Is it weird for a 17 year old to love math so much, that they find the answers to mind boggling questions in their sleep?! Sometimes in my dreams there's this voice telling me how to solve problems... it's strange.
I have that phase usually when I'm in transit to/from the toilet, or on the can itself. No weird voice, though.
I'm an assistant professor of English (no tenure yet...I was just hired). I'm a specialist in 18th and 19th century British literature. More specifically, I'm a specialist in mid-Victorian women's poetry. Even more specifically, I'm a specialist in poetry written by women who were involved in efforts to get prostitutes off the streets. I also do some research in the history of the English novel. At the moment, I'm the director of the freshman composition program here (composition is the other half of my professional life).
Cheers
Scott
PS
Carol: I'm in the middle of a book like yours--but for teachers at the college/university level.
If you don't mind my asking, is there any chance you could give me a list of texts/materials used with the freshman composition students? I live a mile from a jr. college, and two miles from a major university branch campus. I don't really want to go back to teaching jr. high. If/when I apply at the jr. college, I know I'll end up teaching composition; so it would be nice if you could recommend some materials I could take a look at now.
The nice thing about having taught composition at the jr. high level is that I've had to develop some materials of my own that are really quite good, for teaching expository essay, for example, to students who are absolutely clueless. I figure if I can teach a semi-literate 12-13 yr. old to write a decent expository essay, 18 yr. olds would be a snap. I've had to develop my own materials to keep from either throttling my students or opening a vein on myself. Good materials make things SO much easier for all concerned, and the students *really* appreciate it when they find that at last they understand things that they have been hearing about for years, but never quite grasped.
Your book sounds like a great idea! Sign me up as your very first customer. Put me on the waiting list. Whatever the price is, it'll be worth ten times the amount.
PS - Consider including a section on pitfalls, with (anonymous) examples of people who have endured them, if possible. True-life horror stories always bring the point home so effectively.
If you don't mind my asking, is there any chance you could give me a list of texts/materials used with the freshman composition students? I live a mile from a jr. college, and two miles from a major university branch campus. I don't really want to go back to teaching jr. high. If/when I apply at the jr. college, I know I'll end up teaching composition; so it would be nice if you could recommend some materials I could take a look at now.
Sure. Email me at [email protected] and I'll get you what I have. I also suggest that you subscribe to the WPA listserv, which is where comp directors talk about pedagogy, theory, and general business. It's a tremendous resource, even though it's geared toward toward administrators, if only because it'll give you a sense of what comp directors are looking for out of their adjuncts.
Quote:
The nice thing about having taught composition at the jr. high level is that I've had to develop some materials of my own that are really quite good, for teaching expository essay, for example, to students who are absolutely clueless. I figure if I can teach a semi-literate 12-13 yr. old to write a decent expository essay, 18 yr. olds would be a snap. I've had to develop my own materials to keep from either throttling my students or opening a vein on myself. Good materials make things SO much easier for all concerned, and the students *really* appreciate it when they find that at last they understand things that they have been hearing about for years, but never quite grasped.
Most of the composition programs in the US still operate on some combination of Peter Elbow/Donald Murray and the modes. All that writing without teachers stuff (which I detest). There's a growing movement among WPA folks to re-think most of composition to gear it more specifically toward teaching students the kind of writing/reading/research that would be expected of them in their other university classes (as opposed to writing interminable essays about how much they love their grandfather). That's my bag.
Quote:
Your book sounds like a great idea! Sign me up as your very first customer. Put me on the waiting list. Whatever the price is, it'll be worth ten times the amount.
The working title is "50 Small Things," and the idea is to make the book I wish I'd have been given when I began teaching. It'll be a sort of "here's a bunch of stuff you can do that will work."
Quote:
PS - Consider including a section on pitfalls, with (anonymous) examples of people who have endured them, if possible. True-life horror stories always bring the point home so effectively.
I do the science grad student thing... free "edumacation" for living money and my soul...
so much fun...
oh, and no, its not abnormal to figure things out in your sleep or away from the problems at all. the brain operates below the conscious surface more efficiently than above. i figured out routes to novel compounds, figured out problems associated with syntheses, solved advanced physics problems, cured world hunger, and created a means to travel to the edge of the universe last night while i was asleep.
however, if there is a voice, you should seek medical attention.
I work in satellite industry and work for a unit that deals with broadband internet via satellite. Company is called Eutelsat.
My role is officially Account Manager, but my functions also have to do with marketing, cmm, sales, project/product management... yeah, its a hell of a polyvalent job.
Im currently trying to get our service to work on Macs. Almost there. Testers may apply
On the side, I'm planning to build a space elevator.
somehow when I heard "experimental theatre" I always think of The Big Lebowski and the Dude's friend who does that... interesting... play...
Funny, I always think of Corky's Backdraft expirement (in that great movie, Waiting for Guffman), having smoke inserted in the ventilation system, and burning embers shoved into the audience's faces.
Comments
I'm a writer and I do experimental theatre on the side.
Originally posted by mandi
Is it weird for a 17 year old to love math so much, that they find the answers to mind boggling questions in their sleep?! Sometimes in my dreams there's this voice telling me how to solve problems... it's strange.
