I'm so glad that my first class on "Taking Control Over Gossip and Criticism" is over. The first class was always the hardest when I was a high school or college instructor; the first class is still the hardest now that I'm teaching adults. Complicating the opening night jitters was the fact that my co-teacher Bruce was absent due to a pre-existing commitment. I'm thankful that my friend Jeff stepped in to help! He provided some good discussion points, and, most importantly, was there to back me up in case I ran out of material.
Running out of material is always a teacher's greatest dread. When teaching children or high school students, you can come up with something off the top of your head. That's harder when you're teaching a touchy subject to adults!
On second thought, maybe running out of material is just my greatest dread. How about it, teachers? (And I mean in any capacity, whether at work, school, or church--whether your students are children or adults.)
Is your great fear running out of material, or is there something else that pumps your adrenaline before that first class?
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I have to stand before new classes all the time. In fact, I had to teach a class I haven't taught in a year on a spur of the moment fill in this morning for a two hour block. I always keep a thumb drive in my pocket that has little 1 or 2 minute video clips that are either funny or thought provoking, which I play as an introduction. Once they break a smile, I'm usually ok. However, my biggest dread is that they won't get the humor and we never connect. So far, I've not had that experience, but I've come close.
The worst one I had was in front of a bunch of managers who didn't want to be there. After a brief introduction, one of them raised their hands and challenged the validity of the program. Fortunately, while I was responding to him, his phone rang and he had to leave, so I was spared. Close call...
It's never easy.
Oh-
And I'm sorry I keep posting such long responses to your posts.
I love long responses!
My husband has to do presentations all the time (he's in educational sales). We always got a big kick out of the cheesiest joke he would use: the GEICO joke. (You know, "I've got bad news, and I've got good news. I just saved money on my car insurance by switching to GEICO." He used to use this one a lot a year-and-a-half ago, when the commercial was still playing. I warned him that one day he would say it and it would be too old, and he would hear nothing but the sound of crickets. One day, he came home and admitted that he *almost* got the crickets. That was the last time he trotted that one out!
Yes, that is one of my great fears while teaching adult Sunday school--not just the first time, but each week! I've been known to stretch out prayer request time occasionally because I think I don't have enough material to fill the rest of the hour. That's never the case, though, because I like to keep it discussion-based; my classmates can be a lot of fun. If there is a lull, eevvvvery once in a while someone will take pity and throw me a line.
Rosslyn,
God bless you for teaching all ages. Teenagers scare the life out of me, I'm afraid, and presenting to/teaching adults? Wow. Adults deadpan when being taught, which is why when I attend an adult class/workshop I smile and nod constantly, to encourage the teacher. I probably look like a ridiculous bobblehead. LOL
You're right, I never worry about running out of material with children. With adults I would probably say that annoying, "Talk amongst yourselves" and hope for the best.
I so enjoy your blog. You have interesting thoughts with a unique angle. Keep posting! :)
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