Posting fast...

...which actually may be just fine, as I don't think I have a lot to say. I did have to use some class time to finish marking stuff today, but I got it done and got it all back to the students. I did the usual Writing Process lecture, then turned them loose on the readings, one from Monday, the others due today. They didn't talk much--of course--but they did talk. At a certain point, naturally, the talk turned to "do you understand this assignment?" kind of stuff, but that's fine too. When we got to the "class as a whole" conversation on the first article, the one from Monday, only two people were contributing. I finally said, "So X and Y are the only two who read the articles and have anything to say?" One or two more students stepped up to the plate at that point--but then, when we turned attention to the articles for today, I asked, "So, how many of you came here straight from high school?" Most of the hands went up. "And do you think your high school prepared you for college?" A resounding chorus of "no." And then they got excited and wanted to talk. At the end, I said, "Well, that lit you up. Great!" The class ended with students showing me their homework but wanting to take it home for potential use writing the essays that are due next Wednesday. Do I honestly believe all those students will be working on their essays over the weekend? Phhhht. It is to laugh. Do I care? Nah. They did the work. I'll collect it later. Fair enough.

Advisement was very quiet, thank heavens--but I still didn't get as much done as I'd rather hoped I would. (Yes, we can sing that chorus again.) Well, there's always tomorrow.

Oh, and backing up, two students from the 102 showed up during my seminar hour; one had made an appointment, and we just quickly went over what he needs to prioritize, as he is pretty far behind. (He's got a family situation that was tripping him up, but he says it won't in the future.) The other showed up five minutes before the end of the seminar hour without an appointment. I gave him a bit of a hard time about that, but I talked with him anyway. He also has missed a lot of class and a lot of work (and somehow completely missed the part where he has to write up notes about the readings and submit them to me). He mostly wanted clarification about the essay--and he asked if he should agree/disagree ... and I had to explain that one can't agree or disagree with a work of art. (Note to self: take that Van Gogh poster in to class, show it to them, and say, "OK, do you agree?") But I explained what he did need to do. I don't think he gets it, but all he can do is try.

And another student--one of the adult women in the class--emailed to say she's drowning, wanted to see me today (no can do) or before class tomorrow... so I'll see her at 11. Despite her being an adult, she always has an excuse--or several--for why she doesn't have her work on time. Ah well.

So, yes, I do have to get up at 6 tomorrow and get to campus as early as I possibly can so I can put in a good stint of marking before class, and another (I hope final, clean-up round) during my office hour (and please: no students dropping by). But now, I am off to meet with the gang for a wonderful Italian dinner in the City. This makes my week. And I am outta here....