And so it begins....

The whining and crying for more extra credit, I mean. Just over two weeks until the end of the semester, and I'm starting to get students emailing me because they know that they are in danger of failing. One guy is even trying to get me to accept the past extra credit assignments. They have pre-lab questions for every lab, and if they turn them in before the lab starts, they can get up to a point of extra credit per lab. Somehow, he says he missed the 20 times that I announced that. I'm sorry, it's in the freaking syllabus and I clearly remember talking about it during the first lab period and in several others after that. Not my fault he apparently can't read or listen.

:speechlesI don't see how you do it. I think I am made more to push paper than to deal with people. I used to be quiet and reserved and all around nice to everyone. I guess I have gotten to a point in my life that I am not going to put up with peoples crap anymore and just tell you how I feel. May get me in trouble one day! I think I would rather work at a daycare and listen to children cry all day than teach mid adults. :speechles

__________________
Approved 02-25-08 Banded 03-07-08
Dr. Cribbins: Dallas, TX
4cc in a 10cc band

Over the last several semesters, I've definitely become less of a push-over. The first semester I taught was absolutely horrid. There I was, shoved in front of a bunch of (primarily) freshman college students, with no actual training in teaching. Plus, it had been more than four years since I had had a general biology class myself, and I honestly didn't know a lot of the stuff that I was going to have to teach. (Wildlife majors weren't required to take very many basic biology classes at my undergrad university. Most of my courses were wildlife and habitat management based. When I graduated from undergrad, I could make a detailed habitat or fishery management plan, do statistically-sound sampling, and identify a hell of a lot of plants and animals, but I couldn't tell you how photosynthesis works or talk about cellular function beyond the extreme basics.)

I SWEAR students can smell fear. That first semester was hell on Earth for me. I've gotten much better, though. I treat all my students with respect, but I'm not willing to take BS from them, either. I'm extremely willing to help them as much as I can if they let me know that they need help, but I've made it very clear to them that they have to put in their share of effort.

I honestly don't think I could stand to teach any levels lower than university. In college-level classes, the students are there voluntarily. I'm not required to pass a certain number of them or be nice to them even if they are asses. I can literally kick them out of my class and tell them not to come back, if I have to. I don't have to answer to parents that want little Sally or Jimmy to get a passing grade without doing the work, either. It's actually illegal for me to give parents any information regarding their child's work, unless the student fills out a release form. It's a relief, to be honest.

Can't beat that with a stick! As long as you are doing what makes you happy, then all's well that ends well. Hopefully you will get through the end of the semester with very limited hair loss (cause if you are like me when the stress levels rise I am literally pulling my hair out).

__________________
Approved 02-25-08 Banded 03-07-08
Dr. Cribbins: Dallas, TX
4cc in a 10cc band

Yep, protein doesn't seem to make a difference with my hair loss. When I get stressed, it starts shedding left and right. When the stress goes away, the hair loss magically stops. It's pissing me off, since I am under LOTS of stress at the moment, between my classes, trying to get my thesis done, and applying for jobs.

That's what my counselor is for. :whoo:

__________________
Approved 02-25-08 Banded 03-07-08
Dr. Cribbins: Dallas, TX
4cc in a 10cc band