It is a truth universally acknowledged that good professors show up early to talk with students before class. And that even better ones play clips of goat yoga and evoke wonder. But is it time to reconsider these pre-class rituals? Perhaps—for both our students’ sakes and our own.
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Though I can stand confidently in front of a class of 40 or a conference of 400 colleagues, I am an introvert. Rather than chatting with my students, I start playing varying genres of music 15 minutes before class. Most students seem to like it, as do I and students do not feel they interrupt me when they come up to ask a question.
I have played music before class for about eight years now. I make it a little bit of a joke that I am exposing them to “good” music (classic rock) and then shake it up once in awhile with some genres they do not expect. I also will make a game out of it in class – giving them a chance to win the right to play the pre-class music one day. I notice my students are on their phones and, sometimes, interacting with one another. I will engage with those that are not doing either. Also, if a student needs to chat quickly with me before the class, the music helps keep the conversation semi-private.