How can we learn from what we do/teach?
I would wager that I've learned more this semester than my students. Teaching is a reflective practice. Often, the practice of teaching provides me with reflections I had yet to learn about myself.
For this semester I've learned students, like most people in life, respect honesty.
I've relearned the trials and struggles freshman encounter during their first semester of college. I had become too distant from those issues that I myself experienced one time.
I've learned that most of the writing skills I teach in class; I sometimes forget to do in my own papers.
I've learned that the kids that start to fall asleep at 8:00 in the morning are alert at 2:00 in the afternoon.
I've learned that students listen to my speech and watch my behavior and mannerisms more than I anticipated.
Most importantly though, I've learned I enjoy teaching and interacting with students. To be overly honest, I even enjoy teaching freshman composition. But what's more, I think my students know this too.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
What You Must Know
What should a FYC teacher come to class knowing? What should a FYC student come to class knowing? How can we prepare for "Plan B" when they don't?
As a FYC teacher you should know that you will never know enough. I don't think what you must know for FYC can be categorized into an easy answer. Instead, the "know" must evolve and change. In fact, the know becomes more individually oriented and tailored for each student as the semester evolves. In a class this large, I encourage my students that what they do not know, needs to be supplemented by meeting with me during office hours.
As a self-help point, I think you must have confidence in your ability to teach the given material for class that day. You must know that although you feel under prepared, you know enough to be in the classroom.
I think you must know that the students bring resentment to class. They don't want to take the required course (who does?).
To me, Plan B looks and sounds like this: "Give me 5 minutes to think about your question." or "I don't know the answer to that, but let me ask someone who does."
As a FYC teacher you should know that you will never know enough. I don't think what you must know for FYC can be categorized into an easy answer. Instead, the "know" must evolve and change. In fact, the know becomes more individually oriented and tailored for each student as the semester evolves. In a class this large, I encourage my students that what they do not know, needs to be supplemented by meeting with me during office hours.
As a self-help point, I think you must have confidence in your ability to teach the given material for class that day. You must know that although you feel under prepared, you know enough to be in the classroom.
I think you must know that the students bring resentment to class. They don't want to take the required course (who does?).
To me, Plan B looks and sounds like this: "Give me 5 minutes to think about your question." or "I don't know the answer to that, but let me ask someone who does."
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