This is a great idea that I will most likely use in my class. Everyone needs positive reinforcement.
Have an action plan of topics prior to walking into the class. These points don't have to be detailed, but they should be major points laid out that you can stick to ensure important areas are covered.
Take a deep breath, and go into the class with organized lecture/activity notes, and know your material. Being prepared with the material is much the same as a student being prepared to take a test...........know the material.
Hi Cynthia,
There are a few things that I find helpful when reducing my anxiety during class such as simple breathing techniques and directing my frustrations towards positive quotes.
Being prepared and organized. Organization includes not only externally but also internally (your thoughts). Thinking that what brought you to this place in the first place are many years of experience in the field.
For the first time out instructors, we have two mentors for our new instructors. One is for the mechanical side of their teaching responsibilities, in included the how to, where, why questions that they may have about their classroom administration. The other is a subject matter mentor, this is a veteran in the class that the new instructors about to teach for the first time. They will help guide the new instructor through the hang ups and pitfalls of the curricula of the course.
By keeping this on a peer to peer basis, the stress level of the new instructors is greatly reduced.
In response to Sandy J's input, Thinking of myself as the most important person in the students life is exactly what makes me so anxious. I take the responsibility to heart and worry that I will steer them in the worng direction!!! I try to remember that the student has a bigger part in his/hers sucess and my task is more to guide and support.
rebecca
Open ended questions help to open the discussion and lets me get a feel for the students I don't know. Preperation helps me to get over my anxiety.
rebecca
Practice, practice, practice!!
Always be professional.
Being prepared is the best way I can think of to reduce my anxiety as an instructor. Making sure i have enough material to fill twice the time class is scheduled, alternative activities when some are not as successful, assuring that I am covering objectives all help me feel confident when i enter that classroom.
Hi Anthony,
Preparation is key!
Patricia
Hello James,
You use good tactics to reflect (review) and get ready (today's) for the lesson.
Patricia
Hi Mark,
Great way to become acquainted!
Patricia
Hi Lydia,
Being over-prepared causes less anxiety. Instructors panic whenever they learn they do not have enough material to last for the period.
Patricia
Being over-prepared is better than under, hence, prepare more information for lecture. Also, the instructor should read over the course content so that you are familiar with the syllabus.
At the begining of new classes I like to introduce my self give tell a little about my background and then have the students do the same. This helps with the my nerves and the students as well.
Yes, being prepared (at least to get the first hour going smoothly) is winning half of the anxiety battle! Whether it is a first time, or a class you have taught many times before.
I use a review of the subject from the day befor or a discussion about what the subject for the day is. To be able to put the student at in a frame of mind to be relaxed and be able to understand where the discussion is going for the day, it allows the students time to relax and wake up befor I start the lecture.
Hi Gloria,
Hiccups will occur. Maintain your composure as you have done and move forward.
Patricia
I always make sure that I'm prepared but I always keep in mind that on the first week sometimes there are hiccups and not to freak out. For example there was a mix up at our schools print shop and my handouts were not completed by class time. Instead of panicking, I discussed what the class entailed, showed examples of work and had the students ask any questions pertaining to the class. From then on the students weren't shy about speaking in class and sharing.
