The First Day of Class

Introduction Day one is unlike any other day of the semester. Treat it as such. On the first day, you and your students will meet for the first time as a group of strangers. From this day on, you will want to cultivate this into an active group.

Things to do before your first class Pick up the course text, solutions manual and any supplies you will need for teaching (chalk, notebooks, etc.). Meet with the course coordinator and other instructors. Familiarize yourself with the official course syllabus. Write a syllabus of your own. Make photocopies. Locate your classroom.

Things to do before your first class If your section is full, find out if there is space in your room to add more students. Obtain your class list from eLion. Decide how you will organize your students’ grades and set up a system for this. Set up a class list. Set up a basic website.

Set up a binder or some system for organizing your course materials (lecture notes, syllabi, etc.). Prepare your first lecture. Consult the suggested homework list. Pick carefully chosen examples. Practice giving your first lecture in front of a small group of people. Things to do before your first class

Everything that you can prepare in advance, do so. Leave as little to chance as possible. The better prepared you are, the better able you are to handle the unexpected.

Attitude & Appearance “An ounce of image is worth a pound of performance.” Your manner of dress, body language, facial expressions, etc. can convey that you want to be there or that you do not. Make sure you reflect the former. Dress nicer than usual on the first day. Speak loudly, clearly and at a reasonable pace.

Attitude & Appearance Don’t worry if you’re nervous; most people are. If you are not confident, pretend to be. Make your presence known. Don’t be too shy or quiet. Show that you are in control of the class. At the same time, try to be friendly. Try to be enthusiastic.

Attitude & Appearance Show you care about them and their success. Remember that your attitude will influence their attitude. It only take a few minutes to make an impression, it can take the entire semester to undo that impression.

The First Day of Class Arrive to class a few minutes early. Introduce yourself. You may want to ask the class some general questions. Give a course overview. Go over the official course syllabus. Highlight the important topics (text, calculators, exams, grades, etc.).

The First Day of Class Go over your personal syllabus (your homework/quiz policy, office hours and location, etc.). Go over your general plan for running the course. Pause every so often to ask if they have any questions.

The First Day of Class You may want to establish some rules: –Not talking while other people are talking. –Not reading the newspaper in class. –Not getting up and leaving during a lecture. If you establish such rules, make sure you follow through on them. You will want to tackle any discipline problems that arise quickly.

The First Day of Class You may want to provide some recommendations for the course: –How to use class time effectively. –How to study for the course. –How to do homework. –Where they can go for help.

The First Day of Class If you are teaching Math 21, 22, or 26 you will be asked to give your students a pretest during the last minutes of class. If you teaching Math 17 or 220, you will not have a pretest. You may start to lecture on the first day.

Common Questions Is there a curve in this class? Can I add your section? Should I be in this course or another one? I have a disability…. What type of calculator do I need? Do you require attendance?

The First Few Days Arrive on time and don’t let out class early. Make sure your lectures are particularly well prepared. Continue to convey that you are organized, knowledgeable, and are at least trying to do a good job. Continue to conduct yourself in a professional manner.

The First Few Days Continue to create a comfortable learning atmosphere. Make a conscious effort to learn their names. If you don’t know the answer to something, it’s okay. Don’t be afraid to ask other people for help or suggestions.

Closing Remarks Few people are born great teachers but all of us have the ability to at least become good teachers. However, you will not improve merely by putting in more classroom hours. Be mindful of your classes; make note of what’s effective and what’s not, of what things you are good at and what things you need to improve upon. Teaching is not just a job, it is a privilege. Carry it out with the dignity and respect it deserves.