I have thoroughly enjoyed taking it easy this weekend! My birthday was on Thursday, but I did have to work (not only teaching in the morning, but finishing grading essays and planning in the afternoon). So, I decided to do as little work as possible over the weekend, and I have succeeded at that! Mark did take me out to dinner on Thursday (we went to Outback), and we continued celebrating by having giant homemade brownie sundaes yesterday. We spent a good part of the day yesterday watching the second season of Burn Notice, a TV show we got the first season of at Christmas (based on Derek's recommendation). It's really good, but now we're already over halfway through the second season, and the third may not come out on DVD till next summer (it's on TV now, but on cable). It was fun to spend the day on the couch together, but I did have some weird spy dreams after so much of the show!
Today I've done some reading and a little bit of prep work for the week, but at this point in the term, there's not as much to do for my class. We'll spend this week workshopping (not much prep time for me to worry about), and the third essay is due on Thursday. We have Friday off for 4th of July, so I hope to get the grading done by the end of Friday and be able to take next weekend off, too! After that, we'll have 3 more days of class (one of them will be optional), and I'll be grading the finals. It's amazing how quickly this has gone by. I really do think I'm learning a lot of things that will be helpful in the fall--from which texts have gone over well and which ones haven't, to improving how I handle difficult conversations with students. It's been quite an experience! (And I'm very thankful for it). Now, to enjoy the rest of my leisurely afternoon...
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Some quick updates
I'm now halfway through the summer session. It's incredible just how quickly things are going by. I've graded most of the second essay now; and since I last wrote, I've also had a little talk with my class about grades. I talked with Mark and emailed my teaching advisor about the issues I was having and got some good advice. The main two things were: remind the students they are there to learn, and if they are focused on grades, rather than on learning, they are in the wrong place; and, remember that I'm not responsible for their grades (or scholarships, or whatever), they are. We'll see how things go when I return essays again on Friday, but I'm feeling more ready to stand my ground this time. (And it probably won't hurt for everyone to have the weekend between getting the papers back and having our next class.)
Other than that, I wanted to mention that Mark and I have finalized our plan to head back to ABQ on Friday, July 10. That's the day after my class is over (I collect the final exam essay on Thursday, and hope to get them all graded that day so I don't have to take work with me). Katie is having a special tea to honor her for completing the next step in a church girls' program on Saturday; and Mark's niece and nephew will also be in town, so we figured it would be a good time to head back. We think we'll stay about a week, but we're going to play it by ear.
Other than that, I wanted to mention that Mark and I have finalized our plan to head back to ABQ on Friday, July 10. That's the day after my class is over (I collect the final exam essay on Thursday, and hope to get them all graded that day so I don't have to take work with me). Katie is having a special tea to honor her for completing the next step in a church girls' program on Saturday; and Mark's niece and nephew will also be in town, so we figured it would be a good time to head back. We think we'll stay about a week, but we're going to play it by ear.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Grade woes
As expected, the last part of the week was a little rough. I got the papers graded and returned to my students on Thursday. I had one very disappointed student stay after class and talk to me for a while, but that was no surprise. Actually, I thought there would be more questions. It's always hard to give back the first essay, knowing there will be at least a handful of students who are unhappy with their grade. It kind of disrupts whatever good classroom dynamic you have had going, because, suddenly, you become the bad guy. Well, after Thursday, I thought maybe I had somehow escaped without many complaints, but, as it turned out, a whole group just waited till after class on Friday to talk to me. Of course, I encourage them to ask questions if they don't understand my comments and all that, but the problem was that they not only wanted to ask questions, but to argue about the grades. These were tough conversations, and I've realized that dealing with grades is my least favorite part about the job. Not only do I spend a lot of time on grading (which is fine), but it can be hard to explain grades to students, and it's especially difficult with those who seem to feel that hard work should equal good grades. Or that because their scholarship or their GPA or whatever "depends" on their grade in this class, that it's somehow my responsibility to get them to that grade (rather than their responsibility to earn it). I found myself saying over and over that yes, I see you're working hard, and yes, I know you've never written anything like this before, and yes, I want you to do well, BUT, I have to grade what's on the page, and I have to stick to the standards I've set. It's tough. Thankfully, I came home to Mark, who so patiently listens to my commentary about all of this, then encourages me to essentially stand my ground. So, after yesterday, I am excited to have a couple days off to relax a little and try not to think about my class and my students so much. I've been only somewhat successful with the not thinking about it part, but I have been able to relax. (And also get the chores done!) I'm certainly thankful for the little break before charging back in on Monday and collecting another set of essays on Tuesday.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Week 2
Summer school is flying by! I am starting to get used to the schedule, although I've found it is exhausting to be so completely focused on just one project. I think I prefer having a couple different things going, so I can jump back and forth a little. But, the great news is that I'm finished with grading the first essays (except for the two that still haven't been turned in). I am dreading tomorrow a little, because the day the first essays are returned is always a little bit of a downer. We have a great class dynamic, but when some of them see the grades, they won't be happy. I've found it's really hard for me to give out the lower grades when I know and like the students so much, and especially when I expect them to be disappointed. But, I can't give them A's just because I like them! We'll just have to get through it...
