Everything Counts

Free AI web copilot to create summaries, insights and extended knowledge, download it at here

1308

Abstract

="2cd9">Most of the time the reviews are very positive, especially over the years, as I have improved as a teacher.However, I expected the fall 2020 journals to be mediocre, since I didn’t feel like my heart was in it.When I finally brought myself to read them, I was shocked.These young college students are adaptable, resourceful, and forgiving. Here is an excerpt from one student’s journal:Sadly, we have reached the end of the semester. Together we have overcome a hybrid class during the covid-19 pandemic, learned about the environmental harms of our actions and wrote crappy first drafts. We started off with my warning of my weird essays and ideas, and how I would sometimes not make any sense in my sentences. We saw it in all my essays, but the difference is that you helped me learn to analyze them to make them coherent. I feared my writing, my ideas and my crappy first drafts. However, overtime you gave me the confidence to rewrite those drafts, to find unusual titles for my essays and speak up for what truly matters to me. My writing improved from your class in a way I can only show through writing for you. I must keep watching out for those sentences that do not make sense but by writing and reviewing, I can confid

Options

ently say that I will keep writing crappy first drafts.We had read Anne LaMott’s “Shitty First Drafts” at the beginning of the semester. I didn’t think they would remember reading it.The student who wrote this excerpt didn't always attend class and didn't always seem engaged. It just proves that you never know what they're thinking. I've had students sit and scowl at me from the back of the room for the entire semester, only to write a glowing review of how much they enjoyed my class.I'm not naïve or idealistic. I know that for a good portion of the time they aren't listening, distracted by their phones or just spacing out. But knowing that they are retaining enough information to be successful, improve their skills, and even enjoy the class, makes it all worth it.I was just told that adjuncts at my school will not be getting any classes for the spring of 2020. Even though I'm only part time, my identity is very wrapped up in my teaching job. I'm going to have to figure out other things to do, and when this COVID-19 nightmare is over, if I am able to return, I will do so gladly. It has been my privilege to “teach” such wonderful kids these past 19 years, only to learn more than I could have hoped.</article></body>

Teachers do make a difference.

Source: Pixabay

This past semester, in the fall of 2020, I opted to teach a couple hybrid English classes, at the community college where I've been teaching since 2001. These were classes where the students were supposed to meet once a week and then do their assignments online the rest of the time. I decided not to take attendance because I didn't want to penalize those who were afraid to come to campus. It ended up to be kind of a bummer, with only 20 to 30% of the students showing up on their given day.

I would go to class and there would be anywhere from 3 to 6 students. Sometimes only one or two. I didn't feel the energy and excitement that I normally felt in a full classroom and it was very difficult to keep my enthusiasm up.

At the end of every semester I have them do a personal journal with their thoughts and feelings about the class and their performance, just for my information. I tell them that I don't read the reviews until after their grades are posted, so they can feel free to be honest.

Most of the time the reviews are very positive, especially over the years, as I have improved as a teacher.

However, I expected the fall 2020 journals to be mediocre, since I didn’t feel like my heart was in it.

When I finally brought myself to read them, I was shocked.

These young college students are adaptable, resourceful, and forgiving. Here is an excerpt from one student’s journal:

Sadly, we have reached the end of the semester. Together we have overcome a hybrid class during the covid-19 pandemic, learned about the environmental harms of our actions and wrote crappy first drafts. We started off with my warning of my weird essays and ideas, and how I would sometimes not make any sense in my sentences. We saw it in all my essays, but the difference is that you helped me learn to analyze them to make them coherent. I feared my writing, my ideas and my crappy first drafts. However, overtime you gave me the confidence to rewrite those drafts, to find unusual titles for my essays and speak up for what truly matters to me. My writing improved from your class in a way I can only show through writing for you. I must keep watching out for those sentences that do not make sense but by writing and reviewing, I can confidently say that I will keep writing crappy first drafts.

We had read Anne LaMott’s “Shitty First Drafts” at the beginning of the semester. I didn’t think they would remember reading it.

The student who wrote this excerpt didn't always attend class and didn't always seem engaged. It just proves that you never know what they're thinking. I've had students sit and scowl at me from the back of the room for the entire semester, only to write a glowing review of how much they enjoyed my class.

I'm not naïve or idealistic. I know that for a good portion of the time they aren't listening, distracted by their phones or just spacing out. But knowing that they are retaining enough information to be successful, improve their skills, and even enjoy the class, makes it all worth it.

I was just told that adjuncts at my school will not be getting any classes for the spring of 2020. Even though I'm only part time, my identity is very wrapped up in my teaching job. I'm going to have to figure out other things to do, and when this COVID-19 nightmare is over, if I am able to return, I will do so gladly. It has been my privilege to “teach” such wonderful kids these past 19 years, only to learn more than I could have hoped.