Portal:Teaching Your First Semester

From Gssw 2007

Teaching Your First Semester

It's exciting. It's daunting. It's maybe the scariest think you'll ever do! But help is on the way: at WashU in St. Louis, there are a variety of resources available to help you through this challenging time.

Where to find help

The Teaching Center is your first destination.

You might also find this book First Day to Final Grade helpful.

You can also take GREAT workshops, such as this one.

Your Peers are Important

Your classmates may be some of your best resources, too. Remember: you're probably all in the same boat, so why not use this opportunity to help each other out? Consider forming a support group where you can all discuss your teaching experiences. If you invite more experienced students, they can often provide excellent insight on teaching strategies.

Don't forget the faculty!

In some departments, you may be teaching a class on your own; in other departments, you may be a teaching assistant under the direction of a professor. Depending on the course, the professor may give you extensive responsibilities, or very little in the way of responsibility.

Regardless, don't forget that faculty are good resources, too. Talk with faculty you know well, or foster new relationships with faculty who you think will be helpful.