Setting the Tone on the First Day of Class

“What happens between you and your students in your classroom or lecture hall depends largely on what you want to happen. How you treat each other and how you and your students feel about being in that place with each other is modeled and influenced by you.” - David W. Champagne, The Intelligent Professor’s Guide to Teaching Links to an external site. (1995)

The first day of class is your time to shine! Whether you are teaching for the very first time or are a seasoned veteran, prepare carefully for the initial class. Your preparation and attitude are contagious: students will pick up on your excitement, be more likely to commit to your class and invest greater energy to their learning.
What you do and how you do it on the first day of class matters. The first day of class should serve two purposes:

  1. To clarify questions students might have related to the overall course and course objectives, as well as your expectations for their performance in class. Students should leave the first meeting with a strong belief in your competence to teach the course and truly understand what is required of them in your course.
  2. To give you an understanding of who is taking your course and what their expectations are of you as the instructor

In this module, we will discuss ways to create a positive first impression, to foster an inclusive and engaging learning community, and to clarify responsibilities and course expectations for all involved during the first day of class.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

  1. Explain the importance of the first day of class
  2. Discuss tangible ways to conduct a successful first day of class
  3. Identify strategies that sustain the tone you’ve set on the first day for the rest of the semester