Posts Tagged ‘first day of class’
January 9 - First Day of Class Activities that Create a Climate for Learning
By: Maryellen Weimer, PhD in Teaching Professor Blog
There’s no discounting the importance of the first day of class. What happens that day sets the tone for the rest of the course. Outlined below are a few novel activities for using that first day of class to emphasize the importance of learning and the responsibility students share for shaping the classroom environment.
May 10 - A Good Start: Helping First-Year Students Acclimate to College
By: Mary Bart in Online Seminars
We expect high school to prepare students for academic success in a university setting. However, students arrive for their first classes unacquainted with the policies and expectations of the university level classroom. As an instructor, our approach can make all the difference in helping first-year students make the transition to the more rigorous world of post-secondary academics.
April 6 - First Assignment Helps Establish Expectations
By: Jennifer Garrett in Effective Classroom Management
There is a lot to cover on the first day of class. You establish procedures and convey expectations. You review the syllabus and, if you’re teaching a lab, safety protocol. You also spend some time teaching some material. While you might not make an assignment on the first day, you still should use some time on the first day to talk about your expectations for students’ work and how you assign grades.
October 6 - Three Simple Keys to Effective Classroom Management
By: Monique Perry in Effective Classroom Management
Fall semester is well underway at my institution. Prior to classes starting I had the opportunity to have lunch with a couple of fellow faculty members. During our lunch, we discussed many topics related to the upcoming term, but classroom management emerged as a common point of contention.
August 10 - Don’t Waste the First Day of Class
By: Kevin Brown, PhD in Effective Teaching Strategies
Despite the fact that numerous articles have been written on the importance of the first day, too many of us still use it to do little more than go over the syllabus and review basic guidelines for the course. This year I decided to try a different approach, and the results were much more dramatic than I expected. I taught real material on the first day. Despite that, there have been fewer questions about course policies, with some students actually referencing them without even a mention from me. Let me explain how I achieved these results.
February 23 - A Classroom Icebreaker with a Lesson that Lasts
By: Virginia Freed in Teaching and Learning
I bring a box to the first day of class — especially if it’s a course with beginning students. At precisely the time class starts, I walk into the room with my box filled with random, quirky objects. I like to include a small Alf doll, a pad of Post-its, some scissors, perhaps a can of Slim-Fast, a candle, a rock, a comb, and maybe six or seven other objects indiscriminately gathered as I leave for class. As soon as I enter the room, I put the box on the table; take each article out; place it on the table; and finally, when all of them are out, return them to the box. Then I ask the students to take out a piece of paper and write down as many of the items as they can remember.
February 22 - Reconsidering Grading Students on Class Participation
By: Christopher Willard in Teaching and Learning
A common phrase uttered during the first day of class is: “You will be graded on class participation.” As instructors we know what we expect. But what exactly do our students think we mean by that statement? The longer I’ve taught the more I’ve come to realize that students may not really know.
January 13 - Making the Most of the First Day of Class
By: Rob Kelly in Effective Classroom Management
The first day of class is an important time. In addition to the usual housekeeping tasks that need to be accomplished, there are other critical functions of the first day of class – not the least of which involves setting the tone for the course.
September 21 - Ten Tips for Dealing with Nervousness on the First Day of Class
By: Delaney J. Kirk, Ph.D. in Effective Teaching Strategies
Each new semester as I walk down the hallway to my classroom, I am a little nervous, even after 27 years of teaching experience…and I’m okay with this. I think when I get to the point where I don’t feel this anxiety, I won’t be as effective a teacher. After all, I will be walking into that classroom for the next four months and it’s important to make a good first impression. Below are 10 tips to help you get off to a great start.
