Phoenix

I'm sitting in the Phoenix airport right now waiting to board a flight back to a winter world where shoveling awaits.  Dave is attending a conference and I came along to enjoy the weather.  We went on this fantastic hike in the mountains south of the city yesterday and had lunch at this amazing farm.  I kept reminding Dave of what a lovely, peaceful day we had in an attempt to lower his blood pressure during the Vikings game.  We weren't able to get a table in the hotel bar during half time, and that was for the best, because -- I won't lie -- things were thrown during the game.  We've both recovered now.  And I've decided to cheer for the Saints in the big game.  Dave, however, hasn't made that leap.

Intro (On So Many Levels)

We figured out the school thing, but choosing groups was messy.  I guess that's true no matter where you teach, and I think that only one student was upset about a) WHO is in her group and b) WHERE her group decided to go.  I thanked her at the end of class for her flexibility which was a way of saying it would be nice if she COULD BE flexible because she seemed to be on the verge of really NOT being flexible.  This preemptive form of positive reinforcement is one that I've been using in my teaching for years.  Middle school students were usually quite receptive, but I can't say yet how it's going to fly with  your average liberal arts college student.

Can We Visit YOUR School? Really. I'm Asking.

I am happy to report that there were no major blunders the first day.  There may be a blunder in this first week, though, as I am learning that it's not so easy to get students into schools.  Let's just say that this particular small town where I teach is overrun with college students who need to get into the public schools for various projects.  And to their credit, the schools have a decent policy in place to keep from feeling overburdened by the requirements of professors (like me) who count on their open doors.

I can dig the protocol stuff sometimes.  But I'm nice.  And I think my students are too.  So shouldn't we get special treatment just this once?

I think so.

Mostly, I'm Terrified

I start teaching on Tuesday at my alma mater, Carleton College.  When I began there as a student over sixteen years ago (SIXTEEN YEARS AGO?!?), I felt rather certain that I had landed there by some mistake of destiny and that I didn't actually fit amid the crowd of super-achiever and smarty-pants students.  Naturally, I am feeling the same way about teaching there as a visiting instructor in education.

As a student, I got over the feeling of not fitting there and found Carleton to be the most perfect school for my interests and ideas and for shaping who I would become -- and continue to become -- in the world.

I am doing my best to trust that it will once again challenge me in all the right and important ways as I develop who I'll be as a professor too.