Here we go - time to make another change in my life!
Remember last year when I was SO excited that I was doing SO much teaching? (need a refresher - go here) Well, that wore off. I am not against working hard, but crap, grading essays is harder than hard. It takes a lot of hours to grade a stack of essays. If they're written well, it's not too bad. But more often that not, the majority of the essays are poorly written, and those take much longer to grade. Of course, then there are the cheaters. It takes time running the document through Turnitin, tracking down original sources to compile the evidence, and finally reporting the student to the program director or dean. And once I've caught a cheater, I'm so mad that I have to stop grading for a while. The process takes up a good chunk of one weekend day for one class. I had 4. Essays have been consuming my life.
But no more! I still have 2 classes at the local community, but I am taking time off from the business school to get control over my own life again. I get to be home and take care of my house again. Actually fold the laundry and put it away, not just toss it on the living room floor. Clean up the piles of various school-related papers that have been accumulately for 2 years (can I finally get them organized? O.M.G!). Do some home improvement projects, plan a garage sale, cook real meals! There is so much I can do now that there will be time! I also get to be home and take care of me again. Anyone want to get to the gym with me?! I've got to get back in the pool. I can take time to plan menus and cook healthy meals. I can go for walks. All without feeling guilty that I should be grading.... Last, but certainly not least, I get to be home to spend time with the family. Arts and crafts with the little princess. Movies with the teenager. Date night?!?!?!?!? Is it really possible?
I will have TIME. Can anyone ask for anything better?
(I have to give so very much gratitude to my wonderful significant other who provides for this family, sometimes being away days or weeks at a time. Without him, this change would not be possible. Thanks, honey!)
Showing posts with label teach. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teach. Show all posts
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Monday, September 5, 2011
Grading ... Not Grading
I am supposed to be grading. It feels like I'm always supposed to be grading. Yes, I knew this was going to be part of the job going in, but I never in my wildest dreams could have imagined the sheer tedium of grading essays into which virtually no effort has been put.
I have ranted about students and grading before (here and here), but the apathy appears to be getting worse. Either that, or I am getting more and more bitchy and sensitive about the students' lack of care.
To top it off, at one of the schools where I teach, there is a culture of doing more to make the students happy, rather than put the burden of educational responsibility where it belongs - on the students themselves. How are we teaching them to survive in the real world if we continuously pander to their dependence? My teenager is more independent than more than half the students who come into my classroom. He know that excuses don't fly, so don't even try. He could teach my students a thing or two about taking responsibility, but they wouldn't hear it.
School can be a fun and exciting time, but the majority of the time spent in school is time spent working, including approximately 2-3 hours of work outside of class for each hour spent in. Many students don't do the work for reasons unknown to me. It could be that they're lazy, they forgot, or they just don't bother (I'm leaning toward the last). Am I not supposed to assign work outside of class now? I can just see it: "Students are unhappy with completing homework outside of class; therefore, we have decided that all work must be completed in class, so students are free to party and not think about school once they leave every day." This is not outside of the realm of possibility: students were just given equal parking rights. If you're an adjunct instructor with classes later in the day, you get to park in the back of the lot. Hope you didn't piss off any students today, or you might end up with a keyed door.
The whole thing has made me a bit bitter about my chosen profession. Yes, I entered into this career knowing that I had to do the dirty work, but I didn't foresee the politics involved in making sure students are happy so that they stay enrolled, rather than focusing my energy on those students who give a shit about learning something, about bettering themselves to get that better job, about learning for the sake of gaining knowledge about the world. Why do I have to spend my and my family's time putting energy into something that so blatantly doesn't deserve it? Maybe I'll start using this method to grade essays from now on (he uses exams, but I think the principle will hold): Guide to Grading Exams.
I just now realized that my blue pen and correction tape match, as do the grey pen and stapler - that was totally not planned. I'll try to take that as the silver lining to this cloud. Maybe it will spur me to continue grading.....
I have ranted about students and grading before (here and here), but the apathy appears to be getting worse. Either that, or I am getting more and more bitchy and sensitive about the students' lack of care.
To top it off, at one of the schools where I teach, there is a culture of doing more to make the students happy, rather than put the burden of educational responsibility where it belongs - on the students themselves. How are we teaching them to survive in the real world if we continuously pander to their dependence? My teenager is more independent than more than half the students who come into my classroom. He know that excuses don't fly, so don't even try. He could teach my students a thing or two about taking responsibility, but they wouldn't hear it.
