In the reading of my first essays, I had to consciously try to not become an editor, and focus less on feedback, per-say, but more on questions. I didn’t want to become a controller of the essays, yet in my first few sessions I felt like that is precisely what I did. Students were reluctant to give me specific essay aspect focuses, so it left me in a situation where I felt like all I could do was go over my comments and questions. After doing this, I felt very unsatisfied. In the following sessions, I instead encouraged them to actually answer the questions I had left, which helped bring them back into the leading role of conversation. I’ve learned more specifically how to work with students in a way that feels like a conversation and less of a lecture, even when they aren’t all that engaged. I’ve also learned how to better manage my time as a result, and the importance of setting that boundary in order to give students my full attention while also prioritizing myself and my other commitments.
I believe I have experienced the most growth in meeting writers where they are at. I have the opportunity to understand the perspective of students better, mostly as individuals who just want to get an assignment done. It has been an experience reminding myself that not everyone is a hard ass perfectionist who is not well acquainted with how to half try on an assignment. So, my efforts to work with writers who are not as extreme has aloud me a new outlook, especially how to give grace to those I work with and myself. I also have grown in terms of how I understand teaching as a profession. Dr. DeCoster has showed me the man behind the proverbial curtain, and it is very humanizing. As I occupy this limbo between students and professors, I see the striking similarities between both groups and how much we all have in common. This class and job have allowed me to navigate better what writing looks like to others. I have learned how to teach writing better and build stronger communication skills for myself. Even in this very short time I have already seen apparent growth in myself.
3 thoughts on “JOURNAL # 7”
In the reading of my first essays, I had to consciously try to not become an editor, and focus less on feedback, per-say, but more on questions. I didn’t want to become a controller of the essays, yet in my first few sessions I felt like that is precisely what I did. Students were reluctant to give me specific essay aspect focuses, so it left me in a situation where I felt like all I could do was go over my comments and questions. After doing this, I felt very unsatisfied. In the following sessions, I instead encouraged them to actually answer the questions I had left, which helped bring them back into the leading role of conversation. I’ve learned more specifically how to work with students in a way that feels like a conversation and less of a lecture, even when they aren’t all that engaged. I’ve also learned how to better manage my time as a result, and the importance of setting that boundary in order to give students my full attention while also prioritizing myself and my other commitments.
I believe I have experienced the most growth in meeting writers where they are at. I have the opportunity to understand the perspective of students better, mostly as individuals who just want to get an assignment done. It has been an experience reminding myself that not everyone is a hard ass perfectionist who is not well acquainted with how to half try on an assignment. So, my efforts to work with writers who are not as extreme has aloud me a new outlook, especially how to give grace to those I work with and myself. I also have grown in terms of how I understand teaching as a profession. Dr. DeCoster has showed me the man behind the proverbial curtain, and it is very humanizing. As I occupy this limbo between students and professors, I see the striking similarities between both groups and how much we all have in common. This class and job have allowed me to navigate better what writing looks like to others. I have learned how to teach writing better and build stronger communication skills for myself. Even in this very short time I have already seen apparent growth in myself.
https://youtu.be/CWSdVEkK5Ng