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In the beginning...

The First Day of Class
The first day of class sets the tone for the rest of the term. It is natural for both students and instructors to feel anticipation, excitement, anxiety, and uncertainty. To pique students' interest and anticipation, convey your enthusiasm for the material and stimulate students' curiosity about topics that will be covered during the term (Barbara Gross Davis, University of California-Berkeley).

The Most Important Day: Starting Well
The first day of class is a very important time for faculty to establish a tone for what will happen the rest of the term. It is appropriate that a teacher reflect on just what climate and first impression she/he would like to establish. This article offers some ideas about that all important day (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

Getting Started
The first day of a course may not determine how well the rest of the course works, but it goes a long way. A good start can carry the instructor through several weeks of early shakiness, and a bad one can take several weeks of damage control to overcome (Richard Felder, NCSU & Rebecca Brent, ECU).

First Day of Class: What Can/Should We Do?
What can we do on the first day of class? What should we do? One common answer is simply to start lecturing: "This is day one, here is lecture one, away we go." Another possibility is: "Here is the syllabus, go buy your books and we will see you at the next scheduled class period." Neither of these two options seems desirable. But what are some other possibilities? (L. Dee Fink)

First Few Weeks

101 Things You Can do in the First Three Weeks of Class
These are suggestions which have been gathered from college teachers elsewhere. The rationale for these methods is based on the following needs:
  • to help students make the transition from high school and summer activities to learning in college; to direct students' attention to the immediate situation for learning--the hour in the classroom;
  • to spark intellectual curiosity--to challenge students;
  • to support beginners and neophytes in the process of learning in the discipline;
  • to encourage the students' active involvement in learning; and
  • to build a sense of community in the classroom.
For more ideas for college teachers for use in their courses in the new academic year visit the above link (University of Nebraska-Lincoln).

Tom's Essential Survival Tips
Through the years, I take students through a "reality check" so they know what to expect of me and the college experience. Although many of you are doing some of the following, the committee believes that if we all establish some basics related to our own classes, students will perhaps "get the message", take their college learning more seriously, get better grades, and be more prepared to face the future. Hopefully, this will translate in a "reality check" which will increase our retention rates. So, here is a list of things I do in the first few days of the semester (Thomas A. Ohta, Honolulu Community College).