First Day Preparation

There are many aspects involved in being prepared for the first day of teaching.  At this point in time, I find the thought of being prepared to face a room full of students by myself terrifying.  But I do feel like I logistically know what all to do to prepare myself and my art classroom for the first day of class.

My Responsibilites:

The Classroom: I am responsible for preparing the room for student use.  This includes stocking up on supplies, arranging the tables in a functional and inclusive way, and decorating to create an inviting, fun environment for the students.

Syllabi:  The dreaded document that details what's about to happen in my class, which has to be written and printed and read to my students.  It is up to me to plan lessons that are appropriate for the grade level and abilities of my classes, and to also make sure these lessons not only abide by appropriate standards, but are also fun and relatable to students' lives.  Although the task of going over the syllabi can be boring, part of my responsibility is to make it as tolerable as possible.  

Student Connection:  It's up to me to not only learn my students' names, but to find ways to connect with them and make them feel comfortable in my classroom.  I can do this by relating with them on their level, for example, incorporating popular culture references and playing ice breaker games that are fun and engaging.  I can also help my students feel more comfortable by allowing them to choose their own seats on the first day.  I can always make changes if problems arise, but giving the students that little bit of freedom in such a structured school day can help me gain their attention and trust.

Personal Preparation:

All of these things are logistic aspects of being ready for the first day of class.  However, I also have to prepare myself to interact with my students.  In terms of preparing the classroom, I can keep myself somewhat calm and de-stressed by asking for help.  Having someone else, or multiple people, aid me in preparing my room would not only allow the task to get done quicker, but also help me to save my energy for my other tasks.  As far as the syllabi, I can help myself out by starting the process of writing and organizing my lessons and policies far before the first day of class.  By giving myself plenty of time to prepare the room and the syllabi, I can prevent unnecessary stress.  If I can do this, I will have more patience and energy to interact with my students on the first day, which would allow me more opportunities to connect with them and start learning their names and personalities.  Most importantly, I need to remember to relax; that is what will help me through the first day.