Break Planning
I use every quarter break to vigerously prep my upcoming courses right down the ppt lectures, quizzes and exams, syllabi, study guides, in class assignments and homework. I worked harder during break week than any other time during the quarter yet I can't tell you how relaxed and less stressful I feel during the quarter itsself. Often times I show up 5 minutes before my class, say hello to colleagues who are frantically working up an assignment or exam, go into my office, take out the information I need for class that day (which I might have prepared weeks earlier) and go to my class feeling refreshed and ready to go. Although I rarely get to enjoy complete time away, I never really feel the stress that many do during the term.
Hi Dave,
What a way to create a comfortable and supportive environment for yourself. With preparation you can reduce the stress of teaching and enjoy the opportunity you have to impart your knowledge and leave a legacy of well prepared students.
Gary
I think I can benefit from using some of your ideas to make my quarters less stressful
Hi Kent,
Thanks for the good words. Anything we can do as instructors to reduce our stress is good, because there is enough of it already.
Gary
Being new to 'professional teaching' I would like to pass someting on to other 'newbies. My DOF 'required' that I put a two week lesson plan down on PAPER...step by step. Man, that really was difficult to start with...but it took a seemingly enormous giant down to size...it really relieved my stress knowing that I knew what I was going to do day-by-day for TWO whole weeks! The next Qtr. I did it on Black-Board for the WHOLE QTR...now my students and I all know what is going on...SOOOOOO much easier:)
Hi Jim,
Great to hear. Yes, it was a lot of work. I have never liked doing lesson plans because they are so much work but the pay off is great just as you mention.
By being organized at this level you will have time to look for activities that you can bring into your classroom and lab since you and your students already know what you will be covering in the content.
Gary
As a Baking instructor, I always find that preparing my demonstrations the day before allows me to be more prepared mentally and brush-up on any material well in advanced so I'm knowledgeable about the subject matter when asked a question.
I am also fairly new to teaching in a college. I have been re-doing my notes and outline when the notes became hard to follow. I like the idea of using the days between the terms to update and clean up the notes I made during the term. I teach 3 of the same class, one after the other, and good outlines and notes are the only way I can make sure I cover all the material in each class.
Hi Kathleen,
Good plan for staying current. If we don't do the re-dos at the time they will get away from us and we soon forget the items we were going to do differently the next time.
Gary
