Category: Discipline

How Not to Be a Jerk to Your Students - Using Kind Canned Responses

4/13/2014

I've always found that anything worth achieving will always have obstacles in the way and you've got to have that drive and determination to overcome those obstacles on route to whatever it is that you want to accomplish.

Chuck Norris

One of the biggest obstacles students face in being successful in college is learning that there is a whole new set of rules, which are much different than in high schools. These rules often trips up students who did not attend a rigorous high school, still think they are in high school, or are just (sadly) clueless.

Instructors are challenged daily by these students, and their misperceptions of “how school works.” There is a certain intersection where each instructor must say, "I deal with my students in context, and I expect my students to understand the reasons for my course being organized as it is, as well."

An excellent instructor explains WHY things are the way they are. I have a giant Google Doc I keep of "canned responses" that are both informative, and kind. When a student asks me about extra credit or makeup exams, I can tell them what the answer is, and why. Sometimes, the answer is that I can't do whatever they ask me, because I can't do it for the 640 students in my class also. Here are some of the canned responses I use:

1. When asked if I can override the school's class limit (usually so they can get into a lab that meets at a different time) - I respond:

"Hello student,

I wish I could help you. The labs for this course are capped at 40 students per section, because each student needs to be seated at a lab station. If this were a lecture, I could help. But I can't for the lab.

My best suggestion is to check back for the course registration daily, so that if someone drops the lab, you can grab it. Otherwise, there are other labs that are still open.

Thanks, and good luck!

Amy"

2. Then, I am often asked if the student can bring a friend /their child/some random stranger to lab with them. I respond:

"Dear Student,

Unfortunately, only the students registered for the lab can come into the lab. Part of this is due to our university liability insurance. The other part is that the TA for the course needs to know exactly is in the room, so they can make sure people don't get hurt. If everyone brought a person to lab with them, that would be 80 people in the lab, which is dangerous.

I appreciate you asking me first. I'm sorry I can't let any additional people into the lab.

Thanks,

Amy"

3. Another is on missed quizzes. Usually, students miss a quiz or two over the course of the semester (they have a weekly quiz). Many ask to make them up. We don't allow makeups (partly because the quizzes are given via computer), and they have the whole week to take them.

"Dear Student,

If you check the syllabus, you will see that there are no makeup for the quizzes. You are lucky that you are allowed two dropped quizzes for the semester, so missing this one won't affect your grade at all. Just make sure you keep coming to class, taking the quizzes when they are open, and studying for them.

If you end up missing more than the two that I drop, please send me the doctor's excuse, and you can take the quiz on paper during my office hours.

Thanks,

Amy"

If we explain to the students WHY we flip the class, why our syllabus is set up as it is, and why we have the procedures and rules - we have the chance to be fair, be kind, and be firm. We all know that students are students, and they are learning to navigate this game called college as well.

I dislike courses where the professor is a jerk, and is mean because they don't like students asking those silly *questions*. Like, how dare these students not *get it.* What if they've never encountered the change to "get it?" You can be kind in explaining your pedagogy, and every educator should improve their FAQs regularly. I post a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) for my courses, and I find it is really helpful. Having a detailed syllabus is also helpful.

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Getting the Most Out of Your Morning - What's Your Routine?

4/10/2014

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My son and I have a very specific routine in the morning. I came up with this routine because I hate it when moms are screaming at their kids to get up, get ready, or get out the door. I save screaming for only emergencies. Life threatening emergencies.

I set my iPhone to go off one hour before the bus comes. I get out of bed, look at my phone to make sure no one sent me anything urgent, and put on my slippers. I walk over to my son's room, and open the door, turn on the lights, and say "Time to get up, love of my life!" I feel like the first thing my son should hear is how much I love him. When I think about all the parents who are screaming "GET UP! GET DRESSED OR WE'RE GOING TO BE LATE!!!" I feel anxiety, just writing that. I want to start our day on a positive note.

I don't stop there and make sure he's up. Essentially, the first get up is just a warning. You are going to have to get up. I make sure he at least moves. Then, I take the dog out the front door to go potty. As I re-enter the house, I call upstairs "Are you up?" I wait for an answer. If no answer, I call again, "Hey darling, you up???" I've never had to go back upstairs to roust him, but I'm sure that's coming when he's a teenager.

I do my blood sugar and take my shot (I'm a Type I diabetic). Then, I make a pot of coffee. I pour my son's bowl of cereal. After that, I go back upstairs.

If he's up, I ask him if he knows what he is going to wear. I could pick out his clothes the night before, but he sometimes gets cranky about putting on the outfit we chose. So, I let him choose what he's going to wear. I make suggestions, sure, but I leave the choice up to him. He always wants to wear jeans and a short sleeved t-shirt. I'd be cold, but he prefers it.

