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Have a look on the class list and try to remember as many names as possible.
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After dismissing the students, google to get a better understanding on their choices of university majors. Research on what specific skills and knowledge they need to succeed.
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Greet the students in with a smile when they enter the classroom.
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Students take turns to introduce themselves. Since they are already in the final year of high school, I would like them to share their goals after completing high school. In specific, I would like them to tell me the majors that they are planning to take in university and how important taking the calculus course can help them to achieve such goal.
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Draft the 1st set of rules and procedures base on my expectations.
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Introduce with a brief history of myself.
Especially share with them some struggles, both in learning and in life, which I had overcome. I hope they can feel that I will be supportive and empathetic on their struggles ahead of them. -
Arranging students in a group of 4, give 15 minutes to them for discussing what are their expectations on me, on themselves and on their class. Let them tell me how can I help them, how they expect themselves to behave in the class and their expectation on their class as a learning community.
Allow each group 2-5 minutes to present their thoughts. -
Let the students know my expectations on their behaviour, learning attitude, punctuality etc.
Show them the 1st draft of rules and procedures. -
Allowing 15 minutes for the groups to draft a set of rules and procedures that will help to create a positive learning environment and achieve their academic goal. Explain why each rule or procedure is so important.
Each group then will have 5 minutes to present.
After they are done with the presentation, highlight 4 important rules and appropriate numbers of procedures and set it as our class rules and procedures.
Discuss and set consequences for violating the rules. -
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Let students to have some concepts on what are they going to learn, which sections are challenging and the prerequisites needed, the available resources etc.
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Have students reviewed on the rules and procedures set before class start. Reminding them those were agreed by them and encourage them to follow through.
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Marking the assessment after class and analyze their weakness and strengths. Figure out which areas need to be strengthen before starting the first chapter.
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Distribute each student with an pre-chapter quiz paper which focusing on all the prerequisite knowledge. Allow the students to sit in a group of 4. Students are supposed to finish the quiz on their own, but they are allowed to seek help from their group mates.
Through the process, let them practice the procedures set for group discussions and forming a supportive learning community. -
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Remind them the importance of the rules and procedures and how are they going to help learning.
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Return the assessment to the class, give encouragements if necessary. Discuss with them the solutions.
Through the process, let them practice the procedures for asking and answering questions and show disagreements.