On the first day of class, it is natural for students and instructors to have a mixture of feelings ranging from anxiety to excitement. One key goal is to create a comfortable learning environment. By assuring students that their success is my highest goal, that I have a plan for helping them to succeed, and that we will have a good time together, I can begin the learning process with a positive attitude.
It is important to learn the students names and something about them. This is also a great way to open up the classroom making everyone feel welcome.
First impression is everything. Get to know your students to make the course run smooth.
That it's important to learn each student's name
Remember you are a human as well, meaning try to create a sense of comfort / community in your classroom, the way you wanted your teachers to create when you were the student. Learn names, share things about yourself, talk about why you became a teacher, greet everyone with respect, etc.
Meeting the class for the first time I would do an exercise that allows all of the students to become familiar with me as well as each other. Most likely an exercise where we go around the room and introduce ourselves, why we chose the field we did, and what we enjoy to do in our free time.
It is essential to establish a connection, expectations, and class rules with the students on the first day of class.
It is important to learn you students names and make them feel at ease, that you are there to help them learn.
The students will feel more comfortable if you try to know who they are.
The first impression on the class arrive early and greet the students with a nice facial expression entering your class
In my opinion, the first impression, the motivation and the preparation of the instructor in the subject, are the key to a good class. Being able to hold students' attention is challenging and the instructor's histrionic personality is often helpful. The teacher's mood during class can vary. We must be prepared to use external resources when our mood is not appropriate for a good delivery.
The concept of giving a pretest that first day as part of the introduction.
It helps students get to know each other and the instructor
Introductions can be a great first step to identifying with each other and getting a source of inclusion.
Introduce yourself and let the students introduce themselves. Give an overview of what they'll learn.
1st impressions come around one time. Do your best to have a positive 1st impression by being prepared on the 1st day of class. Introduce yourself and discuss your professional experience to validate your area of expertise in the subject the students are about to learn. Help students feel at ease by informing them of class objectives. Learn student's names so they will know you care about them and their own personal goals.
It is important to create an environment of learning and getting to know each other to decrease anxiety.
Meeting a class or single student for the first time, I try to make it a comfortable meeting and try for some back-and-forth conversation on subject or off. Establishing a comfortable relationship to give rules while in class and set the procedure of learning our course. We are now two (2) days in class and three (3) days remote and I find myself having to go beyond allotted course time.
This is a human endeavor, and there are strategies for helping it be a successful experience for all.
