Strategies for a Successful

First day of Class

Warm-up free write:

What do you want your
students to get out of
the first day of class?

September 24, 2019

Karen Tsai
Linguistics Lead TA
karentsai@ucsb.edu
 Workshop Objectives
• Understand the significance of the first day
• Prepare for the logistics of the first day
• Discuss strategies and techniques to:
– Establish professional rapport
– Provide students with a clear set of expectations
and learning objectives
– Set the tone for an engaging, student-centered
classroom
 Section Objectives
What do you want your students to get out of
the first day of class?

• Know who you are and what they can expect

from you
• Understand section policies and what you
expect from them
• Course content-related objectives
• Resolve waitlist issues
 Before the First Day
• Determine which sections you will teach
– Check GOLD or eGrades for section
times/locations/rosters
– Email other TAs for the course
• Talk with Instructor
– Receive “Description of Duties” form
– Ask about policies, grading, section content, etc.
• Get required books, copy codes, keys,
dongles
 Establish Section Policies
Think-pair-share:
What kinds of section policies do you need?

Why do you need them? (e.g. don’t be on Facebook b/c

it’s distracting to other students)

What do they look like? (e.g. “be respectful” – what

does that look like?)
 Establish Section Policies
• Create a section syllabus or PowerPoint slides
– Set your expectations for the students
– Clarify what the students can expect from you
• Office hours & contact info
• Section requirements & policies
– Attendance, tardiness, participation
– Behavior (e.g. no cell phones)
– Grade contestations, homework questions
 Create a Section Plan
• Consider your goals for this section.
– What activities will achieve each goal?
• Map out your use of time.
– Be realistic!
– Be time conscious as you teach.
• Outline the section plan on the board/in a
slide.
– This makes you look organized.
– This allows students to think ahead.
 Deal with Crashers
• Be clear on course crash policy
– Is there an online waiting list?
– How will add codes be distributed?
– What info do you need to collect from crashers?
• Deal with crashers at beginning or end of
class
– Collect full names, UCSB NetID, perm number,
their year, their major
 Setting the Tone for the Quarter
What was the very first thing I did today?
• Introduce myself
• Set expectations for the workshop
 Introducing Yourself
• Establish authority.
– What should they call you?
– What is your expertise?
– What are your standards and expectations?
• Be approachable.
– Why do you care about their success?
– How will you help them?
– How can they contact you?
• What are you wearing?
 Set the Tone for the Quarter
• If you want them to participate this quarter,
get them to talk in the first section! Options:
– Ask about their backgrounds in the topic.
– Ask about their expectations of the course.
– Discuss preconceived ideas about the topic.
– Bring a 1-page article for them to read and discuss.
– Preview the first reading together and discuss best reading
practices (how to take notes, how to read efficiently).
• Strategies: Think-pair-share; pair work; small group
work/group discussion; board work
 Icebreakers
• Purpose
– Learn names ASAP
– Establish community
• Types
– Index Card Ask & Answer
• What was your favorite/worst first day of class and why?
• Who was your favorite/least favorite teacher and why?
 Student-centered classroom
• Students are active, responsible participants
in their own learning
– Leave the lecturing for lecture; be a facilitator
• Think about “learning objectives” instead of
“covering content”
– E.g. “understand X”  “classify/describe/explain/
identify/recognize/etc. X”
– Use course content to develop critical
thinking/problem-solving skills
 Questions?

What questions do you have?

Thank you for your participation!
Good luck!