| Name That Name! -- The entire class stands in one large circle. The instructor introduces him/herself and then the next student has to state the instructor's name and then his/her name. The third person states the previous names and his/her name. The fourth person and so on. By the end, the last student has to state all of the names in class. Submitted by James Lohery - "This helps not only the instructor but other students as well. This has always been a fun activity with laughs. " |
Everyone Wins - Students receive a small prize to if they can name everyone in class. This helps the teacher learn names & it gets students involved. Depending on the difficulty of this the instructor could repeat it for the first couple classes, having several winners isn’t so bad. Submitted by Joe Murphy - "After 4-5 winners, the teacher is under some pressure to be able to name them also. |
| Shutter Bug -- On the first day of class, ask students make a name card. The instructor then takes pictures of the students (pairs of students), prints them out, and begins memorizing names and faces. Submitted by Janice Minetola - "Students are thrilled when, during the very next class period, I can refer to them by name. Names are important. They are part of our identity." |
| Activites |
| Where I've Worked -- The instructor tells the class his/her name and then slowly reads off the list of all (or a majority) of the formal and informal jobs or positions that s/he had in organizations during his/her lifetime and the name of the organization (ex, paperboy, Shamokin News Item; statistician, US Bureau of the Census). Then s/he ask the students to pair up and find out about each other by creating a list of organizations that their partner worked for. Then they go to the front of the classroom in pairs and introduce each other to the rest of the class. Submitted by Tim Madigan |
| Junk Food Junkies -- Bring is a bag of skittles or M&Ms and ask students take as many as they want without telling them the purpose. Then have the students say something about themselves for each piece of candy they chose. Sometimes, you have students who have over 20-25 pieces! Submitted by James Lohery |
| John Hancock -- The goal of this activity is for students to meet and collect a signature from everyone in class. To do this, create a document with three columns; the first column is a list of their names and the rest are left blank (one is for the signature and the other is for what they have in common). Students go around the room talking to each other and finding out something they have in common. Once they find something they have in common, students switch papers, find their name on their partner's sheet, sign next to it, then write what they have in common. They get their paper back and move on to the next person. Students get several class periods to complete this. Submitted by Jeanne Kagle - "It's always nice to walk into class and have students talking to each other." Click here for sample Signature Sheet |
How to Instill Interest: Hook 'em First: Genuine enthusiasm and proper organization are important attributes of a good teacher, of course, but it’s best to instill interest first and then let these other qualities ripen the fruit of student interest. This strategy helps to both mitigate ones pedagogical “sins” and enhance other attributes you possess. Proven examples of ways to instill interest on the first day of class and when introducing new topics will be presented. Submitted by Russ Dodson; presented at Fall 2006 University Days G.I.F.T.S. Click HERE for presentation. |
For more information, contact Jeanne Kagle at 570-662-4549 or jkagle@mansfield.edu |
||