Process and Post-Process Writing in The Composition Classroom
This post does not seek to discredit teachers using older editions of Writing and Rhetoric textbooks. I will offer an alternative model that can...
Student Engagement Articles
Maintaining student engagement can be difficult, especially as we near midterms where students' minds are preoccupied with any number of papers, exams, or presentations....
Creative Writing Feedback: On Finding Praise
There’s a lot of talk in teaching circles about feedback—how to give an appropriate amount that doesn’t overwhelm the student (or the teacher’s workload) and balances praise and constructive criticism. Finding praise is, of course, characterized by its very verb as the part where you have to strain yourself, what you include to soften the blow your critique.
Learning to Read Online
In introductory writing classes with a research based project, most of us spend time teaching students how to read academic journal articles. We understand how to...
Meaning Negotiation in International Teaching Assistant Preparation Classes
For International Teaching Assistants, meaning negotiation plays a vital role when it comes to interactions with native English speaking undergraduate students in the laboratory or in the classroom. In this article, I share a few tips that can help ITA instructors or coaches guide ITAs through their interactions with their (future) undergraduate students.
“Classroom Hacks” a Podcast for Educators
The goal of the “Classroom Hacks” podcast is twofold: we are trying to provide an avenue for perspective and advice on teaching and we try to incorporate a little bit of lightheartedness and humor to help remind each other that we can relate to our interconnected, educational plight.
Revamping Office Hours
Are your office hours dragging? Do they feel like a waste of time? Or maybe they're just lagging this semester? Take a look at...
Student Centered Office Hours
Those of us who teach Creative Writing usually have the luxury that our students actively choose to be in the class. When they come...
Five Ways to Effectively Engage Students
I am frequently asked, “How do you do what you do?” and I always say, “I just do it.” So,when prompted to discuss how...
Three Tricks to Learning Students’ Names
I pride myself in knowing all of my student’s names by the end of the first week of class. This is no easy task...
Engaging the Unruly Class
An unruly class can leave us feeling flustered, frustrated, and downright helpless. Try these strategies to help refocus your students' attention.
Creating Usable Syllabi
We're all familiar with the frustrations that come from students not reading the syllabus. But I've come to realize the problem isn't one of whether or not the syllabus is read, but one of if and how it's used.
Three Ways to Visualize Your Syllabus
While the syllabus forms the foundation of a course, it doesn't always reach it's full potential. By nature, the syllabus is linear. The daily plans...
Raising the Stakes: Group Projects as Competitive Contests
Group projects regularly cause trepidation but structuring them as competitive contests leads students away from generic and predictable outcomes.
Is it Really All My Fault? Sharing on In-Class Discussions
I’ve become familiar with the resistance to classroom discussions, but, until recently, I always assumed good discussions were lacking because students are, generally speaking, lacking in “critical thinking.” But last week, something happened that made me reconsider.
Discover new resources...
QCS Workshop Responses
Silence in the classroom can be awkward, especially when your students are tasked with discussing their peers’ work in a creative writing workshop. I’ve found...
The Bad Boyfriend Counterargument
This handout is a counterargument explanation sheet using the example of
trying to persuade your loved ones that your bad boyfriend is not so bad....
Analyzing Privilege
In our current, cultural landscape there are many divisive topics that individuals associate with while dismissing contrary perspectives. It is easy to disregard what someone else has to say when there is a gap in empathy and connectivity. The goal of this exercise, in dismantling, or “checking one’s privilege”, is to allow students to see what kind of advantages they may take for granted while overlooking some of the obstacles others may have to face on a daily basis.