It's easy to dismiss a small detail that ia actually very important.
I never thought that having the name of the class on the board was a big deal on the first day of class but it really would put students at ease of knowing they belong in that room.
I know it was just a small detail but it helps the student know that they are sitting the right class. I happened one time, when I was a student, first day meeting, my professor came into the class, and he kept talking about the class, on and on.... so the end of class, one of student stood up and said is was not my class.
so you see even though it is a very small detail but it is important on the first day in school as well. so to me, we should write on the boar, class, ticket #, professor' name, contact #,by phone, or Email, office hour....
My room is like stepping into the subject at hand. All around the room are things to teach and inspire my students. As I think back the teachers I remember most all took great pride in the room they set up for there students.
I agree with Chris. I never looked at the first day of class from the student's point of view and the anxiety they must feel on the first day of class. I can see how a simple thing like writing the course on the board can ease at least some of that anxiety.
Along with the course info on the board the meet and greet helps with the students jitters on the first day
I like your idea of surrounding the class with symbols of the topic you wish to present. Immersion therapy!
Cheryl
This is not exactly the topic I was expecting
but considering that my students move
through the school in cohorts that are
split in half and exchange classes every three weeks, the course name and number and attendance
sheet being available before class is a detail
I must admit I had not considered that
important until participating in this forum
and the other replies I have found here
will help me to keep it in mind in the future,
Thanks
I too agree with Chris. Having taught the course so many times, you tend to develop a sense of ease and security that some times you forget just how nerve racking the first day can be for a student. Just by putting the course name and instructor name on the board, this can ease some of there tension.
I believe that another "big deal" is getting the students name pronounced correctly, I find that they are alot more atease if I take the time to find the correct Pronunciation
