It's a trap!!!
Just when I think the lousy pay, lack of benefits, and erratic schedules are no longer worth it, a student will say or do something to reel me back in and remind me of why I got into this line of work in the first place. This week, I received the following response from a developmental writing student after we'd had an in-class writing conference and after I'd followed up on an e-mailed request for assistance with an assignment:
Hi Professor Mary Jo:
I did recieve your e-mail with the websites. Also I would like to take this time to tell you how I see your method of teaching as accurate, and very non-assuming in terms of putting every one of us on the page at first-gear (if you will). In other words your method of teaching is tight! Don't change because many of us, or speaking for myself, have not gotten this type of break down in many years and the newer teachers who taught english writing in the community college were a JOKE!!* Also, if it were not for you taking one tiny moment of your time last evening to explain to me what the gist of my essay in my other class was asking, I would still be confused, you made it clear- as -a- bell. Hopefully I can follow through and give my instructor what she is asking, however I have a better idea of how to approach the task.
Thank you,
Name withheld
*I should note that this student is enrolled in an upper-division university, but most of the teaching I do is at a local community college. And for those of you reading and thinking to yourselves, "Ohmigawd, the grammar! How can she be proud of this?" Well, let me just say that you should have seen her writing only a month and a half ago! This represents a vast improvement. Teaching developmental writing is more rewarding than teaching any other level of composition for this reason; students can make monumental strides in a single semester.
Hi Professor Mary Jo:
I did recieve your e-mail with the websites. Also I would like to take this time to tell you how I see your method of teaching as accurate, and very non-assuming in terms of putting every one of us on the page at first-gear (if you will). In other words your method of teaching is tight! Don't change because many of us, or speaking for myself, have not gotten this type of break down in many years and the newer teachers who taught english writing in the community college were a JOKE!!* Also, if it were not for you taking one tiny moment of your time last evening to explain to me what the gist of my essay in my other class was asking, I would still be confused, you made it clear- as -a- bell. Hopefully I can follow through and give my instructor what she is asking, however I have a better idea of how to approach the task.
Thank you,
Name withheld
*I should note that this student is enrolled in an upper-division university, but most of the teaching I do is at a local community college. And for those of you reading and thinking to yourselves, "Ohmigawd, the grammar! How can she be proud of this?" Well, let me just say that you should have seen her writing only a month and a half ago! This represents a vast improvement. Teaching developmental writing is more rewarding than teaching any other level of composition for this reason; students can make monumental strides in a single semester.