A couple of days ago, I wrote about the two guys who called the author of one of the short stories. These two are really funny. This morning when I got to class, they were so eager to talk to me and tell me the story of the second big lesson they've learned this week (the first was yesterday, when one printed out a journal assignment but didn't save it, then lost the page before arriving in class. Lesson learned--always save your work!). They are quite the storytellers, and I just couldn't help smiling as they recounted this story. First, they tackled their homework yesterday, right after class, finishing by 2pm. They felt so excited that they could just relax for the rest of the day. They played video games with friends and had a great day, but thought, just before bed, that they should check the syllabus. At 11pm, they discovered that the journal assignment for today was different from the one for yesterday; unfortunately, they had assumed the assignment would be the same. But, alas, it was too late to do another journal; they were exhausted. So, they woke up early (at 5:30) this morning to complete the correct journal. Lesson learned--read the syllabus carefully! Listening to the two of them recount their misadventure was immensely entertaining. Truth be told, I would have accepted the first journal they did anyway, but I didn't get a chance to tell them that, they were so intent on explaining their mishap. It was a fun start to my day, at least, if not theirs!
Well, one final bit of news--yesterday I got a call to let me know that I had been selected as a winner for a regional credit union scholarship contest. I've won $500, which will be greatly appreciated come fall and all the associated expenses.
A couple of days ago, I wrote about the two guys who called the author of one of the short stories. These two are really funny. This morning when I got to class, they were so eager to talk to me and tell me the story of the second big lesson they've learned this week (the first was yesterday, when one printed out a journal assignment but didn't save it, then lost the page before arriving in class. Lesson learned--always save your work!). They are quite the storytellers, and I just couldn't help smiling as they recounted this story. First, they tackled their homework yesterday, right after class, finishing by 2pm. They felt so excited that they could just relax for the rest of the day. They played video games with friends and had a great day, but thought, just before bed, that they should check the syllabus. At 11pm, they discovered that the journal assignment for today was different from the one for yesterday; unfortunately, they had assumed the assignment would be the same. But, alas, it was too late to do another journal; they were exhausted. So, they woke up early (at 5:30) this morning to complete the correct journal. Lesson learned--read the syllabus carefully! Listening to the two of them recount their misadventure was immensely entertaining. Truth be told, I would have accepted the first journal they did anyway, but I didn't get a chance to tell them that, they were so intent on explaining their mishap. It was a fun start to my day, at least, if not theirs!
Well, one final bit of news--yesterday I got a call to let me know that I had been selected as a winner for a regional credit union scholarship contest. I've won $500, which will be greatly appreciated come fall and all the associated expenses.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Risks and Rewards
The first week of summer school is over! I feel like I worked really hard last week (partly because I hadn't been doing much work at all since school got out), and I am thrilled to have a weekend to relax and take it easy before jumping back in on Monday (the first paper is due, so I'll be grading...). I'm very interested to see how the papers turn out, and I'm looking forward to starting the second unit, because I think my students will like it.
