One lesson I am taking away is just ensuring that I am on time for my class. Also, taking the time to get to know everyone's name while also engaging each other to help the peers in getting to know each other.
Main thing I learned is arrive early and be prepared. That first impression is so important and sets the tone for the class.
4-things for the first day:
where going and how get there.
other members of the class are not strangers.
demonstrated care about their learning.
relevancy and enjoyabililty of the course
Introductions are fun for both me and the students. Sometimes even if students have been in other classes before, they may not know that another student lives in the same town or drives the same car.
Introductions are a key step in getting to know your students, fostering mutual respect, and building strong rapport from the start.
Introduction is important and giving students background information about yourself to show your expertise in the course and make the feel comfortable.
Meeting the class for the first time is an opportunity to get to know them and establish your authority and knowledge. In telling the class about your experience, you are asserting that you know the content of the class. By having the students introduce themselves and likewise introducing yourself, you're forming a bond and trust with your students by getting to know one another.
I have learned that making a positive first impression and establishing clear expectations is key when meeting a class for the first time. I will introduce myself, explain the course objectives, and outline key policies and expectations. I will also make an effort to create an inclusive and welcoming environment by engaging students with an icebreaker activity or asking them about their goals for the course.
figuring out a good self introduction so that the students will understand your background and expertise to assure them you will be able to teach and guide them.
The name tents idea would have helped me with my last class. I'll be trying it with the next.
The importance of making a good first impression and a respectful connection with students.
The importance of building a rapport with the students, while also maintaining a boundary, is incredibly important
One key thing to consider is setting a welcoming, respectful tone from the start—because students decide quickly whether they feel safe, seen, and willing to engage. First impressions shape classroom culture and build the trust needed for effective learning.
The importance of the introduction. The need to get to know the students.
The first day of class isn't just a matter of checking off things on a list or rushing through a lengthy course intro. Whilst the course does need to be gone over along with its requirements and expectations and your list does need to exist, it is also important to set a proper learning atmosphere.
Give brief introduction of yourself,get to know your students,and welcome students with a smile to make them feel comfortable and welcomed.
This module helped me understand how important the first day of class is in establishing a positive and trusting environment. One key strategy is how we choose to interact with students from the start. Taking time to introduce ourselves—not just by sharing our professional background, but also a little about our personal lives—can make us more relatable and approachable.
I also learned that creating structured activities on the first day can help students get to know each other, which builds a sense of community that can benefit the entire course. These early efforts contribute to a classroom culture where students feel comfortable engaging, participating, and supporting one another.
Setting this tone early makes a significant difference in how students experience and connect with the course moving forward.
In the first class it is important to provide an overview of the course following the introductions to each other. The overview and expectations will help the students feel they know where they are headed in the course.
First impressions are lasting impressions. Introducing yourself to the classroom is and should be first and foremost. This gives you a chance to establish yourself as the authority in the class sharing with them your experience and credentials to officiate instruction. If problems should arise you are a person that they can come to when dust settles (trust) and a person of high integrity (conscious effort to do the right thing even when no one is looking). The opportunity to meet your students is nevertheless of equal importance after all they are paying the bills to continue our profession. Learning their names and pronunciations is equally important. It also gives a chance for them to meet each other formally.
Introducing yourself to your students help make them feel more comfortable and a better classroom environment for which to have open discussions and questions.