School can be a fun and exciting time, but the majority of the time spent in school is time spent working, including approximately 2-3 hours of work outside of class for each hour spent in. Many students don't do the work for reasons unknown to me. It could be that they're lazy, they forgot, or they just don't bother (I'm leaning toward the last). Am I not supposed to assign work outside of class now? I can just see it: "Students are unhappy with completing homework outside of class; therefore, we have decided that all work must be completed in class, so students are free to party and not think about school once they leave every day." This is not outside of the realm of possibility: students were just given equal parking rights. If you're an adjunct instructor with classes later in the day, you get to park in the back of the lot. Hope you didn't piss off any students today, or you might end up with a keyed door.
The whole thing has made me a bit bitter about my chosen profession. Yes, I entered into this career knowing that I had to do the dirty work, but I didn't foresee the politics involved in making sure students are happy so that they stay enrolled, rather than focusing my energy on those students who give a shit about learning something, about bettering themselves to get that better job, about learning for the sake of gaining knowledge about the world. Why do I have to spend my and my family's time putting energy into something that so blatantly doesn't deserve it? Maybe I'll start using this method to grade essays from now on (he uses exams, but I think the principle will hold): Guide to Grading Exams.
I just now realized that my blue pen and correction tape match, as do the grey pen and stapler - that was totally not planned. I'll try to take that as the silver lining to this cloud. Maybe it will spur me to continue grading.....
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Mommy
My daughter calls me "Mommy." I like it; that's who I am to her. I am her "mommy" - there is only one other person in the world who has called me Mommy (he grew out of it - punk). It's my title in my home, but don't confuse it with a descriptor of who I am - the term does not define me.
I hate (loathe, destest, despise, abhor, anathematize) the term "mommy" when used by adult women to describe themselves.
I think it stems from the fact that part of the problem with many kids today is their sense of entitlement. They've been given everything they've ever wanted from the moment they graced their parents' lives. There is a sense in young people that just because they are alive, they don't have to work for anything. And it comes back to their "mommies" in the end.
This new breed of mother, the "mommies," are women who are now making their children the focus of their whole world. Their entire identity is wrapped up in their children, giving all of their time and energy over to the kids. Giving, giving, giving - all the time. And the kids learn to take, take, take with no thought of anyone but themselves.
My mom was a stay at home mom until I was about 7 when she had to rejoin the workforce. Even still, when she was at home, I knew that I was not the sole focus of her life. That's not to say that we didn't spend time together, but she had a home to run and other kids to take care of. I got pawned off on the older siblings at times or was sent outside to play and get out of her hair. My happiness, while I know that my mom wanted to make sure I was happy, was not the whole of her job. She taught me to find happiness on my own and to think about things on my own, without her. Life doesn't work that way. The best moms teach their kids to be independent.
And that's an issue I have with the "mommies" today. Their kids are never on their own! Mommy is always there (helicopter mom), ensuring little darling's happiness at all moments. Mommy has to be sure that the apple of her eye is perfectly comfortable with everything he or she wants to be fulfilled (no, I didn't say need - I don't dismiss that these women provide for the needs of their children, for the most part). Little princess always get a toy when out shopping with Mommy. Little buddy has all the video game systems and every new game that comes out. Mommy is always there, ensuring happiness, but never allowing Junior to learn that sometimes life brings disappointment, sometimes life makes you wait for what you want.
All this is just to say that the phrase, "I'm a mommy," really drives me up the wall. Some will think I'm a bad mother, but whatever. I know I'm doing it right. My kids will be strong, independent members of society. They will treat others with respect, and they will never expect to get something they don't deserve. And that's because I'm only Mommy by title. My actual job description is educator: I am teaching my kids how to live in the real world! And to do that, my kids have seen their mom in all her roles, not just one: mom, teacher, friend, sister, daughter, girlfriend, TV junkie, writer, editor, helper (there's more, but I'm tired)....
Now, if I could only get these women to see themselves as more, too.
I hate (loathe, destest, despise, abhor, anathematize) the term "mommy" when used by adult women to describe themselves.
I think it stems from the fact that part of the problem with many kids today is their sense of entitlement. They've been given everything they've ever wanted from the moment they graced their parents' lives. There is a sense in young people that just because they are alive, they don't have to work for anything. And it comes back to their "mommies" in the end.