On my syllabus for the summer, I decided to take a risk and try a new method of workshopping. In the past, I've used a few variations, but the basic format was the same: students brought in drafts and worked in pairs or small groups to read, comment on, and revise them. For this class, I decided to try a method DR has used and recommended, which is workshopping papers as a whole class. To do this, I had students sign up for dates throughout the term when they would bring in copies of their 1st page for the whole class. During the term, each student will bring copies once. Then, the whole class reads the draft, writes comments on the copy, and discusses it as a class. This way, the writer gets feedback from ALL the students in the class rather than just one or two. And, the students in the class get to read more of each other's work during the semester, allowing us to spend more time as a class focusing on actual student writing.
I wasn't really sure how this would go with my class, but between Thursday and Friday, we looked at 4 different drafts, and it went really well! The class seemed to be ready and willing to make comments and give advice, and the writers seemed to be able to accept that advice. Our conversations were pretty lively, and the students made a lot of the same comments I would have. It also gave us a chance to talk about some aspects of writing we hadn't had time to discuss yet in the context of looking at an actual paper. I am definitely planning to continue to use this method in the fall (with some adjustments, of course). I am also eager to hear what my students have to say about it when I ask for their feedback about the first unit on Monday. Anyway, it feels really exciting and rewarding to have taken what I thought to be a risk in teaching and to be rewarded by a successful (so far!) outcome.
On my syllabus for the summer, I decided to take a risk and try a new method of workshopping. In the past, I've used a few variations, but the basic format was the same: students brought in drafts and worked in pairs or small groups to read, comment on, and revise them. For this class, I decided to try a method DR has used and recommended, which is workshopping papers as a whole class. To do this, I had students sign up for dates throughout the term when they would bring in copies of their 1st page for the whole class. During the term, each student will bring copies once. Then, the whole class reads the draft, writes comments on the copy, and discusses it as a class. This way, the writer gets feedback from ALL the students in the class rather than just one or two. And, the students in the class get to read more of each other's work during the semester, allowing us to spend more time as a class focusing on actual student writing.
I wasn't really sure how this would go with my class, but between Thursday and Friday, we looked at 4 different drafts, and it went really well! The class seemed to be ready and willing to make comments and give advice, and the writers seemed to be able to accept that advice. Our conversations were pretty lively, and the students made a lot of the same comments I would have. It also gave us a chance to talk about some aspects of writing we hadn't had time to discuss yet in the context of looking at an actual paper. I am definitely planning to continue to use this method in the fall (with some adjustments, of course). I am also eager to hear what my students have to say about it when I ask for their feedback about the first unit on Monday. Anyway, it feels really exciting and rewarding to have taken what I thought to be a risk in teaching and to be rewarded by a successful (so far!) outcome.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Funny Story
Well, this was Day 3 of summer school; and we've now covered, or at least attempted to cover, as much material as we would during the first 2 weeks of a regular semester. This really is a challenge; I feel like there's so much more we could do, but we just don't have time. At first I was worried about having enough to do each class period; now my problem is getting through everything I'd like to. The good news is that the students, for the most part, have been keeping up with their work. I finally feel caught up in my planning, too. Tomorrow is our first workshopping day and I'm trying a new technique. I'm anxious to see how it goes.
Today, we were discussing a short story and a poem. (In each unit, we read a handful of short texts that the students can choose from to write their essays about.) I expected this particular story would be difficult for them because it was a little longer and more complex than the others we'd seen so far. I was right about that, but I sure didn't expect to hear how two of my international students handled that. They must be close friends (maybe roommates), because it sounds like they were reading it together. They were having trouble understanding the story, so they decided to call up the author and ask him about it. That's right--they called the writer! I imagine all they had to do was google his name (I think he's a university professor) and find an office phone number. Well, he answered the call, and they explained why they were calling, and he actually talked to them for a while about the story! The funny part is that my students said they were more confused after the conversation than they were before... :-) I'll have to ask around and see if anyone else has ever had students use this particular strategy before. I wouldn't be bold enough, myself!
Today, we were discussing a short story and a poem. (In each unit, we read a handful of short texts that the students can choose from to write their essays about.) I expected this particular story would be difficult for them because it was a little longer and more complex than the others we'd seen so far. I was right about that, but I sure didn't expect to hear how two of my international students handled that. They must be close friends (maybe roommates), because it sounds like they were reading it together. They were having trouble understanding the story, so they decided to call up the author and ask him about it. That's right--they called the writer! I imagine all they had to do was google his name (I think he's a university professor) and find an office phone number. Well, he answered the call, and they explained why they were calling, and he actually talked to them for a while about the story! The funny part is that my students said they were more confused after the conversation than they were before... :-) I'll have to ask around and see if anyone else has ever had students use this particular strategy before. I wouldn't be bold enough, myself!
