Preparation is a big one, but also having confidence in yourself that is based on the fact that you were hired to do the job - someone thought you were good enough!
After teaching now for a number of years and reading student course reviews, most of the comments refer to comments on my subject matter expertise. Especially in a career college setting, expertise is extremely important. If you don't see yourself as an expert, I can understand your nervousness!
Hi Wouter,
Preparation is key! It is human nature to be nervous because you want to do an awesome job; just do not let the nervousness control you. Once you get warmed up the nervousness will vanish.
Patricia Scales
I believe that the most effective ways to reduce pre-class anxiety is to: be prepared and be calm. Our expertise in our field will guide us through the material. I always tell my students that "everything we do in class is a reflection of how things are done in the real Operating Room." This pertains to dress, conduct, interpersonal communication, privacy, and skills.
It is gratifying to see how positive the students respond to this. After all, they did enroll to learn a new profession.. This is merely an extension of that education.
and when I conduct myself in that matter, it further reduces my own anxiety. Expereinced as an instructor or new, I have a liitle bit of the jitters before each time the class meets. A little bit of anxiety is good; it makes you more focused. Nervousness is exaggerated anxiety, and that is counter-productive and unnecessary.
I found that asking questions about each module that i was teaching was very helpful for me to reduce my anxiety as a new instructor.
Being prepared certainly helps with the anxiety but self-confidence does too.
I think being prepared is the best thing you can do to lower your anxiety levels when starting a new class. This is true even if you are teaching a class you have taught many times before. I like to consider past experiences I have had teaching each class to get myself ready for what could occur in class.
I experienced this as a new instructor and I believe having a back up plan is very useful being well prepared and role playing before your first day of class helps a lot.
The way I calm my nerves before class, I read John Maxwell's The Daily Reader and that always motivates me. I read it in my class after roll call to set the positive mood.
This post is more so addressing the pre-class nerves before the first day of class.
With the years of teaching experience that I have I still have some pre-class nerves and anxiety. I guest my experience with teaching and discussing my pre-class experiences with other teachers has been a great help. I walk into the class knowing that I'm not alone, I do have a support group. I also walk into the class with complete confidence that I'm am 100 percent prepared for class. The vast majority of students are excited about learning; establishing a comfort zone.
I make sure I review the materials before presenting it to the class and make outlines for the students and I. I do leave the outlines blank. (This allows work for the students) I believe this issue comes with time and experience. When I was a student, I could not see myself in front of a big crowed or audience. I have got much better over the years.
the only true way to help this, is to be as prepare as possible and to know that it is ok not to know something.
I'm a new instructor and what I do is make sure that I am prepared for class this lessens any nervousness or anxiety. I also arrive a little early and go over my materials and greet each student as they come in to get to know them better.
Our school pairs us with a mentor-an experienced faculty member who has been very helpful in sharing his experience. Has helped with various areas that provoked some anxiety over being a new instructor.
I have always asked the individuals who I instruct to identify an instructor who they like and respect. I then repeat the old saying, that you are what you pretend to be.
Here, there are instructors who have taken the time to offer assistance and guidance. I recognize traits from many of them which I intend to emulate. I will also put to use the most important trait, self-confidence. Confidence in conjunction with the traits I glean for others may help me overcome my pre-class anxiety. Did I mention study and preparation?
I practice breathing exercises and meditation on top of ensuring I am prepared for class.
Preparation is the master of anxiety. Preparation provide the basis from which you develop confidence. If you practiced running a mile then at the very least you are confident based on your preparation that you can accomplish this feat. If you never practiced then you have no frame of reference and therefore less certain.
The best pre-class nerve/anxiety reducer I have is to review the material and realize that I know it, that I have all my hand outs ready and organized, graded materials ready to be returned, walk into the class with an attitude of I can do this, say good morning/afternoon to everyone as they enter the class room ask how they are doing, cover what will be covered and then get started. I stay calm and do not let a negative thought enter my mind.
As a brand new instructor, I prepared thoroughly, had individual lesson plans, and check lists. By mid course I didn't need to rely on my check lists as the flow and execution of the class became more comfortable. Being prepared in advanced is always the best for me.
Mr Haynes - thank you! I knew a little, but this completes the picture - thanks for your time.
VR,
john Armstrong
Happy New Year!
Toastmasters aim is to develop public speakers via a social activity (often dinners). With the number one fear in America being Public Speaking, Toastmasters has developed a system of training to reduce and/or eliminate this fear, and to train one to develop a presentation and then to make a delivery which motivates an audience to listen.
As a result of my year-long association with and training by Toastmasters, I was selected by my major commanders in the field in the military to give briefings to various General Staffs about our activities. I was able to get up on a platform, look generals and colonels in the eye and make them listen to what I was to present without any perceptable degree of nervousness. It did me very well as both a teacher and instructor later by allowing me to meet the first day of class with confidence; thus, reducing the varying degree of challenge students may give on the first day with a new teacher/instructor.
