1. Donna Druery & Elsa Villarreal
Creating Community in the Classroom: Decreasing First Day of Class Anxiety Amongst Students
Donna Druery & Elsa Villarreal
Doctoral Researchers
Texas A&M University

2. What does the typical first day of class look like?
Talk to your partner and share what you do on the first day of class (2-3 minutes).
Elsa will write responses on board.
Donna and Elsa will share their experiences as students.

3. Introductions: Ready, Set, Go!
This is what it looks like from the student perspective. It’s a race to say your name and where you are from so we can hurry up and start class.

4. No Interaction & No Engagement
The professor went over the syllabus, and I already forgot my classmates names.

5. Formalities: Going Through the Motions
People normally just go through the motions.

6. Creating Community
By building a community of learners, students will be able to support each other and feel connected to their professor and their classmates (Peterson, 2015).
As students interact in this community style environment, they collaboratively construct, reconstruct, and build their understanding (Barkley, 2010).

7. Suggestions
A song title to describe your academic journey in the past year. Why did you choose that title?
3 Confidences and a Concern
Who are the first 5 people you will send a graduation invitation to? Why?
Step-up/Step-out
Step-up/Step-out
Are you a published author?
Have you traveled outside of the country?
Have you ever eaten squid or octopus?
Do you have student loans?
Is this your first time at Wakonse?

8. Reconstructing the First Day of Class
Your turn. . .
Presentation-self or classmate
Short Term Goals (this semester/this year)
Long Term Goals (5 years from now)
Social Media: Instagram, Facebook status (What’s on your mind?)

9. Closure Sharing Reflections Wrap-up:
By building a community of learners, students will be able to support each other and feel connected to their professor and their classmates (Peterson, 2015).
As students interact in this community style environment, they collaboratively construct, reconstruct, and build their understanding (Barkley, 2010).
Reflection Question:
How could you take this back to your class and make it work for your subject area?