In anticipation of the beginning of the semester, here’s what’s on my mind:

• What can I do to set a great tone for the semester?
• How do I meaningfully and efficiently communicate expectations to everyone?
• Am I prepared to help people log into the class computers? This system is particularly weird!
• How am I going to support the students with the lowest tech skills?
• What is a reasonable and early indicator that a student is in danger of failing the class?

Looking back at thoughts from the end of last semester, some more things to think about:

• What are three things I can do this semester that I will be proud of?
• What can I improve from last semester? (perennial answer: teacher talk, Emily. Teacher talk.)
• What take-aways do I want to foster all semester long?

A few posts with ideas for the first day:

• Conversation Jenga (and all other ice breakers)
• Shaping a Writing Class
• Syllabus Strategies

Lastly, just for kicks, a few posts from previous First Days:

• New Site Misadventures
• Same Site, Next Semester
• New Semester and Computer Lab

Photo Credit: solidariat on Flickr

You’re reading Beginning with the End in Mind, originally posted at LearningToTeachEnglish.com.