Teaching Assistant
The first week of teaching went well. I've got this discussion section thing down to an art by my third year. I didn't really realize how much I've learned about classroom management and stimulating discussion until Phil M (who is in his first year TAing) was asking me some questions about what I do in discussion. I remembered how much I stumbled my first year TAing, and how unsure of myself I was. I'm glad to be a TA again this year - I've got more TA classroom experience than almost anyone by now, (people don't usually TA three years in a row because there are also RAs and other assistantships like the VFL job and the prosopography office) but I'm itching to finally be in control of my OWN class. Once I'm ABD that can be an option, and I feel I'm really ready for that. Rather than having 18 students once a week for an hour (x4) of review and source discussion, I'd much prefer to have 25 students for 3 hours a week and be in control of the lectures, the assignments, everything. I'm already doing all the grading, the only difference would be getting to decide how the course is structured and creating the lectures. I hope I get a chance to have my own class next year, but that will depend on where I am and what I'm doing... more on that later, I don't want to think about it just yet.
In the meantime, here's what I've been wearing in the classroom -
Friday, for teaching and meetings and department happy hour:
Black jersey dress - Ann Taylor Loft
Mint polka-dot blouse - American Eagle
Black flats - Steve Madden Gift from Grammie
Twisty bun and jewelry:
Circle pearl necklace - Gift from Aunt Carol from Hawaii
Crystal studs - Gift from my sister for my wedding day
Tiny Green hoop earrings - Claire's from Middle School days!
I was SO not sure whether this outfit worked, or was weird, but it delighted me all the same. In the morning Casey said the students might think why did she put a dress on top of that shirt? But then when I met him for lunch after I had done my hair and makeup and put jewelry on he took it back and said the outfit looked really nice all put together. It's kind of a more casual take on what I wore to my MA exams and I think it worked out well for all my Friday activities. It felt good to get back into the swing of things with department happy hour after the presentation the professors gave about the changes in the program. Joe and I tried hard not to be bitter, since the new & improved system does not apply to us. After fun not-bitter time, I did go home to change and grab socks cause a group of us did dinner at City Diner and then went bowling, and these activities called for more casual attire. As I learned that night, I don't bowl well after a few drinks.
Today, Thursday Morning Teaching:
Navy Blazer - Express, back-to-school gift from Mom
Aqua Jersey Dress - Ann Taylor Loft, 1/2 Birthday gift from Aunt Carol
Black Flats - Steve Madden, Gift from Grammie (I may wear these too much)
Black Headband - Gift from Sammie
Opal Earrings - Gift from Grammie
I just realized that I didn't pay for a single bit of this outfit myself. Down to the jewelry it's all gifts from my generous, wonderful family. Mom told me to pick out something at Express for teaching this year so when Sammie and I shopped together when she was out this August I got this little navy blazer that it has finally cooled down enough outside to wear.
Its down to the high 60s and 70s this week, and I've been wearing skirts and dresses every day I can before the chilly fall sets in and it's back to cozy pants and sweaters. Some people are ready for the fall wardrobe, but not me; my legs are savoring their last days of freedom.
My first real discussion sections this week (last week was mostly full of "Hi, here's a syllabus, what's your name?") have been going really well so far. 2 down, 2 to go. Even at 8am my groups have been chatty and participative. We spent the day comparing and contrasting the Flood narratives of the Epic of Gilgamesh and Genesis, and coming up with hypotheses as to why all these ancient societies have flood stories. I wanted to instill in them two things this week (1) it's okay to look at and discuss the Bible as a piece of ancient literature from c. 1000 BC, (2) history isn't memorizing facts. For this class it's more analyzing sources and coming up with hypotheses about past cultures. They came up with like, 5 different theories, and we talked about the strengths and weaknesses of each idea, and only then did I tell them what the prevailing 2 theories are on the flood tales among historians today. I want them to get that they can have their own ideas and reactions and hypotheses in regard to these texts, and don't have to rely on a book to tell them what it means or what's important about it. I think that this was successful. Once we got the first theory up on the board, they just started spit-balling, and agreeing with or criticizing ideas their classmates brought up, which is exactly what I want this class to be able to do. :-) Here's hoping Friday's groups do just as well!
In the meantime, here's what I've been wearing in the classroom -
Friday, for teaching and meetings and department happy hour:
Black jersey dress - Ann Taylor Loft
Mint polka-dot blouse - American Eagle
Black flats - Steve Madden Gift from Grammie
Twisty bun and jewelry:
Circle pearl necklace - Gift from Aunt Carol from Hawaii
Crystal studs - Gift from my sister for my wedding day
Tiny Green hoop earrings - Claire's from Middle School days!
I was SO not sure whether this outfit worked, or was weird, but it delighted me all the same. In the morning Casey said the students might think why did she put a dress on top of that shirt? But then when I met him for lunch after I had done my hair and makeup and put jewelry on he took it back and said the outfit looked really nice all put together. It's kind of a more casual take on what I wore to my MA exams and I think it worked out well for all my Friday activities. It felt good to get back into the swing of things with department happy hour after the presentation the professors gave about the changes in the program. Joe and I tried hard not to be bitter, since the new & improved system does not apply to us. After fun not-bitter time, I did go home to change and grab socks cause a group of us did dinner at City Diner and then went bowling, and these activities called for more casual attire. As I learned that night, I don't bowl well after a few drinks.
Today, Thursday Morning Teaching:
Navy Blazer - Express, back-to-school gift from Mom
Aqua Jersey Dress - Ann Taylor Loft, 1/2 Birthday gift from Aunt Carol
Black Flats - Steve Madden, Gift from Grammie (I may wear these too much)
Black Headband - Gift from Sammie
Opal Earrings - Gift from Grammie
I just realized that I didn't pay for a single bit of this outfit myself. Down to the jewelry it's all gifts from my generous, wonderful family. Mom told me to pick out something at Express for teaching this year so when Sammie and I shopped together when she was out this August I got this little navy blazer that it has finally cooled down enough outside to wear.
Its down to the high 60s and 70s this week, and I've been wearing skirts and dresses every day I can before the chilly fall sets in and it's back to cozy pants and sweaters. Some people are ready for the fall wardrobe, but not me; my legs are savoring their last days of freedom.
My first real discussion sections this week (last week was mostly full of "Hi, here's a syllabus, what's your name?") have been going really well so far. 2 down, 2 to go. Even at 8am my groups have been chatty and participative. We spent the day comparing and contrasting the Flood narratives of the Epic of Gilgamesh and Genesis, and coming up with hypotheses as to why all these ancient societies have flood stories. I wanted to instill in them two things this week (1) it's okay to look at and discuss the Bible as a piece of ancient literature from c. 1000 BC, (2) history isn't memorizing facts. For this class it's more analyzing sources and coming up with hypotheses about past cultures. They came up with like, 5 different theories, and we talked about the strengths and weaknesses of each idea, and only then did I tell them what the prevailing 2 theories are on the flood tales among historians today. I want them to get that they can have their own ideas and reactions and hypotheses in regard to these texts, and don't have to rely on a book to tell them what it means or what's important about it. I think that this was successful. Once we got the first theory up on the board, they just started spit-balling, and agreeing with or criticizing ideas their classmates brought up, which is exactly what I want this class to be able to do. :-) Here's hoping Friday's groups do just as well!