The 17th is Always a Very Good Day!

The new semester started today . . . with not much voice and the sky pouring rain as I walked clear to the other side of the campus from my office to the assigned room. Several years ago I got smart and quit lugging my books and handouts in a shoulder bag and purchased a rolling crate. So this morning I covered that with a piece of plastic and then threw a large towel over that to keep the rain off my things. Mr. Fun even volunteered to come along and help me get to the classroom (I declined his offer).

I arrived at the classroom door with a small population explosion of students waiting for the door to be unlocked and the wonder to begin. I had checked the online registration to learn that I had 10 people on the waiting list. Once inside the classroom I realized that I had at least 5 more who had not gotten their names on the list. So my class has a cap of 30, but 40+ people were staring at me. I politely said they could all stay. I know I'm sick. I never add that many students to the roll, but I know they won't all stay. Students don't like to write. This course demands lots of reading and writing. Because I believe their futures depend on their ability to write well, I heed the rigorous course outline.

I powered-up the projector to show them the homepage for the online portion of the course, which is what's pictured above. I had 2 hours and 10 minutes with them and I used every second. I handed-out and went over an abbreviated syllabus explaining the books and supplies they will need and the projects that will be assigned. I handed-out the first assignment. Explained the Writing Center requirement, and then we all walked across the wet campus to the lab for orientation there.

After the orientation, the class ended. I then had three hours of lab duty and then I went back to my office to leave my things for Thursday's schedule of classes and I headed for home with a scratchy voice and the beginning of a cough that sounds like a bark.

Now home I see the warm fire over the top of my laptop as I sit here emailing with students and realizing that they are now learning how to navigate this website. I always tell them that it is plain vanilla -- few whistles and no bells -- but an adequate amount of appropriate material for them to exit the other end of the semester having honed their ability and skill to write well.

As far as I am concerned the 17th of every month is a winning day, and even though I am feeling crummy, this day has been a winner. It is my privilege to assist these students as they learn to write coherent academic papers and if they choose, to even write interesting prose. By far the biggest challenge of my job is getting them to "want to" -- because they all have the ability.

So now you have my story for this day. I hope your throat and lungs feel much healthier than mine. Good night for now.

Rosie, aka Carol