This new breed of mother, the "mommies," are women who are now making their children the focus of their whole world. Their entire identity is wrapped up in their children, giving all of their time and energy over to the kids. Giving, giving, giving - all the time. And the kids learn to take, take, take with no thought of anyone but themselves.
My mom was a stay at home mom until I was about 7 when she had to rejoin the workforce. Even still, when she was at home, I knew that I was not the sole focus of her life. That's not to say that we didn't spend time together, but she had a home to run and other kids to take care of. I got pawned off on the older siblings at times or was sent outside to play and get out of her hair. My happiness, while I know that my mom wanted to make sure I was happy, was not the whole of her job. She taught me to find happiness on my own and to think about things on my own, without her. Life doesn't work that way. The best moms teach their kids to be independent.
And that's an issue I have with the "mommies" today. Their kids are never on their own! Mommy is always there (helicopter mom), ensuring little darling's happiness at all moments. Mommy has to be sure that the apple of her eye is perfectly comfortable with everything he or she wants to be fulfilled (no, I didn't say need - I don't dismiss that these women provide for the needs of their children, for the most part). Little princess always get a toy when out shopping with Mommy. Little buddy has all the video game systems and every new game that comes out. Mommy is always there, ensuring happiness, but never allowing Junior to learn that sometimes life brings disappointment, sometimes life makes you wait for what you want.
All this is just to say that the phrase, "I'm a mommy," really drives me up the wall. Some will think I'm a bad mother, but whatever. I know I'm doing it right. My kids will be strong, independent members of society. They will treat others with respect, and they will never expect to get something they don't deserve. And that's because I'm only Mommy by title. My actual job description is educator: I am teaching my kids how to live in the real world! And to do that, my kids have seen their mom in all her roles, not just one: mom, teacher, friend, sister, daughter, girlfriend, TV junkie, writer, editor, helper (there's more, but I'm tired)....
Now, if I could only get these women to see themselves as more, too.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Freedom!
Yesterday, at 1:53 PM, I felt the most amazing, incredible, wonderful sense of relief. It washed over me, taking (almost) every bit of stress out of my body. It wasn't until about 15 minutes later, getting out of the elevator at Howard's office, that I felt the sense of freedom that the end of the quarter brings. I had a huge, goofy grin on my face as the elevator doors opened.
It is difficult to describe this quarter. As I do every quarter, I change up the information a little bit, present it a little differently, try to change those things that didn't work in previous quarters. I don't think it was me. In two of my classes, my students did well. The ones who didn't pass knew the reasons why, and they know what they need to do to pass next time. In my other 2 classes (2 sections of the same class), I had the worst results ever. It's disheartening when out of a total of 36 students, only 10 pass. But again, I don't think it was me.
The 26 students who didn't pass all had one thing in common: missing work. There seems to be this sense among students that it's OK to miss work. I have this feeling that in high school, students were allowed to make up work at the end of the term in order to bring up their grades, which gave them a false sense of how the world actually works. In real life, you don't get do-overs every time you screw up or forget to do something. Sometimes, forgetting or blowing something off has real, definite, and serious consequences. So, too, in my class. I allow late work - students have basically 2 weeks to get every assignment turned in. So why is it so difficult to get it done?
The questions will remain - I don't know why the students do what they do and don't do what they should. All I know is that I'm free today, and I feel good!
It is difficult to describe this quarter. As I do every quarter, I change up the information a little bit, present it a little differently, try to change those things that didn't work in previous quarters. I don't think it was me. In two of my classes, my students did well. The ones who didn't pass knew the reasons why, and they know what they need to do to pass next time. In my other 2 classes (2 sections of the same class), I had the worst results ever. It's disheartening when out of a total of 36 students, only 10 pass. But again, I don't think it was me.
The 26 students who didn't pass all had one thing in common: missing work. There seems to be this sense among students that it's OK to miss work. I have this feeling that in high school, students were allowed to make up work at the end of the term in order to bring up their grades, which gave them a false sense of how the world actually works. In real life, you don't get do-overs every time you screw up or forget to do something. Sometimes, forgetting or blowing something off has real, definite, and serious consequences. So, too, in my class. I allow late work - students have basically 2 weeks to get every assignment turned in. So why is it so difficult to get it done?
