tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31402520.post5351660534641486238..comments2023-10-24T04:43:53.179-04:00Comments on KGMom Musings: Reflections on a Teaching CareerKGMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05165941950953938943noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31402520.post-9834330960057844592010-02-14T20:13:59.709-05:002010-02-14T20:13:59.709-05:00I've already written you a note of appreciatio...I've already written you a note of appreciation for your excellent teaching back in those Messiah years but I want to say it online as well. I've never had courses since that I enjoyed any more than those you taught (and several that I enjoyed less!). I am an introvert, but you made the upper level English classes a safe place for me to fully engage. Your young students are now entering their 60s. I think the old gen. ed. actually lasted more like 20 yrs. or so. Beth M.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31402520.post-89701042944096574042010-01-15T09:27:39.197-05:002010-01-15T09:27:39.197-05:00Good luck with your retirement "test" Do...Good luck with your retirement "test" Donna. I was thinking along the lines of Jayne's comment too, esp. if you decide you miss teaching after a while.<br />On the other hand, there's always new knitting techniques for you to explore!<br />Or, maybe starting that book of short stories......RuthieJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663411478574192825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31402520.post-24974950785677470032010-01-13T09:56:46.343-05:002010-01-13T09:56:46.343-05:00I agree with AC. This is a new phase in your life...I agree with AC. This is a new phase in your life which I'm sure you will make an exciting one.Ginniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12749133391349265563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31402520.post-61540286353375072632010-01-10T13:49:50.422-05:002010-01-10T13:49:50.422-05:00I'm glad you are taking a break.Enjoy every da...I'm glad you are taking a break.Enjoy every day, I have a feeling you will enjoy it so much. <br />It was nice to read your teaching story.jeanmachttp://amountaintoohigh.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31402520.post-29763149169771667582010-01-10T12:36:13.481-05:002010-01-10T12:36:13.481-05:00Interesting your comments on the integrated course...Interesting your comments on the integrated course. In some ways, not a whole lot has changed--they recently added such a course to the curriculum again (Created & Called for Community), and while I gather that many professors quite enjoy the course, most students can't stand it. A perceived lack of focus may well have something to do with it. Part of it is also likely the general resentment of people in a field different from that/those covered in a gen ed course--science majors often don't enjoy their gen ed humanities courses, and vice versa. I didn't think it was as bad as all that, myself, but then again I was a humanities person myself, and refused to stay in one discipline even within my majors.Nevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16137587551301265366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31402520.post-88630175689739674592010-01-10T09:42:15.438-05:002010-01-10T09:42:15.438-05:00Nice reflection. I'm sure you will thoroughly...Nice reflection. I'm sure you will thoroughly enjoy your "test" retirement. With so many interests you will find plenty of interesting things to do.NCmountainwomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00615765649828716560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31402520.post-4699579400090158802010-01-09T21:34:27.156-05:002010-01-09T21:34:27.156-05:00I remember those first years. Standing in your off...I remember those first years. Standing in your office tossing some trinket on your desk up and down, thus earning a sister's wrath. Taking five semesters in a row of courses from my sister in everything from English composition to British Authors. I left before the GenEd experiment. I don't know: I might have actually enjoyed that course, except that in those days soccer seemed more important than reading. (Except for Tolkien, Williams, and Lewis, whose work probably saved me from complete intellectual degeneration).Climenheisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01989459133238230712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31402520.post-200146409213381782010-01-09T11:59:55.104-05:002010-01-09T11:59:55.104-05:00I hope you enjoy your first year of retirement whe...I hope you enjoy your first year of retirement whether permanent or no. Reflection is a great tool in teaching but we so rarely have the time we should have to really reflect and then act on those reflections. At least at the elementary level. I've enjoyed reading about your teaching and comparing our experiences at opposite ends of the teaching spectrum. It is troubling and reassuring that things I'm teaching my kids are still issues you see at your level. Fascinating.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31402520.post-40846724250638957832010-01-09T11:15:51.101-05:002010-01-09T11:15:51.101-05:00It's interesting to read that your students ha...It's interesting to read that your students hated the integrated course. With the exception of the honors students (and sometimes they're not excepted either), I've seen the the students in the colleges where I've worked have also disliked integrated courses. I'm not sure why. Perhaps they perceive it as having a lack of focus or organization? I went through Honors GE in college and it was the best part of higher education for me. I loved making those connections between disciplines of study! <br /><br />Will be interested in your further reflections!Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14826899900356202742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31402520.post-82002002527972156372010-01-09T09:21:51.810-05:002010-01-09T09:21:51.810-05:00I am sure it will initially feel a bit odd not tea...I am sure it will initially feel a bit odd not teaching this semester, but it will allow you to test the waters a bit. I wonder if being a teacher/mentor in some sort of voluntary capacity will be something you might consider. At risk kids always need a good mentor. You could set your own schedule to do as little or as much as felt right. Just a thought. You know what they say... once a teacher, always a teacher. ;c)Jaynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14057094040409159429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31402520.post-73510791103955959442010-01-09T09:13:21.635-05:002010-01-09T09:13:21.635-05:00I agree that the teacher is the primary learner. H...I agree that the teacher is the primary learner. However, do enjoy not teaching in this next phase of your life.Anvilcloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07974744042579564912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31402520.post-7255745992041473092010-01-09T09:08:53.229-05:002010-01-09T09:08:53.229-05:00What little teaching I have done as a minister or ...What little teaching I have done as a minister or as an adult educator ,in a couple of subjects, I realized that the teacher learns more and get more out of the course than the students, as least in the initial year of teaching it.<br /><br />I loved your integrated course. My most influential teacher, James Luther Adams (you can google him) was a wonderful raconteur. He informally had students come by his home Saturday nights for a soiree in which he spoke. He was a renaissance man and drew on , art, history, philosophy, theology, politics, literature, sociology etc when talking about a period of time or events. Unfortunately, this kind of synthesis is rarely formally taught and unless a person does it for hiimself his knowledge is segmented and not integrated as it should be.<br /><br />Have you considered teaching overseas for a year. Could Africa be call you?Tossing Pebbles in the Streamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04354065895900279070noreply@blogger.com