1-1-1

Today was the first official class. It was my internship 1 course. That course has graduate students seeking their initial certifications to teach. This first day is a crazy whirlwind. We meet each other, learn about essential questions and the importance of prior knowledge, they work with a group of college students with developmental disabilities, then go home to do research, write and practice a three minute story that they will perform tomorrow in class, and read an article and be prepared to discuss it. Needless to say they leave exhausted and will likely either shut down tonight and be completely unproductive or shift into high gear.
I was excited about today because I was trying something completely new. I have had a new obsession with old postcards and constantly think about ways in which I can use them in the classroom. Today each student was given a small packet of about 5 old postcards and they had to spend a few minutes examining them. In the process of looking them over the task was to think about what is most interesting to them about the post-card. They could consider the picture on the card, the place it is from, the date and location of the postmark, or even the writing on the card if there is any. Then, they rotated around the classroom and consulted with one another about what interested the other people in the class about their post-card. Tonight they have to choose one aspect of the card and research it and then come in tomorrow ready to tell a three minute story. The story should have romance, drama, intrigue, arouse curiosity, have a clear beginning, middle, and end, etc. I am so excited to see what happens. But, having never done this before, I am also somewhat nervous.
In fact, this entire semester makes me a little bit nervous since I am teaching one completely new class and the other two classes have been completely revamped. Who knows what will work and what will flop?
One thing that didn't flop was my session yesterday with the Freshman. We got together to meet and discuss Day of the Locust by Nathaniel West. They are a dynamite group and I am looking forward to meeting with them for our real class on Friday.

Planning can be dangerous

Super productive day. Look out freshman. I spent the better part of today revising the syllabus for my new course. The course is called something ridiculous like, Applied theatre: American idol meets David Letterman blah, blah, blah. I just called it Applied Theatre but, the powers that be were afraid no one would sign up for it and asked that I give it a jazzy subtitle. I have no idea what my title really means but I suspect my students are expecting a blow off class. After today's big revision I can tell you that it will not be a blow off class at all.
While I expect we will have fun, play improv games, and explore a lot of interesting topics, we are also going to be reading Freire, Giroux, Chomsky, hooks and others. They have a tremendous amount of writing in addition to performance. And, lots of self-reflection. I expect that by mid-semester they will be exhausted and wishing they signed up for something that sounded more difficult but actually turned out to be silly. Instead, they signed up for something that sounded silly and is going to be quite demanding.
That said, I am really proud of this syllabus and I have high hopes for the course. I am quite nervous since the course is brand new and I have no idea what to expect. Still, I believe it has a great deal of potential. Only time (and this blog) will tell.

The power of a nice note

I didn't get a lot of school stuff done today. I did completely purge my closet of clothes that either don't fit or that I haven't worn in a long time. I did read two article that I need for one of my classes. I also answered email and feel generally productive although I still have quite a bit to do in advance of Monday. As today was ending I was feeling a little bit lost, unsure about the plans I have made for this upcoming semester and generally wondering if I make a difference at all. Then, I checked my email.
Recently, I taught a research course in North Jersey. I love teaching research and mentoring students through the research process. It's really one of my true pleasures. But this particular research course is the first in the series of three. And, it's the only one where the students aren't actually working on their projects yet. It is the introduction to everything -- research, themselves, their practice, everything. For five days, 40 hours, they read a ton of theoretical and practical pieces, they journal, they discuss, and they examine and reveal their own biases, philosophies, and motivations. Of the three research courses I like this one the least. I understand it's purpose and I believe it aids in making our students good researchers. But, it feels a bit intrusive and I am not always comfortable doing it.
This past group was somewhat larger than usual. Among the budding researchers were brilliant people, many experienced teachers, a former engineer, one guy, and one girl who I had three times in my courses when she was an undergraduate just a few years ago. I am sure the poor thing had quite enough of me during her time at our college and I felt a little bad for her when I realized this would be her fourth time with me as her professor.
But tonight I received an email from her that said, "All the girls are still quite jealous that I had a class with you! I very much enjoyed your class and am hoping to take 601 and 602 with you in the future. Happy start of the school year!"
The girls to which she is referring are two other former students who are now teachers. I think I had them all 2-3 times when they were undergrads. I am a little bit embarrassed to admit it but, I can't explain how good it feels to have someone tell me that they enjoy being in my class. Teaching is hard for a million reasons. But, if you are even slightly insecure -- if you are someone who needs to know that you are pleasing other people -- teaching is tough. As a teacher, maybe especially a professor, there are very few occasions to receive positive feedback from the people you are most interested in pleasing. Tonight's email was a special treat.

Syllabi Schmyllabi

Today could be a potentially stellar day for finishing up all of my syllabi and being completely prepared for the semester. On the other hand, it's such a tedious task. The part that has me held up now is the calendar. Ironically, as a student, this is the part I love the most. I have to admit that seeing that day-to-day schedule really feels good. From an instructor's standpoint this is a giant pain in the ass. Checking and cross checking the academic calendar with the Jewish calendar with the public school calendar and then my own calendar just makes me cringe.
The truth is that it is not a particularly difficult task. Once I get rolling it is easy and it benefits me just as much as the students. But, I am just feeling blocked and bratty. I would much rather sit around and read - this last day that my son is in camp. Perhaps I am just mourning the loss of summer. I am also a bit disappointed that the summer didn't prove to be as productive as I had hoped. My plan for writing one or maybe even two articles has not come to fruition. I didn't get to visit friends. I didn't even ride my newly tuned up bike. I did go on an amazing vacation.
Enough procrastinating. On to the calendars and finishing touches on the syllabi.

Less than perfect

I just finished .my 5th year as a college professor and am rushing up to the beginning of year 6. This year I am officially tenured. With that tenure comes some added responsibilities. But, more than that, the expectation that I know stuff. Sadly, I still feel like the new professor and I don't feel particularly expert at anything. I know this isn't a unique feeling, everyone goes through it. Still, I keep waiting for that day when I wake up and feel completely grounded.
Over the past few weeks I have been reading books, chapters, articles, and novels that are assigned to the incoming students. I've been making notes, ordering books and films, planning events and activities, developing assignments and you would think that all of that planning would ease the anxiety. Instead, I continue to feel uncertain.
One of my former students started a blog very recently called, "the first 180" where he will document his first year as a teacher. That has inspired me to document this year of my own teaching.
So, hold on while you are riveted by the topsy turvy world of my Fall, 2010 semester. I will be teaching a freshman seminar -- Applied Theatre, a graduate course in teacher education, and a senior seminar.