blisters on my toes
So my kids today were like blobfish.
I just couldn't get them to answer even my really basic questions. So I started calling on people out of the blue! I NEVER do that because I hate when professors do that, but come on, guys, when I ask you something simple like "what happens to people who lose elections in democracies," it's not a trick question, it's not a rhetorical question, I really and truly want you to tell me, and if you don't, well, you're not leaving me much choice here. Hopefully doing that a bit this week will spur them to do better next week. Fingers crossed. 'Cause this was painful. I don't dislike them by any means-- there are some good kids in there, I know, but there are also a lot of blobfish, and it's not fair to have the engaged students answer everything. I need to learn how to teach better, too, of course-- if I came up with really super duper questions maybe they'd be more interested in answering more of them. I just can't tell what's something appropriate to ask and what's not, because I don't know what level they're on. And they seem so disinterested, so I don't want to ask super hard stuff, because if they can't get the easy stuff, how'll they get the hard stuff? I'll try and do better next week, as well.
Also, I think this should be my grad school anthem:
My advisor forgot she was supposed to meet with me today, so I get a little bit of extra time to myself. I'm feeling drained and lonely and grumpy, so I'm spending that hour doing things that cheer me up. Like writing this entry. I might also not get on the treadmill today, which I know isn't good, but my blisters hurt and I'm sore and I sound like a 4 pack a day smoker and I've got a headache. Oh, right, there's such a thing as aspirin. I should go get that.
I just couldn't get them to answer even my really basic questions. So I started calling on people out of the blue! I NEVER do that because I hate when professors do that, but come on, guys, when I ask you something simple like "what happens to people who lose elections in democracies," it's not a trick question, it's not a rhetorical question, I really and truly want you to tell me, and if you don't, well, you're not leaving me much choice here. Hopefully doing that a bit this week will spur them to do better next week. Fingers crossed. 'Cause this was painful. I don't dislike them by any means-- there are some good kids in there, I know, but there are also a lot of blobfish, and it's not fair to have the engaged students answer everything. I need to learn how to teach better, too, of course-- if I came up with really super duper questions maybe they'd be more interested in answering more of them. I just can't tell what's something appropriate to ask and what's not, because I don't know what level they're on. And they seem so disinterested, so I don't want to ask super hard stuff, because if they can't get the easy stuff, how'll they get the hard stuff? I'll try and do better next week, as well.
Also, I think this should be my grad school anthem:
Click to viewMy advisor forgot she was supposed to meet with me today, so I get a little bit of extra time to myself. I'm feeling drained and lonely and grumpy, so I'm spending that hour doing things that cheer me up. Like writing this entry. I might also not get on the treadmill today, which I know isn't good, but my blisters hurt and I'm sore and I sound like a 4 pack a day smoker and I've got a headache. Oh, right, there's such a thing as aspirin. I should go get that.