It's my first day! I'm kinda freaked...

[huskerlaw]

I will be teaching my first class today at 1 PT. I've never taught before and I'm walking into a classroom full of first year law students.

I'm totally prepared...in fact, probably over-prepared, but I'm afraid I'm going to forget something or do something else that makes me look like an idiot.

So...any advice? Positive thoughts?

Ugh, I thought I was done with the "first day of school" jitters!

[Haole Girl]

1. You'll be great!

Just think of how scared they must be! :pals:

[huskerlaw]

4. I know...

the fact that they'll look like deer in headlights is totally helpful. ;)

I just have to make sure that they remain afraid...rather than breaking the ice by making a jackass of myself.

[EFerrari]

2. Yes! As soon as you start talking, you will relax. I promise.

:)

Then, the structure of beginning the semester (admin type stuff) will also help you relax and focus.

My trick my first semester was to use small group work, lol, because then my students were looking at each other instead of staring at me. Worked REALLY well, and I think they got a lot out of talking to each other. College can be pretty isolating in some ways.

Break a lip and have a great time!

[huskerlaw]

6. That's true...

the admin stuff will take up half the class and the rest of the information for today isn't exactly rocket science.

They'll be doing in-class group exercises in every class for the rest of the semester. Which basically means I only have to lecture for 20 minutes instead of 60. I'm all good with that. ;)

[EFerrari]

10. Your post makes me miss teaching. lol

I'm between careers right now. And remembered how much fun it was to teach, to track students, to think for a living.

That was really cool. :toast:

[huskerlaw]

13. Wanna come teach my class?

There might be an opening by next week... ;)

But seriously, I am kind of excited about it. I think I'll like it, I'm just a bit unsure about how it will go.

[EFerrari]

15. I had terrible stage fright that first time out and I'm a trained

method actress.

:rofl:

You'll love it.

:)

[huskerlaw]

20. Ok...

I don't feel so bad about the stage fright now!

:rofl:

[EFerrari]

21. Anxiety is just excitement waiting to happen, 'far as I can tell.

What else?

If you make a mistake (or anyone does), exploit it to the hilt. Use 'em!

lol

Damn, I have to get a teaching job. :)

[YellowRubberDuckie]

34. Oh my god, I hated those.

Group activities sucked because no matter who was in my group, I ended up doing all the work, and I felt like I was back in High School.
Duckie

[huskerlaw]

41. I know, I hated them too

but it's not a graded assignment, just a 10-15 minute in-class activity. They get points for attempting to answer the question, so it really doesn't matter if the other members of their group are slackers.

[belladonna]

3. Yikes!!! And I thought I had reason to be nervous!!

I'd love to give you some deep, meaningful advice but the best I can do is tell you I've seen plenty of what you have to say on DU and you seem like you know your stuff.... just remember, they're gonna be as nervous as you are! :hi:

[huskerlaw]

8. Thanks

I do have to keep reminding myself that they're in this class for a reason...they don't know jack! And I, obviously, do. ;)

I'm sure I'll be fine after class starts, but it's just over an hour away and I'm getting nervous. Which I hate.

[Oeditpus Rex]

5. Try channeling John Houseman

"You come into my classroom with a mind full of mush, and you leave thinking like a lawyer."





:hi:

[huskerlaw]

9. Buahahaha

Well, I am wearing my "scary lawyer" clothes today...

:hi:

[Oeditpus Rex]

16. Oooo!

Le'see! Le'see! :bounce:

[huskerlaw]

19. Well...I don't have a digicam, but

Let's just say the outfit is head to toe black. With 6-inch stiletto heels. :evilgrin:

[Oeditpus Rex]

23. Ooooo!

Cross-examine me! :bounce:

[huskerlaw]

28. Hahaha, well

the class is over and now I'm sitting at my desk, happily barefoot.

I could still cross-examine you, but it would have to be without the crazy heels. ;)

[Rhiannon12866]

7. Just remember that these students are probably much more nervous than you

are. And are hoping to make a good impression on you. Being prepared is great. You'll do just fine... Take a deep breath and just do what you do. They'll be grateful to have you.:-)

Rhiannon:pals:

[huskerlaw]

12. That's true

I know they're more freaked than I am (or at least they should be, dang it).

As for impressions, I'm worried about making the correct one myself. You know, that fine line between "horrid bitch professor" and "doormat". And unfortunately, being a horrid bitch to people that I don't even know isn't really in my nature...but I kinda need to err on that side, because I'm younger than most of my students.

Oy.

[Rhiannon12866]

40. It sounds like you have exactly the right attitude.

And I'm sorry that somebody screwed up, let you down, causing problems. You really didn't need that, today of all days. But it sounds as if you're handling it just fine. Actually, I've worked with kids, and I realize that your students are older, but I've found that two things work for me. The first thing is kindness. Kids respond to that. And the second is that they are probably way smarter than you think. I was always being challenged. And third, maybe this will help...:D

http://www.huskerlaw.youaremighty.com/

Rhiannon:hug:

[huskerlaw]

42. Hahahaha, awww!

I love the website! I think I'll send that to some of my co-workers who are also dealing with the same crap that I am.

