I don't know where to start with this blog entry. Let's just say a lot has happened since my last entry, and of course, that always chucks me right into reflection mode. So, here are some thoughts I've had about teaching... Why is it that caring more about students has caused me more stress, instead of less, with my peers? If many of the teachers who inspired us WERE NOT JERKS, why do we insist on that attitude with our own students?  Why IS the default to be unkind to students and to share "war stories"? Do they make us feel superior? Is this the only way teachers can bond? Belonging. I shared with some ungrading folks my recent thoughts, and I received lots of support as well as a link to this video which recaps a book on belonging. If I don't feel like I belong on my campus, and I am a white middle-aged lady with progressive stances, it shouldn't surprise me - or others - that some students don't feel like they belong either. Does higher ed, in gen

A few recent tweets: The "me" of 10yrs ago would be shocked at the teacher I've evolved into. I don't have a slidedeck for tomorrow, nor do I have any major activities planned for Day 1. I'm simply going to make sure the Ss know that my class will be easy & not stressful. #ungrading I am asking them to share - in #Slack - a #meme that describes who they are as humans or students or writers. Here is my contribution to that: A non-tweet is this: I'm trying a few new things this semester. The Slack App is one, and a Suggestion Box is another. Slack will be an online gathering space for us. It won't be used for "points" or attendance, but students can share work there and engage with one another whether they can make it to class in-person or not. The Suggestion Box idea comes from Twitter, and I don't know if students will use it, but it gives them an anonymous voice to bring up anything that might make class easier/better for them (and me, t