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We should have taken a longer Christmas break. With only a week off, it's really been hard for me to get back into my groove. Not just with HSing, either. Spring classes begin on Jan. 16th, and I'm not anywhere near ready. I'm teaching a new online class this spring that I developed in the Fall. It's not a new class for me, but it's just new "online". I've still got notes to type and post to the class and tests to create, since now they'll all be taken online and most of my tests were problems/exercises in the traditional classroom.
You'd think the new class would be my greatest concern since this is its first semester, but no... I'm more concerned about my Principles I classes. Last semester was very discouraging to me. It was a semester of many firsts, so I'm not sure how to pinpoint the problem. We used a new textbook and a new computer interface. I thought it went well, especially since the changes only really affected me - not the students. Turns out, my retention rate was good, but the failure rate was enormous. Only one student averaged an A, and that was only by the skin of her teeth. When that happens, I tend to question myself. Was there something more I could have done for the students? Is this a reflection of my teaching abilities? No. I was there for my students the entire semester - sparking class discussions, encouraging, explaining, begging for someone to ask questions. As usual, I made myself available for chat study sessions, and few to none showed up. No, I don't think there was anything more I could have done. Many of them had personal issues that kept them from applying themselves as they should. Others just didn't get off to a good start, so were lost from the onset. Still others simply did not care.
I'm considering adding chapter lecture notes to the classes, but I have mixed feelings because I've done that in past semesters and it didn't seem to help at all. It only added to their workload (more to read), plus many of the students saw it as an "easy" way out and opted to read my chapter supplement in lieu of the chapters. That really did not work! Furthermore, since we're using a new textbook, I'd have to create the lectures from scratch again. *sigh* I wonder if it's worth it. I'll decide by next week.
I love the spring semester though. The students seem to have more zeal in the spring. Also, many are trying to graduate, so they work harder than usual. I'm praying that this semester will be more encouraging. I hope to inspire someone this semester to work hard and accomplish things they never thought possible.
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