Monday, 11/18
I've gotten a little sloppy and stopped making powerpoints. School is a little harder than I thought it was going to be, and I am so busy, 24/7, that it feels like I have no time. BUT I am going to get some advice. My previous journal entry for last reiterated a worry I have been having about being an effective instructor, and I find myself worrying about it again right now. The class went well today, but I still feel like I'm plagued by this question of effectiveness and structure when trying to apply an atmosphere of openness and exploration to my teaching style.
Wednesday, 11/20
Okay, I know I've said this before, but this time it is true: Today is my absolute favorite day of the semester. We completed the identifying effective versus non-effective speeches activity from the teaching composition class.
The best performers - because that is EXACTLY what my students were today - were John H. and Teegan M. John's "talk show host" was brilliant as he imitated Jimmy Fallon silently laughed at his own jokes. Teegan's "casual professor" was a little edgy, but had everyone in stitches as he wrote out the popular Epstein meme on the chalkboard.
Today was so much fun and the room was filled with so much energy. Usually, my little raccoons are so tired and so quiet, but today they were talkative and literally dancing across the front of the room. I think I know now the kind of atmosphere that I enjoy having in my classroom. It made everything so much better, even as we moved on to the discussion. I think today was the only day where everyone spoke and it wasn't because I had called on everyone/everybody/anyone refusing to speak.
The openness that my students displayed today was really rewarding. I felt like I was finally getting to a moment, within the classroom, where I was embodying the liberatory experience that I discussed in my teaching philosophy statement. Today is something that I've wanted to facilitate, and I think its something that has been occurring, but I just really see it today in my student's behavior and willingness to be humorous and just create and demonstrate their ways of making meaning.
It feels like it's been a battle to get them to share their thoughts and opinions, but I think today marks where I've realized their transformation. They are no longer stagnant, or even satisfied to remain in one way of thinking. They are willing to grow and they come to me with stories about new knowledge and research paths that they're looking at. One told me how she spent the weekend looking at one of the poets she found a few weeks ago in our classroom. That was such an amazing moment. It reassures me that I want to be in the classroom and that I really enjoy facilitating this liberating experience for my students.
Friday, 11/22
Friday did not have the same energy as Wednesday, but it was still a good day. We talked a lot about what supporting material was for their unit 4 speeches.
They have a few assignments to complete for Monday, one of which I let them work on in class which was about describing their supporting material...
I've gotten a little sloppy and stopped making powerpoints. School is a little harder than I thought it was going to be, and I am so busy, 24/7, that it feels like I have no time. BUT I am going to get some advice. My previous journal entry for last reiterated a worry I have been having about being an effective instructor, and I find myself worrying about it again right now. The class went well today, but I still feel like I'm plagued by this question of effectiveness and structure when trying to apply an atmosphere of openness and exploration to my teaching style.
Wednesday, 11/20
Okay, I know I've said this before, but this time it is true: Today is my absolute favorite day of the semester. We completed the identifying effective versus non-effective speeches activity from the teaching composition class.
The best performers - because that is EXACTLY what my students were today - were John H. and Teegan M. John's "talk show host" was brilliant as he imitated Jimmy Fallon silently laughed at his own jokes. Teegan's "casual professor" was a little edgy, but had everyone in stitches as he wrote out the popular Epstein meme on the chalkboard.
Today was so much fun and the room was filled with so much energy. Usually, my little raccoons are so tired and so quiet, but today they were talkative and literally dancing across the front of the room. I think I know now the kind of atmosphere that I enjoy having in my classroom. It made everything so much better, even as we moved on to the discussion. I think today was the only day where everyone spoke and it wasn't because I had called on everyone/everybody/anyone refusing to speak.
The openness that my students displayed today was really rewarding. I felt like I was finally getting to a moment, within the classroom, where I was embodying the liberatory experience that I discussed in my teaching philosophy statement. Today is something that I've wanted to facilitate, and I think its something that has been occurring, but I just really see it today in my student's behavior and willingness to be humorous and just create and demonstrate their ways of making meaning.
It feels like it's been a battle to get them to share their thoughts and opinions, but I think today marks where I've realized their transformation. They are no longer stagnant, or even satisfied to remain in one way of thinking. They are willing to grow and they come to me with stories about new knowledge and research paths that they're looking at. One told me how she spent the weekend looking at one of the poets she found a few weeks ago in our classroom. That was such an amazing moment. It reassures me that I want to be in the classroom and that I really enjoy facilitating this liberating experience for my students.
Friday, 11/22
Friday did not have the same energy as Wednesday, but it was still a good day. We talked a lot about what supporting material was for their unit 4 speeches.
They have a few assignments to complete for Monday, one of which I let them work on in class which was about describing their supporting material...
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