Tuesday, September 16, 2008

First Day of My 15th Term of Teaching

I almost forgot to write about last Saturday, my first day for this new term . I never felt so tired after my classes. Six hours of lecture is really no joke, how do full-time teachers do it??? I still have to learn how to manage my energy so that I can last the day.

This term, I started my classes full of warnings to students (hehe) of how they can fail my class... Just so everyone knows what they're getting into. So I narrated how students managed to fail my class last term. But truth be told, I'm usually very "kind". I just didn't want them to think that, lest they take advantage of my kindness.

So, when three students came in 45 minutes after class started, I didn't let them get away with it: "Excuse me, are you in this class? Didn't you know that the class is supposed to start at 9? Well, when I've already checked attendance and you are not here (I check attendance 20 minutes after the start time, but I don't tell them that), you are considered absent. Today, you are considered absent. Bear in mind that there is a maximum number of allowed absences before you are dropped from the subject." Let's see what's going to happen this Saturday.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

45 minutes late! grabe! Tama yan, set the tone on the first day of class.

pz

Anonymous said...

Agree with PZ, Reg! I cannot believe the gall of those latecomers. Ano daw ang excuse nila?

By the way, I like how you got things started with a short discussion on how to fail your class. Light-hearted (on the surface) and insightful.

-- Sweet D

Anonymous said...

Hi PZ and D! They didn't offer any excuse, and my guess is they don't really have a valid one. I usually make it a point to warn students at the start so that when they get their final grade, they will not be surprised. These students are so lucky now, everything is given to them, unlike when we were students-- it was always sariling sikap without that much help from the teachers!

Anonymous said...

wow... super terror. me, after almost ten years of teaching i stopped na telling kids my expectations and asking them theirs. talk about cynical and jaded. hahaha

Anonymous said...

Hi Faye, I think your students love you! And I think our students have different attitudes on studying. Being medical students and being in UP, they wouldn't survive if they don't study hard. Sad to say, some of my students just take their studies for granted.

Anonymous said...

Hey Reg, can't imagine you being "taray" like that, with your gentle and sweet voice. Tama yan so your energy doesn't go to waste. I remember when we were in college, we would be more "responsible" when a teacher gives warnings at the start of the sem.
SC

Anonymous said...

Hi SC! Naku, mataray ako noh:) But only because I don't like my students taking their studies for granted. Ang daming gusto mag-aral but can't, samantalang sila, they think studies are not important. Poor parents! So rather than disturbing the whole class (and me), I'd rather that those not interested leave my class!

Anonymous said...

Amen to that!
SC