Spring semester begins this week, which for those of us who will be standing in front of the classroom raises a question: Will our students learn anything?
The old pros are probably confident. They have seen enough semesters play out to know that their students will inevitably gain some new knowledge and skills over the next four months. I am short on experience; this will be my fourth class, (I teach one a semester) so as the first day approaches I am filled, not with fear, but an understanding that I know less than I want to.
What I have been wondering since the end of last semester is why some students who attend class the least do the best on their final project.
Specifically, I teach writing. I am happy to report that many of my students do learn during our time together and are better writers by the end of the course. It is satisfying.
I also have students who show up for half the classes, turn in some of the assignments, complain about the C-minus they get as a midterm grade, nod patiently when I give them the pep talk about working more diligently, continue to show up only every once in a while, and then turn in an excellent final paper. Dammit.
I’m not so much concerned about what to give them as a final grade — although like all the teachers I know, I worry that to death, too – but how to do well by them, to teach them something they can take into the future.
Obviously, some of my students are good writers when they get to me. They don’t need help to create a great introductory paragraph and all the rest.
I ask myself, can I do anything for them?
After much mulling, I have decided that in addition to emphasizing complete sentences, syntax agreement, and an eye for detail, the other aspects that make for success as an adult should carry as much weight in my class. In other words, skills like meeting deadline are as important as producing interesting prose. I have always talked about those aspects of the course with my students, but in truth I have let them slide as long as they could demonstrate ability in writing.
I learned one more thing last semester. A student who had just turned in her final paper told me she appreciated the lesson on writing an outline.
Although the outline was a pain to do, she said, it made writing the paper a lot easier.
So, if any of this semester’s students are reading, a lesson on outline-writing is in the syllabus no matter what. Also, make sure you show up on time for the first class.
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