Thanks for making me smile! :hug:

[Rhiannon12866]

46. You're more than welcome. I'm so glad that you enjoyed that... :D

I thought that you deserved it, after the rotten day that you had. Feel free to pass it on. And hang in there! It's going to get better.:-)

Rhiannon:hug:

[NewWaveChick1981]

11. You'll do fine!

:hi: :bounce: :toast: It'll get easier after the first class. :D

[huskerlaw]

14. Thanks!

I do get to teach the same material 6 times in a week, so one would think I'll be darn good at this by Friday... :P

[skygazer]

17. US Grant felt the same way before his first Civil War campaign

All the way out to the field, he was worrying and second guessing himself, trying to think of the things he may have forgotten and a plan for every contingency. He even thought about ways to not engage but couldn't figure out how to do it without looking like a fool. And then when they got to the Confederate camp, it was deserted.

"It occurred to me at once," he wrote, "that Harris had been as much afraid of me as I had been of him. This was a view of the question I had never taken before; but it was one I never forgot afterwards.... The lesson was valuable."

Valuable indeed. You'll be fine! :hi:

[huskerlaw]

18. Thank you

That is a great lesson...and very true.

As long as my students aren't already jaded, I should be fine! ;)

[SeattleGirl]

22. I have taught classes and seminars in the past, as well as

trained people in specific jobs, and while I might be nervous, as soon as I let my love of teaching take the lead, things tend to flow from there. Not saying I didn't hit some bumps along the way, but really, if teaching is what you want to do, let your love of that lead the way, and you'll do fine.

:hug:

[EFerrari]

24. There really is something about teaching that has nothing to do with

ego -- it's just about doing it.

I love that part.

:)

[Orsino]

25. DON'T picture them all naked.

Clown suits. That ought to be safe enough.

[Zomby Woof]

26. You let Kansas take you into OT??

:rofl: KANSAS??

;-) Good luck! :hi:

[huskerlaw]

27. oh BITE me!

*I* didn't let Kansas take me anywhere.

As for my Huskers, well...I think they got a case of the cockys. Particularly after they scored 14 points in the first half of the first quarter.

Whatever. Won't happen again. (or at least it better not, or I'll be forced to fly back to Nebraska to kick some Husker ass)

[Zomby Woof]

29. We expect an update on how your class went!

:bounce:

[huskerlaw]

30. You really don't want to know

I hate it...HATE IT...when someone else's incompetence fucks me over.

Once we got over a little hurdle, the class itself went fine.

Now I'm dealing with the fallout of the incompetence and I'm in a foul-ass mood. x(

[Zomby Woof]

31. I swear to Jebus

That incompetence is the NUMBER ONE pet peeve of mine anymore. It's EVERYWHERE, and it knows how to fuck my shit up!

So I hear ya! :hug:

[huskerlaw]

32. Seriously

I spent WEEKS preparing for the class and then because someone else screwed up, the class was out of my control before it even started.

And now I've spent the rest of the afternoon (and will be spending the rest of the week) doing damage control.

Fucking hell. x(

[GOPisEvil]

33. Did anyone bring an apple?

:P

[huskerlaw]

35. Nope!

Which is probably good, since I would have been inclined to fling it at the head of more than one person this afternoon.

[GOPisEvil]

36. Yikes!

Um...it can only go up from here? (There was a silver lining when I walked in here...)

[huskerlaw]

37. One would hope so.

Unfortunately, it won't be going "up" until today's issue is fixed. Which will be next Monday at the earliest. x(

And even more unfortunately, there are systemic issues that aren't likely to be fixed at all. At this point, I'm just trying to make sure they affect me as little as possible.

Vague enough for ya?

Let's just say today sucked ass, it wasn't my fault, there's not much I can do to fix it, and it's not likely to get better (and may actually get worse) for the rest of the week.

[philosophie_en_rose]

38. The 1Ls will gossip about you no matter what you do.

But my advice is to be kind. I prepared for class, but always felt a little less respectful for professors that belittle students.

[huskerlaw]

39. I agree

By nature, I am kind to people unless/until they do something to show they're not deserving of my kindness.

I have no intention of belittling students. It doesn't help them learn and that's just not me. I can play bitch, but I don't think I could sustain it for an entire semester anyway. ;)

[philosophie_en_rose]

44. What do you teach?

:hi:

[huskerlaw]

45. Legal Research

to 1st year law students.

In fact, I've got another class in 4 minutes.

I suppose perhaps I should go to class... ;)

:hi:

[Missy Vixen]

43. Go get 'em

>So...any advice? Positive thoughts?<

I'm looking at the clock right now and sending positive thoughts to you! I know you'll do well. :woohoo:

Julie