The questions will remain - I don't know why the students do what they do and don't do what they should. All I know is that I'm free today, and I feel good!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Why I Despise Grading
Most of us love what we do. Teachers, I mean. We do love teaching - most of the time. But then it comes time to grade the papers. Those who can run all their tests through the Scantron machine have it easy, of course. But I'm talking about those of us who have to read and respond to nearly every assignment because it's our job to make sure these students can string words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs together in a way that makes sense and includes correct punctuation (seriously? OMG, yes correct punctuation).
With every red mark on the page, I am amazed by the lack of understanding of the concepts I just went over in class. I can't help wondering what exactly I did wrong:
"Did I somehow not explain what I was looking for in this assignment?"
"Did I just need to explain it a different way for this student to understand?"
"Should I even be teaching?"
And then, I get to the "good" papers in my stack. I employ a method of grading whereby I reward myself with the "good" papers after I have dragged through all of the "bad" ones. The good ones are those students who make it all worthwhile. Some of them started out in the bad part of the stack, but have actually worked to understand the material and use what they've learned. Others have natural ability and just get it. They are my reward because they take way less work to grade, and it's a joy to read when a student actually thinks about the assignment and responds thoughtfully. And it's a reward to know that I didn't totally botch the explanation because someone got it.
Does it make me a bad teacher that I resent having to wade through all the bad ones? After beating myself up about it, I realize that most of those students just don't care to improve. They're perfectly happy doing half ass work the night before the assignment is due to get a mediocre grade that will allow them, just barely, to pass the class and move on to the next class, where I will again have to deal with their unwillingness to improve themselves in a way that will positively affect their entire professional careers. (And yes, before you get all up in my case about that sentence, it is gramatically correct). Is it too much to ask for them to care at least half as much as I do about their grades?
With every red mark on the page, I am amazed by the lack of understanding of the concepts I just went over in class. I can't help wondering what exactly I did wrong:
"Did I somehow not explain what I was looking for in this assignment?"
"Did I just need to explain it a different way for this student to understand?"
"Should I even be teaching?"
And then, I get to the "good" papers in my stack. I employ a method of grading whereby I reward myself with the "good" papers after I have dragged through all of the "bad" ones. The good ones are those students who make it all worthwhile. Some of them started out in the bad part of the stack, but have actually worked to understand the material and use what they've learned. Others have natural ability and just get it. They are my reward because they take way less work to grade, and it's a joy to read when a student actually thinks about the assignment and responds thoughtfully. And it's a reward to know that I didn't totally botch the explanation because someone got it.
Does it make me a bad teacher that I resent having to wade through all the bad ones? After beating myself up about it, I realize that most of those students just don't care to improve. They're perfectly happy doing half ass work the night before the assignment is due to get a mediocre grade that will allow them, just barely, to pass the class and move on to the next class, where I will again have to deal with their unwillingness to improve themselves in a way that will positively affect their entire professional careers. (And yes, before you get all up in my case about that sentence, it is gramatically correct). Is it too much to ask for them to care at least half as much as I do about their grades?
Friday, January 14, 2011
Financial journey continued...
It's been a long road on your journey to financial freedom following the plan laid out in Dave Ramsey's The Total Money Makeover, but we have made amazing progress since our start in September 2009. In that time, we've gone through some changes:
But that's okay because our outlook for 2010 is even better. I am still teaching a total of 5 classes at a time, which is considered full-time, though it's still between 2 schools. My salary is still a little lower than it was at the full-time job, but that's okay, too. We've learned a lot through Dave Ramsey's plan: we know where we can tighten our budget and still be financially fine. Howard's promotion (and the raise to go along with it) will give us some extra money each month to attack our debts. I could possibly be full time at the business school this year, which would give us another boost to get us closer to our goal, maybe faster than we have planned.
We are now down to a car payment, one credit card, and my student loans. Our plan is to knock out the credit card and the car payment in the next few months with our tax refund. We will start paying the student loan and our goal is to pay off the entire balance in one year to be debt free by March 2012. It is amazing to think that in just over a year we could be debt free other than the house and be ready to start on Baby Step 3 to fully fund our emergency fund of 3-6 months of expenses. I cannot imagine having a bank account with that much money sitting in it!
What I'm really excited about is getting to Baby Step 4, where we start funding our 401Ks again and start saving for retirement. Howard is a little nervous that aren't doing this now, but I believe in this plan we're on, and I know that in the long run, we will reach our money goals!
