You only get one first day; one chance to make a first impression. Make it memorable!

Anticipating opening day and meeting your classes for the first time we’re sure you know there’s so much to do and so little time to do it. At the risk of feeling you are in a “catch 22.” we offer some concrete suggestions to help you move from a set of maybes to one of confidence. Here are a handful of items to consider.

There are two kinds of things to do on day one: those things you must do and those things you choose to do. In the must do category the tasks are both easier and essential. 1) Take attendance (a legal requirement). 2) Review fire drill procedures. (You must know the procedures in advance so your class can follow your directions simply and without confusion…an emergency requirement.) 3) Your department and/or school administration may specify additional things you are to do on day one. (Know them; do them, to avoid being that klutz in Room 204.)

Now, to what we believe is the more important part of your first class meeting. You may think the choosing to do on the first day begins with introducing yourself, or assigning seats, or passing out books, or distributing the syllabus, or having the class copy rules of behavior, or myriad other things that you have been subjected to as a student. We believe you can do this stuff on days two, three, four and five, We suggest the first day is different and you should choose to do something else.

Choose to introduce each course to each class in a way that gives your students a positive picture of what they are going to learn. Do it in a way that differs from what they expect, which will paint a picture of the course that is different from the same old, same old. Do something to lead clearly to an expectation that your class is going to be an exciting one.

1. Share with your students what excites you about the subject(s) you teach and how it plays a real part in their world.

2. Use “cliff hanging’ questions that your course will discuss and may lead to useful answers,

3. If you are teaching science, try a science demonstration that brings up a question lacking an immediate plausible answer.

4. A language teacher may present via PowerPoint an example of a text in the language to be learned and challenges the students to find similar words in English they know and try to infer meanings.

Hey, we believe your plans for opening day are building. Does anyone have an example to share of a memorable first day surprise that really introduces the course and leads into an actual lesson for day two? Please leave a comment for discussion.

Detailed explanations can be found in, Bruce, M.H. and H B. Miller, 2007, Straight Talk To Beginning Teachers, (Warminster,PA) Journey Publications.