Year #14

I have yet to have a bad first day in 14 years of teaching.  They've all been great.  It's just the following days that you have to worry about when the honeymoon from summer wears off.  That's when many students are now used to seeing their friends again, the romance of back to school shopping and the new clothes and supplies wears off, and they realize they are trapped back in the dull routine of school.

But I try my best to combat that routine and always keep them on their toes.

That is especially true for my first class: Lit & Lang 9R.  This class is for students who have struggled with reading and need some differentiated strategies to boost their skills.  It's been a long time since I've taught freshmen.  They are totally different from the top ranked juniors and seniors that I've been accustom to having in my college in the high school classes.  Those kids walk in and expect to learn and work.  But my freshmen!  They are eager, not necessarily to work, but to get to know me, ask questions, joke around, and try to get out of as much work as possible.  This should not surprise me at all.  They are freshmen after all.

In talking with another teacher who was very successful with her Lit & Lang 9R class, I think the best approach for freshmen is to hit them with a variety of assignments and activities to take full advantage of their short attention spans.  My other approach is to always make everything we do or study relevant to the real world and to what interests them.  I hope that serves me well for the next 18 weeks.

My second class is a large College Comp II class.  This is comprised of seniors who - all but one - took my College Comp I class last year.  Since I had their contact numbers in my phone, I let them know at the end of the year - and again over the summer - that their first essay, which had to be what they considered an A level college paper - was due on the first day of class.  (You see what I mean about my upper classmen being ready to learn and work?  Where else could I possibly get away with having a 4-6 page paper due on the first day of class?)

They are bright and all talented writers.  I can't wait to see what they come up with this semester.

My third and final class is a monstrous College Comp class.  Thirty one students.  I'm going to go blind reading drafts.  For our first theme, a simple description essay, students will do three rough drafts (describe their favorite season, a prized possession, and then whatever they wish).  So right there I will read 93 drafts.  From those three rough drafts, students will select one to then revise thoroughly and submit for a final draft.  That will be another 31 papers to read bringing the total from the first week of school to 124 drafts read.  I'll earn my pay with that class.