- Our wages returned to the full amount early 2010 (after a 10% pay cut in early 2009)
- Howard was given the only pay increase in the company at the end of 2009 (other than employees who were given held promotions from the year before)
- I went to 3/4 time at the full-time job in January 2010 and started teaching a class at the community college in the spring semester
- I left the 3/4 time job when my second class started in March 2010 (late start)
- I picked up 2 classes at a business school (April quarter)
- I taught 4 classes in the next 2 quarters (July and October quarters)
- I also taught an early morning class at the community college in the fall semester of 2010
- Howard got his anxiously awaited promotion at the end of 2010
But that's okay because our outlook for 2010 is even better. I am still teaching a total of 5 classes at a time, which is considered full-time, though it's still between 2 schools. My salary is still a little lower than it was at the full-time job, but that's okay, too. We've learned a lot through Dave Ramsey's plan: we know where we can tighten our budget and still be financially fine. Howard's promotion (and the raise to go along with it) will give us some extra money each month to attack our debts. I could possibly be full time at the business school this year, which would give us another boost to get us closer to our goal, maybe faster than we have planned.
We are now down to a car payment, one credit card, and my student loans. Our plan is to knock out the credit card and the car payment in the next few months with our tax refund. We will start paying the student loan and our goal is to pay off the entire balance in one year to be debt free by March 2012. It is amazing to think that in just over a year we could be debt free other than the house and be ready to start on Baby Step 3 to fully fund our emergency fund of 3-6 months of expenses. I cannot imagine having a bank account with that much money sitting in it!
What I'm really excited about is getting to Baby Step 4, where we start funding our 401Ks again and start saving for retirement. Howard is a little nervous that aren't doing this now, but I believe in this plan we're on, and I know that in the long run, we will reach our money goals!
Friday, June 4, 2010
And the craziness continues....
I had no idea that it had been so long since I last posted. I am a terrible blogger! But I have an excuse, I swear..... I last left off talking about how I was offered two classes at one of the community colleges in town. I accepted those two classes and made the arrangements to cut back my hours at my full-time job and then leave at the beginning of March. The first class started in January, but the second was a short-term class that didn't start until mid-March. I thought about staying with the company, but I only would have had about 15 hours a week available, so I decided that it was time to move on and completely immerse myself in the world of teaching (and finding more teaching gigs for when the semester ended).
I want to digress a bit to talk about the company I left. I worked there for 5 years and almost 10 months, the longest I have ever worked anywhere. When I got the job, it was just something part time to do while I got my Master's, nothing serious, and it paid well (always important for single mom/student). When I finished my Master's, I went full time, got a substantial raise, and felt like I had a grown-up job. It was good for a couple years, until the economy tanked. I still had the job, but none of the cool, fun parts - I was back to the administrative stuff that I had long grown out of. I was overqualified for that work when I took it as a part-timer all those years ago! I was dissatisfied there. It was definitely time to move on.
At a time when people are fortunate to have jobs at all, I quite a stable job with excellent benefits in order to fully enter the unpredictable world of adjunct faculty (scroll down). My semesters are never certain, and I don't know how much I will be working in the coming months - my fate is in the hands of schedulers who fit me in once all of the full timers and other adjuncts with more seniority have been given their desired schedules. To get one class is considered lucky.
I consider myself lucky. I was offered the two English classes having never met the instructor doing the scheduling - all he had was my resume with one class as previous teaching experience. One class! He took a chance, and I am so glad he did because if he hadn't, I wouldn't be teaching right now. I would still be sitting in that cubicle, wondering what else I could be doing with my grown-up life.
And I'm lucky because after I quit the job, I received a call from a business school in town that I had been hoping to hear from. Would I be able to teach two classes for their upcoming quarter? My initial response, was how can I possibly teach two classes over there? I'm still learning this whole teaching thing!! Of course, once I looked over our budget for the coming months, I realized that my only possible response was yes, that would be absolutely no problem. I went from one class last fall to four classes in April. I knew I was in for long days, nights, and weekends. That is one heck of a lot of essays to grade!
And grade like a maniac I did. In mid-April, I started at the business school, which operates year round on a quarter schedule. In mid-May, I finished at the community college, a long 18-semester. In that month, I had new classes to prep (I'm a newbie to all of this, so every class I teach is new to me - that means TONS of prep), research papers to grade, and final exams to write. I had to leave the house to get the grading done - the employees at Panera must have thought I was a complete masochist, working two straight days at a corner table with large stacks of papers and my trusty red pen.
