by Nicole States, Instructional Developer, Reinert Center
The Resources Revisited series highlights existing resources available to the SLU community that may be especially timely or useful at certain points in the academic year.
As the start of the Fall 2025 semester is approaching, now is a good time to think about how you will set the tone for your course(s) during the first week of class. Whether you are teaching first-year students, seniors, or graduate classes, those early meetings can help you build community, clarify expectations, and invite students in as active learners.
At the Reinert Center, we have a number of resources that can support your planning for a welcoming and intentional start to the semester. If you want to focus on building connections, you might want to explore Strategies for Learning Student Names, How to Get to Know Your Students, Seeing the Diversity in Your Classroom, or Creating a Welcoming Classroom Environment. If you teach large courses, Tips for Using Student Names in Large Classes could be helpful.
Want to create early opportunities for belonging and engagement? Resources like Using “Icebreakers” to Build Community and Introduce Skills, Coffee Break(er), Using Ground Rules to Support a Diverse Learning Environment, and Starting the Semester: Student Engagement can help spark meaningful classroom interactions.
Preparing for the first week of class is also a great time to reflect on how your course materials communicate with students. The Syllabus as a Communication Tool offers tips on designing a syllabus that feels more like an invitation to learning rather than a contract. For distance courses, you may want to explore Building Community Online, Writing an Online Etiquette Policy, and Five Things to Know When Setting Up Your Canvas Course.
As always, we invite you to explore our full catalogue of resources on the Reinert Center website. If you would like personalized support, we are happy to meet with you for a one-on-one consultation in person or via Zoom.
The Notebook 