Get Your Students Hired
I have always used a checklist, is the most helpful thing I can have to help ease the first class nerves. By going through the items on the list it will be clear what has been dealt with and what has been left out.
I always tell my students that I don't know everything and if they ask something I don't know I tell them I will find the answer and have it ready the next day. I also commend my students who bring up a point I don't know.
Diane K
I always make my check list before entering the class on the first day of class and even prior to subsequent classes to ensure that all the required topics are covered. Check list enables me to stay focus and the ensure that I am not living any area of the course content untoched.
Hi Angela,
Good idea in sharing your checklist with your students. This way they know what is going to occur in the class and as you say the "spinners" really need this to keep themselves focused. The more they know about course flow the more settled they will be.
Gary
I find the checklists are not only helpful for me, but also for my students. I often put the a copy of the checklist I am using myself into the day's lesson, typically as the first slide of a PowerPoint or written on the board. It includes what we are covering, when their break will be, etc. That way they can help prepare themselves for the class and don't get "antsy" wondering when they will get a break or what's coming next! Many of my students are what I call "spinners" and if they don't know what's coming next, those thoughts take control of their focus and then they stop paying attention to the class.
I think that a checklist helps you stay on point especially if you have a lot to cover at any given time. It gives me the satisfaction of knowing that I'm covering everything that needs to be covered.
I created my own checklist on my first teaching days, things to focus on and discuss and I felt prepared, not missing important things to do and discuss.
Hi Vyacheslav,
Good to hear about how a check list and/or outline really makes a difference. This is good information for beginning instructors to have as they plan their courses.
Gary
That's a great point. Students loose respect if the instructor doesn't know his/her material but we are only humans and sometimes there are things are forgotten or just beyond our scope of knowledge.
I actually didn't use the checklist during my first lecture class. However, I prepared an outline for the next class and it went much, way much smoother than I expected. Of course I agree with everyone that checklists are a great idea to have around while teaching. It is such a simple thing but can make your life better and less stressful during the class.
I wonder if anyone has an example of a "First Day" checklist that they would like to share with me? Is it somewhat generic, or is it specific to the class you are teaching? Thanks!
I recently started teaching my first college course and would have loved to have somebody show me a checklist I could have used in developing my course materials. Unfortunately I only had four days from the time I was hired until the time the class started so I had to scramble just to have something to present the first day. I'm doing okay now, but you can bet I will be developing some checklists for classes as I go forward!
i love checklist as well. they keep me organized, on track and then i can focus on other items instead of remembering, what it was i was suppose to do. totally more efficent and effective with checklist.
Post its, use them like crazy. If i am asked a question I dont know the answer to I write it down on a post later and do the research.
Hi Wilfred,
Good point about using a checklist. A checklist reduces nervous because you can go down the list knowing you have covered the items you need to cover to get the class off to a good start that day.
Gary