That month was so busy. I could barely remember my name or where I was supposed to be at any given time. Laundry got washed and dried, but rarely got beyond the pile in the living room. Thank goodness Howard was home and not out in the field because we would have had no clean dishes, and the kids would have been lucky to eat (well Spencer anyway, Christian can fend for himself). My "office" began spreading - it started on the desk in the bedroom, took up residence in the living room, acquired a third of the kitchen table, and finally overtook the sacred "Mary Kay Room," since there was no longer time to run a business.
And so the craziness continues. There are four weeks left in the quarter at the business school, and I still don't know what the schedule is for next quarter. I could have one class, or three, or none. I hope it's three - my budget will love it, and I'll be busy, which I love, despite my complaints. (Maybe I just like to complain). On the other hand, if it's three, then I'll have four classes again when the semester starts for the state schools in August, as I did get a class at one of the community colleges for fall. At 7:00 AM. Ah, the life of adjunct faculty!
I want to digress a bit to talk about the company I left. I worked there for 5 years and almost 10 months, the longest I have ever worked anywhere. When I got the job, it was just something part time to do while I got my Master's, nothing serious, and it paid well (always important for single mom/student). When I finished my Master's, I went full time, got a substantial raise, and felt like I had a grown-up job. It was good for a couple years, until the economy tanked. I still had the job, but none of the cool, fun parts - I was back to the administrative stuff that I had long grown out of. I was overqualified for that work when I took it as a part-timer all those years ago! I was dissatisfied there. It was definitely time to move on.
At a time when people are fortunate to have jobs at all, I quite a stable job with excellent benefits in order to fully enter the unpredictable world of adjunct faculty (scroll down). My semesters are never certain, and I don't know how much I will be working in the coming months - my fate is in the hands of schedulers who fit me in once all of the full timers and other adjuncts with more seniority have been given their desired schedules. To get one class is considered lucky.
I consider myself lucky. I was offered the two English classes having never met the instructor doing the scheduling - all he had was my resume with one class as previous teaching experience. One class! He took a chance, and I am so glad he did because if he hadn't, I wouldn't be teaching right now. I would still be sitting in that cubicle, wondering what else I could be doing with my grown-up life.
And I'm lucky because after I quit the job, I received a call from a business school in town that I had been hoping to hear from. Would I be able to teach two classes for their upcoming quarter? My initial response, was how can I possibly teach two classes over there? I'm still learning this whole teaching thing!! Of course, once I looked over our budget for the coming months, I realized that my only possible response was yes, that would be absolutely no problem. I went from one class last fall to four classes in April. I knew I was in for long days, nights, and weekends. That is one heck of a lot of essays to grade!
And grade like a maniac I did. In mid-April, I started at the business school, which operates year round on a quarter schedule. In mid-May, I finished at the community college, a long 18-semester. In that month, I had new classes to prep (I'm a newbie to all of this, so every class I teach is new to me - that means TONS of prep), research papers to grade, and final exams to write. I had to leave the house to get the grading done - the employees at Panera must have thought I was a complete masochist, working two straight days at a corner table with large stacks of papers and my trusty red pen.
That month was so busy. I could barely remember my name or where I was supposed to be at any given time. Laundry got washed and dried, but rarely got beyond the pile in the living room. Thank goodness Howard was home and not out in the field because we would have had no clean dishes, and the kids would have been lucky to eat (well Spencer anyway, Christian can fend for himself). My "office" began spreading - it started on the desk in the bedroom, took up residence in the living room, acquired a third of the kitchen table, and finally overtook the sacred "Mary Kay Room," since there was no longer time to run a business.
And so the craziness continues. There are four weeks left in the quarter at the business school, and I still don't know what the schedule is for next quarter. I could have one class, or three, or none. I hope it's three - my budget will love it, and I'll be busy, which I love, despite my complaints. (Maybe I just like to complain). On the other hand, if it's three, then I'll have four classes again when the semester starts for the state schools in August, as I did get a class at one of the community colleges for fall. At 7:00 AM. Ah, the life of adjunct faculty!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
One giant leap...
