The first week of school is over and the jury is still out on the class I'm teaching. They have been very quiet so I'm not sure of the personality of the class yet. Hopefully as things get going, they will warm up to me and start talking. Next week's classes are more discussion based while the first week is a lot of me talking so that should help.
The setting of this classroom is not the best for me to learn names and get to know my students. There is space down the middle of the room where I pace up and down. On both sides of me are tables where the students sit, three on each side of the table so no matter where I am in the room, some have their backs to me. Each student has a computer monitor in front of them, blocking his or her face. It is hard for me to get a good look at them which is going to make it even harder for me to learn their names. I feel very distant and separated from them, so I'm going to really focus on getting them to come out from that sense of security that those monitors are providing.
This is also the first semester where I am teaching a syllabus that I did not entirely create myself. I can make slight changes to it, but the assignments have to stay the same. Of course I went over the syllabus, the readings, the assignments, and all those little things before class, but I feel like I don't really know this class like I've known others I've taught. Again, it is just the first week so I know I'm still getting to know the class and the students, but so far I definitely feel like I am teaching someone else's class to a bunch of people I've never met before.
In other news, I finally have my complete qualifying exam committee. Woohoo!
Monday, January 17, 2011
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Two Teaching Resolutions
This new year of 2011 will see me teaching at a new university, my Grad University. I will be teaching freshman composition, which I have done before at Community College, but this particular course is laid out in a much different way and stresses very different things. For this new year and new course, I definitely have some basic resolutions I hope to keep in regards to my teaching.
1. Be more of a tough guy (or gal). I know I let my students get away with way too much, and that is going to stop this year. I know I am not going to completely change my personality, so I will still be more of a laid back teacher than others, but I hope to put my foot down a lot more when the situation calls. Saddle up pilgrims, because there is a new sheriff in town and you best be listenin' up. (Hmm, I also resolve to never use Old West language again).
1b. This "tough gal" persona will also affect my grading. I think I may sometimes be an easy grader and this is another bad habit that has to stop. We did a grading workshop last semester and we were all pretty much on the same page, which made me feel confident in my grading. However, I felt that I might have been more lenient if I was in an actual class and knew these students. Not again!
2. Grade and prep more effectively. Or to put it in another way, do not save all grading and prep work to do the day before class. This semester will mark the first time I have my own office. Sure, I share it with four or five other grad students, but it is an office nonetheless! Because of this office, I will also be holding office hours for the first time ever. Community College never required them, I had no space there, so I was only available by appointment. However, this semester I am required to sit in that office for so many hours and I am going to use that time wisely! Here's my plan: I teach three days a week. After every class, I will go back to the office and work. I will go over whatever was handed in that day, whatever I may grade for next class, and start prepping. I will use my time effectively.
Those really are the two major ones. I don't think I'll know what else to do with my teaching until I get into the classroom and see how things go. There are things I want to make sure that I keep doing because I like them in my style. I want to stay fun, personable, helpful, and sympathetic. We'll see how things go after that.
1. Be more of a tough guy (or gal). I know I let my students get away with way too much, and that is going to stop this year. I know I am not going to completely change my personality, so I will still be more of a laid back teacher than others, but I hope to put my foot down a lot more when the situation calls. Saddle up pilgrims, because there is a new sheriff in town and you best be listenin' up. (Hmm, I also resolve to never use Old West language again).
1b. This "tough gal" persona will also affect my grading. I think I may sometimes be an easy grader and this is another bad habit that has to stop. We did a grading workshop last semester and we were all pretty much on the same page, which made me feel confident in my grading. However, I felt that I might have been more lenient if I was in an actual class and knew these students. Not again!
2. Grade and prep more effectively. Or to put it in another way, do not save all grading and prep work to do the day before class. This semester will mark the first time I have my own office. Sure, I share it with four or five other grad students, but it is an office nonetheless! Because of this office, I will also be holding office hours for the first time ever. Community College never required them, I had no space there, so I was only available by appointment. However, this semester I am required to sit in that office for so many hours and I am going to use that time wisely! Here's my plan: I teach three days a week. After every class, I will go back to the office and work. I will go over whatever was handed in that day, whatever I may grade for next class, and start prepping. I will use my time effectively.
Those really are the two major ones. I don't think I'll know what else to do with my teaching until I get into the classroom and see how things go. There are things I want to make sure that I keep doing because I like them in my style. I want to stay fun, personable, helpful, and sympathetic. We'll see how things go after that.
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