
Then, I don't have to worry about planning for one class at a time and trying to make those exact deadlines.
I prepare for a week at a time, and it's easier to continue the lesson the next day.
Know your subject well, have something important and valuable to say, organize your thoughts/presentation so that is is palatable and understandable to the students, and check along the way to make sure students are getting the message.
Nothing drives anxiety away faster than success and seeing that the students are responding and getting energized.
Hi Cassie,
The more you teach, the more comfortable you will become! Preparation is a must in education.
Patricia
Hi Sara,
The instructor should make it a point to set a positive tone for each class meeting.
Patricia
Hi Kelly,
Seasoned instructors really know the tricks of the trade. Every opportunity a new instructor gets he/she should pick an experienced instructor's brain.
Patricia
Hi Tina,
Preparation is really the key to success for the instructor as well as the students. The more prepared you are, the more effective you are.
Patricia
Hi Earl,
I always have 2 days worth of work for one day just in case. Preparation is key.
Patricia
I like the idea of over preparing. One it keeps you occupied and distracted from worrying about the class and 2) you have so much ready to talk about you can slow down and have fun with it.
I think that is one of the single most important part of the instructor job is the preparation you give to the class, it show through in the way you present it to the class. The anxiety and nervousness disappears after present your first fact. The classroom is still calm, and you just forget you are in the classroom, and continue on, and bfore you know it the class is over.
The way I would reduce pre-class nerves and anxiety is by keeping in mind that the student are here to learn from my knowledge.
