I always have my laptop with me - gee, what a surprise! - so I get to class early and pop a CD in for the students. I start out playing stuff they like - Goo Goo Dolls, Foo Fighters, Third Eye Blind, etc. Some days, I'll bring in Elvis, Boston or The Monkees... We've got to EDUCATE these kids!  8-)

Last semester, I did this on the first day of classes. It did two things:

1) Got them nice and relaxed. I want them to feel comfortable in my classroom... then, maybe, they'll feel comfortable with math.

2) Gave me instant rapport with my classes.

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