End of Semester Thoughts

We’re thankful for random (last-minute) invitations to participate in life’s adventures – including cross-cultural yet local experiences – with college students.

Last week when the students’ first choice closed early, we discovered another (new to us) Peruvian restaurant right here in MVD!

The workload in the developing college project often becomes overwhelming – at times even compelling us to temporarily “borrow” time and resources from other areas of life. I am, however, encouraged this second time around (in contrast with this same point in the first cycle of foundational grammar and composition courses).

One week ago, I got to running the numbers...

If every student turns in all assignments, by the end of this week I will have graded research-writing projects at least 99 times this semester! (And that doesn’t even count all the work JM has put into grading.) That’s quite a bit for a start-up operation!

Details! Details! Details!

[Argumentation, exegesis, parenthetical documentation,

paragraphing, punctuation, etcetera!]

I am thankful to be team-teaching with JM. (I hope he feels the same!) In all seriousness, I am thankful for his insight, suggesting that we divide the major research-argumentation paper (a first, remedial experience for the majority of our students) into its five sections, grading bit by bit all along. Besides breaking down an otherwise daunting task into workable sections (for ourselves and our students), this approach has allowed us all to see (and to gauge) improvement throughout the project, enabling us to provide more practical, hands-on learning than ever before. And that aspect has been especially encouraging!

One challenge for those with clear vision is the time it takes for others – even teammates – to truly appreciate and begin to share that vision. Trying to teach basic research and writing skills (albeit on a remedial level) is a long-term investment, and I am thankful to be involved in this work that is foundational to the success of the college project...