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[professor_pat]

These "favorites" seem to be happening at a rapidly increasing rate. Today a complete draft of a term project is due. After class, JoeFreshman comes up to me and says he's had a crisis and he's behind on his draft. By "crisis," it becomes apparent that he means "procrastination habit." He tells me, actually tells me, that he just started working on the term-long project this couple of days. He asks me if, given that I have a whole hour until my next class, I could go sit with him and his "huge pile of books" and help him get started.

I declined, saying it's not a good use of our time together until he comes up with an initial outline.

JoeF will have a very intense 24 hours ahead of him. I hope.

[kedves]

Lizzy, you need a parrot for your office that croaks, "Too late!  Too late!"

[galactic_hedgehog]

Lizzy, you need a parrot for your office that croaks, "Too late!  Too late!"

You're right. That's exactly what I need.

Where to find one?

Try Poe.  Wasn't that what he used for the first draft of The Raven?

[galactic_hedgehog]

Excellent. I also need Poe for my office--like a scarecrow for snowflakes.

That'll be under Eliot, T.S.

[compdoc]

I had a very good student come in and tell me that she gave me a good evaluation because, unlike all those other students she heard complaining in the hall, she likes that I take the students step-by-step through the writing and revision process that is necessary to do the new type and level of writing that is going to be asked of them in their junior level psych and soc courses. The course I teach is designed to teach them those new types and levels.

I know she meant to be encouraging, but I hadn't heard "those other" students.

Next semester, straight out of the gate, along with the email etiquette lesson, I am going to explain my philosophy of teaching "how to" in this course and recommend that if the students want a general introduction and then no support in their writing process, that they take the other prof.

Is that crazy?

[concordancia]

Student: I am sorry my classmates are such douches.

Me, too, sweetheart, me, too.

[magistra]

I had a very good student come in and tell me that she gave me a good evaluation because, unlike all those other students she heard complaining in the hall, she likes that I take the students step-by-step through the writing and revision process that is necessary to do the new type and level of writing that is going to be asked of them in their junior level psych and soc courses. The course I teach is designed to teach them those new types and levels.

I know she meant to be encouraging, but I hadn't heard "those other" students.

Next semester, straight out of the gate, along with the email etiquette lesson, I am going to explain my philosophy of teaching "how to" in this course and recommend that if the students want a general introduction and then no support in their writing process, that they take the other prof.

Is that crazy?

I'd tone it down a bit, since it sounds like you're slamming the other prof, but I think it is a good idea to tell students what we're doing and why.  It doesn't always work, but I also think we don't always do it enough.  What's obvious to us isn't always obvious to them.


I have Cerberus on my door.  You mean you don't?

[llanfair]

I have the Killer Rabbit on my door.

[luvstowrite]

Why, why, why don't they get that alienating the prof is not a good idea?  After I'd told them not to, one of my students was still doing her homework right in front of me.  Is finishing a few minutes earlier really worth pissing me off?  Is yelling at Prof Pat that he "tricks" her really a good idea?  What was achieved here?

I have wondered that, too, and the only conclusion I've reached is that they have complete faith that their behavior forms no part of their grade.  I advised one of my classes recently that I know it is the time in the semester when people start to become tense, but to carefully consider the tone and content of the emails they send to professors (meaning me) because it does matter.   I added "It's part of my job to help teach you what you need to be successful in the world after college, so I'll say that this is true for your professors, supervisors--really anyone who is in a supervisory role to you."  Jaws dropped at the conjunction of "professors" and "supervisory."  Oh well, I'm a b*tch and that's the way it is.

Thank you both for your responses, I couldn't have said it better myself. And you're right, it does matter.

Hey kissup student, gee, you didn't want to attend class when your classmates were completing faculty evals? And yet you so value my opinion of you and want a LOR? How can you even ask me for a LOR if you won't come to class and complete an eval for me? Thanks for nothing kid and no, you're not getting a LOR.

[galactic_hedgehog]

During lab this week, near the end of class, with most of the students already gone, one guy is looking at a map of one of the Galapagos Islands, which happens to have a volcano named Darwin.  He looks up and says, with total sincerity, "Why is Darwin so important?"  This started about a twenty-minute conversation (well, mainly from my side) about Darwin, The Beagle, the Galapogos, and (especially) evolution.  It was pretty much off-topic for the class, but it was a great opportunity to educate a couple of students (one of his lab partners stayed and participated in the conversation) about one of the most important figures in history and one of the most important ideas in science.  I wish could remember specific lines, but it was one of those times that make you really glad you're a professor.

[anon4now]

Just before class this morning, Student Who Has Attended Only Two Classes (only came the first week in a 15-week semester) shows up looking very tanned and fit, sits on front row.  Student has missed his in-class presentation date, the first paper, the midterm, and daily hw and/or quiz for the whole semester. He has a perfect score: zero.  So I'm up front setting up the day's images and info/materials, & as he is sitting down, I say in a surprised but pleasant voice, "Hey, welcome back!"

SWHAOTC says imperiously, "You need to give me the notes for what I missed. I've been in the Bahamas sailing." 

(I couldn't help myself---this just struck me as hilarious, and I started laughing and laughing, shaking my head, speechless.)

SWHAOTC looks totally confused, mutters to Responsible Front Row Regular, loudly enough that I can hear it, a sarcastic  "What's up with *her*?!"   

RFRR looks at me and rolls her eyes.  I burst out laughing again.

"What?" says SWHAOTC, "What?" 

And then we started class...he uttered not a word the whole time, but it was pretty obvious he had no idea what was going on...

[thrillcheese]

Lizzy, you need a parrot for your office that croaks, "Too late!  Too late!"

You're right. That's exactly what I need.

Where to find one?

I could lend you my little quaker parrot. He already can say "poop," and "all gone," and has a good evil laugh and can wave bye-bye. Until this post, I'd never considered the teaching implications of these abilities.

[wild_rose]

SWHAOTC says imperiously, "You need to give me the notes for what I missed. I've been in the Bahamas sailing." 

Oh yes, you need to.

A colleague once told me that she shows students her notes when they ask her for them. Sometimes they are just a quick drawing of something, sometimes just three or four keywords. Then she asks them if they still want a copy.

<evil grin>

[anon4now]

Hehh, that is great! Scrawled crumpled illegibles, Bahama Boy? I *need* to give him that!

[big_giant_head]

Hehh, that is great! Scrawled crumpled illegibles, Bahama Boy? I *need* to give him that!

Did you check his heinie for the Official Tattoo of Royalty?  If he has that, you're bound to do whatever he asks.  When you do check, be sure it's not blue, triangular, or resembling any sort of large African mammal.  That's the counterfeit version.