The first two relaxing days of 2010 don't accurately represent the craziness that will be my life in the coming year. I was offered two English classes at another community college - I accepted! In order to teach both classes, I've had to cut back my hours at the job where I've worked since 2004. Starting Monday, I'll only be working there 30 hours a week until March 5, when I will be leaving my job and taking a giant leap into the unknown! One class is a late start that starts in March and runs for 9 weeks (double the time in class during the week). I could have stayed on at the other job for about 15 hours a week around the classes, but it's time to try new things and make a new path for myself.
I have 8 days to plan my class - syllabus, schedule, readings, essays, etc. I've been working on it and getting some things together, and I've been deciding how tough I want to be! My sister told me she'd be scared to take my class - I don't know if I should be flattered or seriously think about changing my approach! I'm leaning toward the former... There are so many good readings in the book for this class. I would love to teach all of them, but I know it's just not possible to fit them all in.
To fill in the income gap that will now exist between what I was making and what I will now be making (yeah, I didn't make this switch for the money), I will be focusing more on my Mary Kay business. I've started my business plan and have started listing my goals for my business. I want to start a newsletter for my customers, spend more time on customer service, keep my blog updated on a regular basis, and of course, build my business and my team in order to be a Sales Director by the end of summer this year.
Another opportunity I will have once I have left my job is to offer freelance editing services for businesses in the same industry. I won't be able to take on a lot of jobs, but with a good client base, I should have fairly consistent work. It won't be a huge money maker for me, but it will keep me up on my editing skills and will give us a little extra income (or maybe support a small shopping habit!). A blog just for my editing may be on the horizon.
I am so excited for 2010 and all the opportunities I have! This is going to be an interesting year to say the least. Happy New Year!
I have 8 days to plan my class - syllabus, schedule, readings, essays, etc. I've been working on it and getting some things together, and I've been deciding how tough I want to be! My sister told me she'd be scared to take my class - I don't know if I should be flattered or seriously think about changing my approach! I'm leaning toward the former... There are so many good readings in the book for this class. I would love to teach all of them, but I know it's just not possible to fit them all in.
To fill in the income gap that will now exist between what I was making and what I will now be making (yeah, I didn't make this switch for the money), I will be focusing more on my Mary Kay business. I've started my business plan and have started listing my goals for my business. I want to start a newsletter for my customers, spend more time on customer service, keep my blog updated on a regular basis, and of course, build my business and my team in order to be a Sales Director by the end of summer this year.
Another opportunity I will have once I have left my job is to offer freelance editing services for businesses in the same industry. I won't be able to take on a lot of jobs, but with a good client base, I should have fairly consistent work. It won't be a huge money maker for me, but it will keep me up on my editing skills and will give us a little extra income (or maybe support a small shopping habit!). A blog just for my editing may be on the horizon.
I am so excited for 2010 and all the opportunities I have! This is going to be an interesting year to say the least. Happy New Year!
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Teaching - 12 weeks down!
Wow, how the time flew after those first few weeks! There were a few weeks there right in the middle where I thought I wasn't going to make it through the book and teach everything I need to teach, but we pushed hard and now the rest of the semester will be fairly smooth sailing. I had a total of 5 students drop the class and another 4 or 5 have stopped showing up, so I'm down to about 19 students. Unfortunately, of those 19, several are not going to pass this class and move on. I'm amazed at some of these students who actually think they will pass the class when they continually show up late, don't come to class, don't turn in work, and obviously don't read any of the chapters! Then I have the core group of students who are doing very well - and of course, they're the ones who worry about their grades, and they have absolutely nothing to worry about!
I do get frustrated with the students who think they can just slack off and do nothing. I gave my students grade updates, and I had a couple students who were failing. A couple of them dropped, but several stayed in the class, even showing up sporadically. I just don't get it. Either get to work or get out of the class! And the thing that really gets me is that although I am pretty strict, I do give a lot of extra credit and chances to improve your grade. I gave a quiz that was pretty tough for everyone - even my best students. So I gave everyone the chance to get full credit on the quiz by taking it home and completing it, and I gave them a week to do it. Surprising, not even half the class did it. Not surprising, my A and B students were the ones who did.
This is not to say that I don't enjoy teaching - I am still loving it, and I wish I could be doing this full time. It's so great that I get to help these students improve their English and writing skills. I put in my request for Fall 2010 - I can only request 2 classes because I'm part time, but I basically requested everything! The Department Chair did suggest that if I request 7am classes, I'll most likely get at least one class - no one wants 7am! I am so not a morning person, but I've gotten used to it, and I know my students wonder how I can be so awake that early! I wonder sometimes, myself. Still no word on whether there's a class for me in Spring - keeping my fingers crossed!
