Five minute post on the nature of the beast

So, teaching ENG101.

Attendance is very spotty at first--until students start to realize that every class they miss means additional snowballing of work.

Reading: a challenge. Today, reading the quotation on critical thinking by Sumner, a student thought it must be about learning a trade or going to school for a career because "what else could it be about?" Well, about critical thinking. Which is what it says.

Even handouts are a challenge. "So, you've read my handout on what to do with annotations and notes. What should you do?" "Summarize." "See this part where it says, 'Do not summarize'? What do you think that means?"

A lot of them are timid about their ideas. Some of the ones who are most vocal probably shouldn't be.

I am frequently surprised by who has great ideas--and who does not. (Note to self about those assumptions...)

Everything is bumpy to start, most of the time. I got a bit spoiled with that wonderful class last semester--and in an unusual twist for me, I am carrying around the memory of that positive experience and rather willfully forgetting the grinding annoyances of the other section. (I am usually more likely to remember the negative than the positive--but when it comes to teaching, my inner Pollyanna starts every semester thinking, "This one will be great!!" It could happen...)

And that's the end of my 5 minutes. I have to dash to PT. More tomorrow, I hope.