My current thoughts are confused. I am teaching two breakout sections for a large 1000-level class, and There is a student on my roll who has not shown up to any session or turned in any assignments. They emailed me to say they haven't done Their work for the last two weeks because they don't have the book, then said they are a good student who studies all the time & never skips class. Let's just say I was not amused. I replied, pointing out the attendance policy and the fact that it is four weeks into the semester, and not only have I not seen them, but I have no assignments.
It turns out, this student has apparently been going to the other female TA's breakout sessions. (I have emailed her to confirm, but not heard back yet.) I am troubled now by two things. First, can this student not read a class schedule to know what room they are supposed to have class in. Second, when they were not on the roster for the room they were in, why did they not double-check their schedule & room number? I understand that it is a 1000-level class, and this student might be a freshman, but it is not Fall Semester, they should have learned something about how to be a college student. I know Oasis is old & clunky, but it isn't completely useless.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as I vent a bit.
Otherwise, I LOVE teaching!!! I have one student who started out angry & not understanding how anyone could believe in any religion, but who is now (after only four weeks) becoming less angry and more curious. I'm not saying this student will ever be a religious person, but it's nice to see some small progress. This student said they appreciated my openness about all religions. Also, two other students commented positively on my openness about religions and toward them, my students.
Another TA & I were talking after classes today, and he spoke about how he sees his students as not just students, but friends. That got me thinking about my attitude toward my students. I think of them as my children. Not in the sense so much of being superior to them, but as wanting the best for them, and for them to learn to look at more than just their point of view when looking at the world they live in. Okay, I sound hokey. I'll sign off now, before I get all mushy.
I want to help students look at more than just their own point of view, too! It's so cool that our disciplines are so different (religion and ecology!) yet we can have such similar goals. Even if my students do not become scientists, I'm hoping to nurture global citizens. I can see how being open to different religions, cultures, etc would help everyone, well, just get along!
ReplyDeleteI would definitely schedule a few minutes with your student from part A of your post. You might find out what's really going on there. I imagine it is just a misunderstanding, but this student needs to know that your expectations of him or her are not being met and that there are consequences.
ReplyDeleteAs for loving teaching - yay! Next, tell me what you think about teaching with technology :-)
So, how'd it work out?
ReplyDeleteThe student in the first part of this post has been attending the other TA's sessions, and will continue to do so. But I am still troubled by the student's lack of understanding about how to know where their classes meet each semester.
ReplyDelete