I do get frustrated with the students who think they can just slack off and do nothing. I gave my students grade updates, and I had a couple students who were failing. A couple of them dropped, but several stayed in the class, even showing up sporadically. I just don't get it. Either get to work or get out of the class! And the thing that really gets me is that although I am pretty strict, I do give a lot of extra credit and chances to improve your grade. I gave a quiz that was pretty tough for everyone - even my best students. So I gave everyone the chance to get full credit on the quiz by taking it home and completing it, and I gave them a week to do it. Surprising, not even half the class did it. Not surprising, my A and B students were the ones who did.
This is not to say that I don't enjoy teaching - I am still loving it, and I wish I could be doing this full time. It's so great that I get to help these students improve their English and writing skills. I put in my request for Fall 2010 - I can only request 2 classes because I'm part time, but I basically requested everything! The Department Chair did suggest that if I request 7am classes, I'll most likely get at least one class - no one wants 7am! I am so not a morning person, but I've gotten used to it, and I know my students wonder how I can be so awake that early! I wonder sometimes, myself. Still no word on whether there's a class for me in Spring - keeping my fingers crossed!
Monday, September 7, 2009
Teaching
I'm 3 weeks into the teaching gig at the local community college. I'm still loving every long minute of it! I teach for 50 minutes 4 days per week, so that's the easy part. The planning is something I just was not prepared for. Being a first-timer, I know it takes so much longer. All I had was the official course outline from the school and some example syllabi to go from. I didn't have any previous lesson plans or ideas for class activities. Just me, the book, and the internet! So far, I have been preparing my lesson plans for each day as I go, but I really need to get ahead, so I can be sure that I'm on the right track to make it through the semester. It takes hours to plan a day or two, let alone a whole week! At least this week coming up is only 3 days - that will help a lot, considering that at the moment, I am writing my blog instead of planning... Oops!
I am so glad I got this opportunity to teach. The chair of the ESL Department took a chance on me, and I so appreciate it! I hope to one be full-time someday, whether at this school or another. I am mentoring with the department chair, so he's given me some really great feedback and is guiding me while I find my way. It's a challenge to just jump right in, but at the same time, I'm glad that I'm making it my own, instead of basing everything off of someone else's plan. I can figure out what works as I go and make mistakes along the way. That's ok with me - I like to learn, too.
And while I'm learning and teaching, I'm still working full time. It's such a difference to go from the classroom to the office. I feel stagnant at my full-time job, but when I'm teaching I feel like I'm actively doing something worthwhile and productive. There's really nothing more for me at my full-time job - the job is pretty much topped out, and there's no room for advannowhere else for me to go there. They've got me pigeonholed into my position, and they fail to see what more I can offer, despite my best efforts to show them and remind them. But it will be their loss when I finally am able to leave there and pursue teaching full time. I've never worked anywhere as long as I've worked for this company, so it will be sad to leave when the time comes, but I will be so excited to move on and move forward. I will have a class for next Fall - they prepare the schedules the year before, so I'm in for next year. I just don't know if I'll have a class for Spring - I have to wait and see what happens.
I am so glad I got this opportunity to teach. The chair of the ESL Department took a chance on me, and I so appreciate it! I hope to one be full-time someday, whether at this school or another. I am mentoring with the department chair, so he's given me some really great feedback and is guiding me while I find my way. It's a challenge to just jump right in, but at the same time, I'm glad that I'm making it my own, instead of basing everything off of someone else's plan. I can figure out what works as I go and make mistakes along the way. That's ok with me - I like to learn, too.
And while I'm learning and teaching, I'm still working full time. It's such a difference to go from the classroom to the office. I feel stagnant at my full-time job, but when I'm teaching I feel like I'm actively doing something worthwhile and productive. There's really nothing more for me at my full-time job - the job is pretty much topped out, and there's no room for advannowhere else for me to go there. They've got me pigeonholed into my position, and they fail to see what more I can offer, despite my best efforts to show them and remind them. But it will be their loss when I finally am able to leave there and pursue teaching full time. I've never worked anywhere as long as I've worked for this company, so it will be sad to leave when the time comes, but I will be so excited to move on and move forward. I will have a class for next Fall - they prepare the schedules the year before, so I'm in for next year. I just don't know if I'll have a class for Spring - I have to wait and see what happens.
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