Search
Close this search box.

Tailgating for Teachers: Building Community before Day One

Credit: iStock.com/sshepard
Credit: iStock.com/sshepard
I’m hopelessly unathletic, which means I’ve usually observed the rituals at the so-called sports school where I teach from a distance—until recently, that is, when a student invited me to something called “tailgating.” My takeaway? The sense of belonging and excitement that I witnessed during this pregame ritual reminded me that pre-course rituals can do the same for our students. Read on for ideas about how to make the lead-up to a new semester count (no beer or body paint required).

To continue reading, you must be a Teaching Professor Subscriber. Please log in or sign up for full access.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Articles

I have two loves: teaching and learning. Although I love them for different reasons, I’ve been passionate about...
Like millions of people, I play Wordle each day in The New York Times. If you are unfamiliar,...
During my third year of college, another student that many of my friends interacted with, who tutored some...
If you have ever taught (or taken) an online class, you may have fallen into the trap of...
Exit tickets are simple diagnostic assessments given to students at the end of a class. The “ticket” in...
In one of the most memorable courtroom scenes in cinematic history, Tom Cruise is Lieutenant Junior Grade Kaffee...
I don’t usually gasp while reading how-to books for new professors. But then, I don’t often encounter revelations...

Are you signed up for free weekly Teaching Professor updates?

You'll get notified of the newest articles.