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It's tough beginning teaching. I teach some science classes to grad students (who I've actually been incredibly impressed with, so my experience is a bit differ

It's tough beginning teaching. I teach some science classes to grad students (who I've actually been incredibly impressed with, so my experience is a bit different). Here are a few of my thoughts/questions: -First, thanks for your teaching. It's a tough job. I suspect this particular class will get better, and the fact you're trying to do a great job for these students comes through loud and clear from your post. -How do you personally feel about the course material? Are you personally interested in it and enthusiastic about it? If not, it'll be hard to get others interested and it's tough to fake it. If you are, are you communicating that passion? -Have you asked for someone to observe a class or two? Or videotaped a class for your own review? There may be some subtle things that you're not even aware of that's detrimental - extra eyes or seeing yourself teach can be revealing. What feedback is your TA giving you? -Maybe the audience actually is wrong. I'm a big believer in "no bad students, just bad teaching", too, but I suspect we're dealing with a low N here...it's conceivable you're doing everything well and your first calculus class is just not that into the material for any number of reasons. Although you didn't say, I'm assuming this freshman calc class isn't necessarily filled with math majors. -Great job on soliciting feedback from students - I assume you did something more than the same old dry "evaluations" we hand out and sometimes just skim over. -Are students coming to your office hours? If not, why not? In some classes, I've set up appointments with each student at least once a semester, just so I have a chance to know them and their own motivations/plans/strengths, etc. It tends to work well. It's another great time obviously to ask them each what's working and not working in a more personal setting. Again, thanks for your teaching and your obvious desire to improve things for your students.

impendia 15y ago
Hi, thanks for the encouragement! I taught a grad class and that was awesome. I definitely like the source material and daresay I am communicating a lot of enthusiasm. I have had successful teaching experiences in the past, so I think I need to worry about the two variables that are different: (1) I am teaching to students in a new state (South Carolina), with different background and also where the culture is very different. (I am naturally kind of a fast talker, which could be off putting.) (2) I have a lot more autonomy now, in the past someone else wrote the exams and decided what the homeworks were, freeing me to play good cop. My students here know damn well that if their homework was really long, I'm to blame. The students are not the best in terms of either background or motivation, many are taking this class simply because it's required, but... they're the students I have. My office hours weren't popular. The appointment thing sounds time consuming, but perhaps very well worth it, so maybe I will give it a try next time. Thank you!

impendia 15y ago

Hi, thanks for the encouragement! I taught a grad class and that was awesome. I definitely like the source material and daresay I am communicating a lot of enthusiasm. I have had successful teaching experiences in the past, so I think I need to worry about the two variables that are different: (1) I am teaching to students in a new state (South Carolina), with different background and also where the culture is very different. (I am naturally kind of a fast talker, which could be off putting.) (2) I have a lot more autonomy now, in the past someone else wrote the exams and decided what the homeworks were, freeing me to play good cop. My students here know damn well that if their homework was really long, I'm to blame. The students are not the best in terms of either background or motivation, many are taking this class simply because it's required, but... they're the students I have. My office hours weren't popular. The appointment thing sounds time consuming, but perhaps very well worth it, so maybe I will give it a try next time. Thank you!