I have that phase usually when I'm in transit to/from the toilet, or on the can itself. No weird voice, though.
Originally posted by midwinter
I'm an assistant professor of English (no tenure yet...I was just hired). I'm a specialist in 18th and 19th century British literature. More specifically, I'm a specialist in mid-Victorian women's poetry. Even more specifically, I'm a specialist in poetry written by women who were involved in efforts to get prostitutes off the streets. I also do some research in the history of the English novel. At the moment, I'm the director of the freshman composition program here (composition is the other half of my professional life).
Cheers
Scott
PS
Carol: I'm in the middle of a book like yours--but for teachers at the college/university level.
If you don't mind my asking, is there any chance you could give me a list of texts/materials used with the freshman composition students? I live a mile from a jr. college, and two miles from a major university branch campus. I don't really want to go back to teaching jr. high. If/when I apply at the jr. college, I know I'll end up teaching composition; so it would be nice if you could recommend some materials I could take a look at now.
The nice thing about having taught composition at the jr. high level is that I've had to develop some materials of my own that are really quite good, for teaching expository essay, for example, to students who are absolutely clueless. I figure if I can teach a semi-literate 12-13 yr. old to write a decent expository essay, 18 yr. olds would be a snap. I've had to develop my own materials to keep from either throttling my students or opening a vein on myself.
Your book sounds like a great idea!
PS - Consider including a section on pitfalls, with (anonymous) examples of people who have endured them, if possible. True-life horror stories always bring the point home so effectively.
Originally posted by Carol A
If you don't mind my asking, is there any chance you could give me a list of texts/materials used with the freshman composition students? I live a mile from a jr. college, and two miles from a major university branch campus. I don't really want to go back to teaching jr. high. If/when I apply at the jr. college, I know I'll end up teaching composition; so it would be nice if you could recommend some materials I could take a look at now.
Sure. Email me at [email protected] and I'll get you what I have. I also suggest that you subscribe to the WPA listserv, which is where comp directors talk about pedagogy, theory, and general business. It's a tremendous resource, even though it's geared toward toward administrators, if only because it'll give you a sense of what comp directors are looking for out of their adjuncts.
The nice thing about having taught composition at the jr. high level is that I've had to develop some materials of my own that are really quite good, for teaching expository essay, for example, to students who are absolutely clueless. I figure if I can teach a semi-literate 12-13 yr. old to write a decent expository essay, 18 yr. olds would be a snap. I've had to develop my own materials to keep from either throttling my students or opening a vein on myself.
Most of the composition programs in the US still operate on some combination of Peter Elbow/Donald Murray and the modes. All that writing without teachers stuff (which I detest). There's a growing movement among WPA folks to re-think most of composition to gear it more specifically toward teaching students the kind of writing/reading/research that would be expected of them in their other university classes (as opposed to writing interminable essays about how much they love their grandfather). That's my bag.
Your book sounds like a great idea!
The working title is "50 Small Things," and the idea is to make the book I wish I'd have been given when I began teaching. It'll be a sort of "here's a bunch of stuff you can do that will work."
PS - Consider including a section on pitfalls, with (anonymous) examples of people who have endured them, if possible. True-life horror stories always bring the point home so effectively.
Good idea!
so much fun...
oh, and no, its not abnormal to figure things out in your sleep or away from the problems at all. the brain operates below the conscious surface more efficiently than above. i figured out routes to novel compounds, figured out problems associated with syntheses, solved advanced physics problems, cured world hunger, and created a means to travel to the edge of the universe last night while i was asleep.
however, if there is a voice, you should seek medical attention.
*edit* oh and i just realized i probably already made an ass out of myself, after being here a few days.
so ya i'm psycho. shoot me
Originally posted by mandi
so ya i'm psycho. shoot me
Come to America. That's what we do.
Originally posted by Cake
It's great having a job that you love.
Indeed.
Writer for tv, - script consulting, storylining and the like, ... with special interests in drama
Originally posted by Vox Barbara
Indeed.
Writer for tv, - script consulting, storylining and the like, ... with special interests in drama
Cool! Do you freelance primarily, or work on staff somewhere?
Originally posted by jesperas
Cool! Do you freelance primarily, or work on staff somewhere?
actually freelance - only.
Originally posted by Hassan i Sabbah
What the hey.
I'm a writer and I do experimental theatre on the side.
somehow when I heard "experimental theatre" I always think of The Big Lebowski and the Dude's friend who does that... interesting... play...
I work in satellite industry and work for a unit that deals with broadband internet via satellite. Company is called Eutelsat.
My role is officially Account Manager, but my functions also have to do with marketing, cmm, sales, project/product management... yeah, its a hell of a polyvalent job.
Im currently trying to get our service to work on Macs. Almost there. Testers may apply
On the side, I'm planning to build a space elevator.
(some of you will get this)
No I don't.
Yes I do.
No? ?wait? ?Yes!
Originally posted by ZO
somehow when I heard "experimental theatre" I always think of The Big Lebowski and the Dude's friend who does that... interesting... play...
Funny, I always think of Corky's Backdraft expirement (in that great movie, Waiting for Guffman), having smoke inserted in the ventilation system, and burning embers shoved into the audience's faces.