The Road to Harvard

As in doing anything for the first time, there was quite a learning curve. I had to read everything the students had to read, prepare class plans (with little frame of reference), and grade lots of papers. For the first six weeks, I was working until an average of midnight six nights a week. A third of the students dropped out of my World History class -- probably in part because I was having trouble organizing coherent classes, in part because it was an early (8:00 am) class, and in part simply because the class is difficult at best. By the end of September, though, I was hitting my stride. I felt confident in the classroom, I established pretty good rapport with the students -- and they stopped dropping my class. My U.S. History class was definitely easier for me to teach the first semester, but the students who stuck it out for World History all did well. I am teaching the same two classes for spring semester, and I am curious to see how similar or different my experiences will be.

Terry spent two months with my in Sioux City, reading lots of mysteries and trying to find an interesting jobs. She had one interview for a worthwhile job, which she didn't get, and otherwise found lots and lots of ads for call center work -- a booming industry in Greater Siouxland (which includes North Sioux City, SD and South Sioux City, NE). Finally, she got two offers in Kansas City in her former industry -- pharmaceutical research -- and took the better one. She is not only doing project administration, as she was before we went to China, but also has a chance to use her long-dormant legal skills. So, we'll have a "commuter marriage" until early May.

I've received my first student evaluation forms, including a computer-generated summary -- with computer-generated recommendations for maintaining and improving specific techniques, no less! Now, I just need to meet with Patrick, my department chair, and find out what the reports mean.

-- Norty