I cleaned out my email inbox at work.
I have a course syllabus to write. And a grant.
I am psyching myself up for my second semester. At the end of last semester, I jokingly wrote on the FB, "1 semester down. Approximately 59 to go," and I joked about it at work today. Two members of my parents' generation could not believe that I would count down. I guess they took it literally! Luckily I love my job and I am NOT actually counting down to retirement, I just thought it was funny to think about. I think maybe that generation is stressed out being in their late 50s to mid 60s in the current economic climate that they find it inappropriate that I might hope to retire some day, too. Hope my parents thank me for paying my taxes and supporting their fixed income post-retirement.
My student evaluations suggest that students either thought the course and my teaching were great...or not. . The large majority think there is too much material and that lectures move too quickly. They said my grading in lab was harsh, but honestly their lab reports were not great. And they certainly picked up on the fact that as the semester progressed, I was more comfortable in class. They are so unprepared for the amount of material they need to learn though. This spring I am sitting in on the intro course, so hopefully we can improve the students' appreciation of and performance in the course and not dumb it down. It is reassuring to know the woman with whom I team taught gave me feedback throughout that was positive and/or constructive. Only up to go from here!
I ran again for the first time in a couple of weeks with new running sneakers and just as it was starting to snow. Everything about it was great except the running part. (I did it, I just refuse to like it.) I have 11 months to be able to run a half marathon and MONTHS of hot and humid weather in the middle. I will have to get my butt up early this summer to keep up the running.
I have one boy to let down and one who, I am pretty sure, is not let down.
I have some gifts to sew, including a T-shirt quilt for my mom with her red and yellow t-shirts!
I have food in my freezer I need to eat up - I started with tomatoes and spinach in a delicious bacon, black bean, and veggie soup tonight (secret ingredient = ~1/2 c of beer).
I caught up on Downton Abbey and Parenthood. I am ready for the new seasons.
2014, here I come!
I have food in my freezer I need to eat up - I started with tomatoes and spinach in a delicious bacon, black bean, and veggie soup tonight (secret ingredient = ~1/2 c of beer).
I caught up on Downton Abbey and Parenthood. I am ready for the new seasons.
2014, here I come!
3 comments:
Certainly don't "dumb down" the material. I mean, in the real world, things aren't made easier to be nice so it's time for them to adjust while they can. Save me some o that bacon soup!
I hear you on the retirement issue. At this point my tentative expectation is to keep working until I drop. That's my pessimistic/realistic side talking. My optimistic side says that I'll inherit more cash than I expect and be able to comfortably retire, being cared for by a loveable robot nanny.
Wahoo! Rock on 2014! I have to start running again more frequently, and I have to tell you, the whole retirement thing is crazy talk. It's not the retirement that I feel like people our age countdown too, personally I count down to a time that I no longer HAVE to work to survive. You're doing great! I wish I could take your class
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