Monday, June 8, 2009
First Day
Day one of summer school has come and gone. I was a little nervous, but I think it went well. There's something about the unknown parts of the first day that make it a little tricky. Plus, since this is summer school, I have a lot more time to manage; each class is an hour and forty-five minutes. Today, I let them out about 15 minutes early; but I think that's ok on the first day.
Based on my first impressions, I think it'll be a good class. Even today, there were several students who participated willingly in the discussion (and, of course, a few who didn't say a word; but I'll start calling on them tomorrow). One very interesting thing--all 15 of my students are male. Before class started, one of the guys looked around and said something about how there seemed to be a lot of testosterone in the room. I thought that was pretty funny. At least I don't have to worry about offending someone by saying "you guys" to the class! Also funny is that I had met one of my 107 students before during one of my visits to CESL.
I have a handful of students from Saudi Arabia (which I expected, after seeing the names on my class list), one each from Kuwait, China, and England, and others from AZ and a few other states. It'll be fun to see how the class dynamic continues to develop, but I think most of them seem friendly and ready to take on the course. I do think this will be a busy month. A week from now, I'll be grading the first essay already!
Based on my first impressions, I think it'll be a good class. Even today, there were several students who participated willingly in the discussion (and, of course, a few who didn't say a word; but I'll start calling on them tomorrow). One very interesting thing--all 15 of my students are male. Before class started, one of the guys looked around and said something about how there seemed to be a lot of testosterone in the room. I thought that was pretty funny. At least I don't have to worry about offending someone by saying "you guys" to the class! Also funny is that I had met one of my 107 students before during one of my visits to CESL.
I have a handful of students from Saudi Arabia (which I expected, after seeing the names on my class list), one each from Kuwait, China, and England, and others from AZ and a few other states. It'll be fun to see how the class dynamic continues to develop, but I think most of them seem friendly and ready to take on the course. I do think this will be a busy month. A week from now, I'll be grading the first essay already!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Back in Tucson
After a nice week in ABQ, we're back in Tucson. It was really fun to be home for a while and get to spend time with family and friends. Our time there did go by quickly, but I was able to see a lot of people and catch up. After a few weeks of mostly being at home with Mark (much needed down time after the busy semester), I especially enjoyed spending so much time at home just chatting. I'm also glad we'll be able to go back again later this summer.
Now that I'm home, I've got to really be sure I'm ready for summer school. When I first got the job, I thought maybe I'd have everything planned and ready to go before class even started. That's not exactly how it worked out. I have planned out the whole syllabus, but I don't know how I'll use class time every day. It really is different to plan for a class that is an hour and forty-five minutes (and meets 5 days a week). I feel like I've got to be sure I keep it interesting. I think I'm ready for Monday, at least, and I've sketched out a few other days. Really, it's just a matter of getting things started, then I shouldn't have trouble changing back into teaching mode.
Last week, I had a dream about the first day of class; I still have some first day jitters. Mom said someone told her that as soon as you stop feeling nervous about the first day, you shouldn't be teaching anymore. That doesn't seem like a bad way to look at it! I'm sure it'll be fine...I'll let you know how it goes!
Now that I'm home, I've got to really be sure I'm ready for summer school. When I first got the job, I thought maybe I'd have everything planned and ready to go before class even started. That's not exactly how it worked out. I have planned out the whole syllabus, but I don't know how I'll use class time every day. It really is different to plan for a class that is an hour and forty-five minutes (and meets 5 days a week). I feel like I've got to be sure I keep it interesting. I think I'm ready for Monday, at least, and I've sketched out a few other days. Really, it's just a matter of getting things started, then I shouldn't have trouble changing back into teaching mode.
Last week, I had a dream about the first day of class; I still have some first day jitters. Mom said someone told her that as soon as you stop feeling nervous about the first day, you shouldn't be teaching anymore. That doesn't seem like a bad way to look at it! I'm sure it'll be fine...I'll let you know how it goes!
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