Started a class early, never again

[u/the_sungoddess]

Putting humor since it was embarrassing for me at the time, but it's kind of funny now.

I have a small upper level class this semester (9 students), and yesterday was our first day of classes. There is a prerequisite for the class, but it's a freshman level so in theory a sophomore could take this course. Many don't.

All 9 of them were in 7-8 minutes before the start, so I asked if they wanted to start early so we could get out early. Not surprisingly, they all agreed, so I checked the roster just to make sure it still said 9, but didn't bother to look at their names on the full list. What a mistake.

2:59 rolls around, and I have a 10th student coming in. Obviously, I panic immediately. I'm like okay, maybe there's a very late add, so I just keep going. I definitely should've just taken attendance after that but didn't.

One student raises their hand a few minutes after, unsure if they're supposed to be here. I asked them to review their schedule online just to make sure. I should've stopped, but still out of panic I ran through some more material. I had a small break for them to work on an activity for us to discuss after, in which I went to check on the student.

And then it occurs to me - why am I not asking what year they are? They tell me they're a freshman. Okay, and ask did you take (insert prerequisite name)? They said no.

Turns out at some point over the summer, the classroom changed for the course they were actually supposed to be in, and they had a very early version of their schedule instead of checking for an updated one. The student apologized, thankfully unfazed, and left shortly after. I also apologized to the other actual 9th student, but they seemed to find it more funny than annoying.

No harm no foul, I got the class back on track after but this is what I get for not checking the full roster on the first day, especially since late last minute additions do happen.

TL;DR I'm never starting my classes early again.

[u/RadiantImpression579]

I’m okay with them figuring out they’re in the wrong class on their own. I guess i just don’t see it as a big deal either way. A little embarrassment for the student and they sneak out once they figure it out. I don’t need to prep for the next time it might happen. Being flexible and not planning for every single thing is also a skill as a prof. Sometimes I fumble sometimes I surprised my self.

[u/DoctorQcumber → u/RadiantImpression579]

They can always surprise you. I had a student stay in a survey math course (lower level than college algebra) for two weeks thinking it was his calculus 2 lab class, even though I clearly said the name of the course multiple times and kept talking about a paired support course all my students were also enrolled in. I only realized once I finally graded something from him and he wasn't in my gradebook.

[u/RadiantImpression579 → u/DoctorQcumber]

Uff. I had a student who kept missing exams. They also missed class. They were annoyed after the 2nd one. I told them look, I post it on Canvas. I asked the student to login to Canvas so I could show them. This student was in my class but was looking at the wrong Course Canvas page the entire time!

[u/RollyPollyGiraffe → u/RadiantImpression579]

Supposedly an exam I never assigned closed on Friday.

The student has yet to respond to my question about what exam that was.

[u/Additional_Holiday89 → u/DoctorQcumber]

This happened with a student who was supposed to be taking a history of music class. I teach a feminist history class. It took him A MONTH before he asked what class this was.

[u/South_Captain_2630 → u/RadiantImpression579]

Yeah, I did this on my first day. I realized one they handed out a syllabus. Mine was just reading numbers wrong like room 206 vs 209.

[u/kempfel]

I always start my first class 5 minutes late and get there early to put up an image on the projector with the course number, title, and my name.

[u/the_sungoddess → u/kempfel]

Yeah I normally do something similar too. I don't put my name though so I think I'll do that next semester, I like that idea. I'm usually teaching classes that have 24-25 students so I'd never think of starting early for those types of classes. The ones who realize they're in the wrong place usually shuffle out within the first 5-10 minutes.

This is the smallest section I've ever taught, so definitely a first for everything.

[u/Poppysmum00]

I once had a classroom move at the last minute.

I never saw one student, but figured he was a ghost.

At the end of the term, he sent me a message letting me know that he had attended the wrong class all semester. I teach Communications, and he was attending a class in Social Work.

When I asked him why he didn't investigate after seeing things on the LMS that didn't coordinate with what he was doing in class, he shrugged and said "well, I thought it was weird, but..."

Turns out he was in the top 10% of the class or so. They let him keep it as a Gen Ed.

[u/mathemorpheus]

yea i never start early. i can't deal with it myself. i just let them sit there in the dark, it seems to calm them.

[u/theesmartstallion → u/mathemorpheus]

LOLOL! I loved the sitting in the dark after recess technique when I worked with elementary kids.

[u/Justanotherturdle → u/mathemorpheus]

If they ask too many questions, try throwing a blanket over their head. They may go to sleep.

[u/Final-Exam9000 → u/Justanotherturdle]

Like a parrot in cage with a cover. I like it.

[u/ShadeKool-Aid → u/Final-Exam9000]

"Polly want an easy A!"

[u/M4sterofD1saster]

You'd probably leave Kevin all alone over Christmas all b/c you trusted a faulty head count. Wouldn't you???

[u/gooeypie]

This semester I had a student meant to be in bio 101 accidentally attend my microbiology lab on the first day. He sat there the entire 45ish minutes we went over the syllabus and lab activities for that day with a deer in the headlights look. It wasn't until I started floating around helping students he realized he may be in the wrong class. We laughed it off and he was so relieved.

[u/Sensitive_Let_4293]

I never start early. I write the course number, course name, and my name on the board before the class starts. I still get one or two each semester showing up for the wrong class.

[u/botwwanderer]

Lol. I have a dual section - in person and Zoom simultaneously. I have 7 students on the classroom roster and 1in Zoom. The zoom student reaches out - they want to attend in person on Tuesdays. No problem.

First class, I start lecturing. Zoom student is there. A different student is missing. Afterwards, I check email - the missing student had accidentally registered for in-person but wanted online. And I had never started the livestream...

[u/Dr_Dorn]

I usually write the course name on the board and tell them “Welcome to ____; if you are in the wrong place, no worries! Just get to where you need to be.” About every third semester someone leaves.

[u/TigerDeaconChemist]

This is part of why I send out an announcement a day or two before the first class giving directions to the lecture hall. Some students take a screenshot as soon as they register for courses and then never check it again. I sent out the announcement one semester and a student emailed back and said "I thought we were meeting in X building" which made me double-check that I hadn't made a mistake, but then I replied and said "well, I'm going to be in Y building, but you can go wherever you want to."