It's getting to the point in the semester where the annoying parts of classes start wearing on you. I'm really ready to start next semester! (Well, actually I'm ready for break, and *then* next semester.)
Part of this is wanting to start over myself--I feel there are mistakes I've made in my own teaching, and that a clean start will help me to address them (or not have to deal with them anymore). Most of these are problems related to teaching each class for the first time, and I'm pretty sure they'll be better the next time through.
But some of it is also looking forward to dealing with new students! I'm kind of shocked how much of my time currently is spent dealing with students who have failed to do something, usually come to class (on time, or at all) or, especially, turn an assignment in on time. Each individual exception or grading-late-with-a-penalty is no big deal, but as a group they really consume a person! Honestly, the attitude towards attendance seems a lot better here than at IU (at least in aural skills), but the attitude towards late work is much worse. I'm ready to start over, and try new policies discouraging late work...
And finally, it'll be fun to teach new things!
1 comment:
Glad you're learning a lot from your teaching experience and looking forward to a fresh start!
My advisor takes a strict stance on late assignments and attendance--60% maximum credit on late assignments, and they'll only be received up to 9AM on the day of the next class period, with no more than 2 late assignments per person; after 3 unexcused absences, he reserves the right to drop the student (and references the faculty manual). His syllabus is usually 6+ pages long!
This seemed harsh to me at first, and then I realized with a class size of 50+ students, he'd lose so much time due to special circumstances.
Good luck!
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