The first day of any class is filled with many different emotions. Typically, I feel a combination of excited anticipation, nervous energy, and curiosity about my new instructor. These first-day jitters apply not only to graduate students like myself, but to students of all ages, including those I hope to teach in the near future.
How does a teacher get her class off to a good start? The reading assignment, "Teaching Tips: The First Day of Class" provides many useful strategies for approaching the first day in a manner which benefits both the teacher and the student. After reading the article, I reflected that many of these suggestions had been utilized by Dr. Smirnova in this first class during the initial activity.
The "Icebreaker Activity" served many purposes. First, Dr. Smirnova asked us to answer four questions and share them with a partner. This initial sharing allowed us to get to know a fellow classmate. By asking us to then introduce our partner to two other partners, we then became familiar with others in the class, thus forming a foundation of familiarity on which a collaborative learning group can be built in future classes. Furthermore, the act of introducing our partner to the others provided our first teaching experience within this class. Also, the questions asked served a greater purpose than just an icebreaker. By asking us who our favorite teacher was and why, Dr. Smirnova was slyly determining what we are looking for in a teacher and to what standard we will hold her as our current instructor. By asking the questions, "What is learning?" and "What is teaching?" Dr. Smirnova was performing a pre-assessment to determine our level of knowledge in the content of the course to be taught so that she will know at what pace and level to proceed. Finally, the activity introduced to the class to Dr. Smirnova's method of teaching, which is facilitative and collaborative in nature, just like the activity.
What this first day activity taught me was that the first activity of the first day of school does not need to be a monotonous soliloquy on the rules, regulations, and plans for the class. Instead, with informed and thoughtful planning and a dash of creativity, the first activity of the first day can be an engaging and dynamic example which sets the tone for the entire school year.
1 comment:
A good start, Mary. Keep your insightful thinking flowing. DrS
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