As he's getting dressed, so am I. I'm usually taking longer to get dressed and beautiful for the day, so he eats his breakfast while I'm finishing. Then he puts on his shoes, and gets out a few items he wants for lunch. He'd prefer to eat clementine oranges for lunch, but I demand a protein. I also have him get out a vegetable. He loves grape tomatoes, so that's usually what he packs. After I come downstairs, I make his PBJ sandwich.

He always puts his shoes in one place, by the door. He always puts his book bag on a specific chair. His coat is always on the back of that chair. My keys and coffee cups are in the same spot every day. Pretty much everything in the house has a home, or a special spot we keep it. This keeps me from the freak out of "Where are my KEYS!@!!"

Everything has a spot.

The routine is pretty much the same every day.

There is an alarm set on my phone that goes off at 8:02 for the bus. He knows, and I know, that means business. We have never missed the bus, praise the Lord!

We don't talk much, because I'm not a morning talker. I'm usually planning my day in my head. We save the chit-chat for after school.

I feel sorry for parents who have chaos. I'd recommend getting into a routine where you eat the same thing each morning, go through the same prepping routine, and have alarms set. Starting your day off on a positive note, and with love instead of screaming, makes every day better.

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Inspiring Student Success, #1

4/6/2014

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http://inside.at.utep.edu/?p=947

Each week, I’ll be highlighting the things that I find the most inspirational towards educational, personal, or professional success. Hopefully, you find them just as inspiring as I do.

1. Aristotle on Success

“Good habits formed at youth make all the difference.” – Aristotle

This is just one of the reasons to make sure your children have discipline. Forming good habits are the keys to success in school, and in life.

2. Buddha on Anger

“You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.” – Buddha

I believe that a lot of teachers get mad at their students, because teachers take student behavior very personally. Remember, if you allow yourself to remain angry at students, you will become cynical. Keep your optimism, and remember that you really ARE making a difference, every day, in a student’s life.

3. Emerson on Choices

“It is not the length of life, but the depth of life.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Is it better to know a lot of things, and just learn a little about them? Or is better to be exposed to a lot of things, and make the choice about what you want to delve deeper into? This is really the purpose of college. It used to be the purpose of high school. I strive to give my child lots of great experiences, and then allow him to choose what to be passionate about.

4. Mercedes Lackey on Regret

“If only. Those must be the two saddest words in the world.” – Mercedes Lackey

If only I had finished that dissertation. If only I had gotten that degree. If only I had pursued my passions. If only I had spent more time with my child. Decide what’s important in your life, and then DO IT! Write out your goals, and how to achieve them, step by step. It may take years of planning, or just the push to get it done.

5. The Dalai Lama on Kindness

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” – Dalai Lama

I can either be kind to my co-workers, or I can be snippy. I can either be nice to my mother, or I can be crabby. I can treat my child with affection, or I can yell and scream at him. I can show my students that I care, or come off as an arrogant prick. I always have a choice.

6. Sanders on Other People

“There are over 7 billion people on this earth and you let one ruin your day. Don’t.” – Jonathan Sanders

See the above quote. Life is too short to let one crabby person ruin your day. Be it a co-worker, someone who cuts you off in traffic, a doctor, a teacher, a student, a friend, or a family member. Make the active choice to move on.

7. Eric Foner on Ideas

“Ideas win wide acceptance based less on ‘truth and logic’ than on their suitability to the intellectual needs and preconceptions of social interests.” – Eric Foner

The idea means more or less, depending on who you are pitching it to. Sometimes the best ideas are lost, simply because it was not their time. Keep thinking.

8. Joshua Marine on Challenges

“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” – Joshua Marine

If school is not challenging you, what are you doing to make it a challenge? You can always extend the subject matter. That is how I’ve come to love Biology and Education. Neverending challenges!

9. Diogenes on our lives

“I am searching for the bones of your father but cannot distinguish them from those of a slave.” – Diogenes

We are not simply greater than other people just because of how we’re born, nor are we lesser than others. Our only difference is in the impact we leave on the world.

10. Bill Gates on uniqueness

“Don’t compare yourself with anyone in this world… If you do so, you are insulting yourself.” – Bill Gates

No one else has your set of traits and experiences. No two teachers are alike. Nor are two pastors, friends, women, or children. Strive to be the best YOU that you can be. You will never be at that moment in your life again. Make the best of everything.

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How Not to Be a Jerk to Your Students - Using Kind Canned Responses

Getting the Most Out of Your Morning - What's Your Routine?

Inspiring Student Success, #1

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