Beyond the self-congratulatory tone (which probably shoulda been self-flagellatory, in keeping with the metaphor), I did not find this terribly Katie-esque.
I don't think Ben was saying the sensuous Supernunny was like Katie at all, unless he meant they both sound batshit crazy. But, hey, that's just me. I can see how Supernunny's point of view might be really cool and interesting, so I hope she writes some stuff for us in the future.
I was really just commenting on the idea of a nun thinking she could post without giving away her gender. Now I suspect that it might be a joke, which makes it pretty funny. The idea of a sensuous nun without chastity seemed odd, although the point of view from a person would definitely be different and probably entertaining.
I'm thoroughly confused by this: so s/he (a nun without gender?) checks to see if students have done the work before they enter the classroom, and if they haven't, she sends them away to do it? And then what? Do those who did it get to leave? Does class continue? Does she sit in the desk in the hallway to teach class? Do students sit in the desk? Does someone wear a hat?
Mother G will clarify to some extent in later blog entries. I may incorporate the hat element. Who is Katie? "A nun is never idle. One never sits there doing nothing."
Hmm. Very early in my teaching career (it might even have been in the weird itinerant teaching gig I had the year in between undergrad and grad school), some of my students told me I sounded like the "church lady" on SNL (the one who said "well, isn't that special?" Yes, that was a very long time ago). I think I was using sarcasm as a pedagogical/disciplinary style. I'm not sure whether I do that much anymore (in fact, I'm not sure I was doing it all that often then). I think I've become, if anything, more earnest, which seems like an odd trajectory, but there you have it. So maybe I have something in common with someone who "behave{s] like a nun in some respects, and [whose] classroom management style resembles that of the nuns [he? she? ze?} had as teachers." I am, however, actually female (and actually a church lady in some meanings of the word, though probably not quite what you'd think of as the stereotypical church lady).
That said, I, too, am a bit puzzled by the doorcheck thing. It seems like the sort of thing one can do, effectively, once, but what happens as the semester wears on and some students still don't do the reading/annotating? Or what happens if they do it for the first few weeks, then slack off? (a common phenomenon). What happens if they just stop coming at all if they haven't done the reading? (also a very common phenomenon in freshman comp, even without door checks or similar tactics). What happens if nobody at all shows up one day? I can see the value in establishing a reputation for strictness right from the start, but I think I'd prefer to save the shock tactics (send them away, stalk out yourself) for later in the semester, if at all.
And completely off topic, but this thread seems like the appropriately surreal place to ask: what was in the subhead that was taken down? (Then again, I suppose revealing that might defeat the purpose of taking it down. Ah, well; that's what I get for buckling down and working on course materials today.)
The doorcheck is worked into their participation grade. I believe I mentioned that in my blog. Also, they know what days there will be a doorcheck. The department also created an attendance policy. One is allowed a certain number of absences and tardies and the grade begins to drop. The unmotivated students end up dropping out anyway. Trust me, it does work, when I do it. I have actually had students who looked forward to the doorcheck. Maybe they are just as bananas ... What subhead? What was taken down? C'mon, who is Katie?
Well, with that structure in place, I can see it working. We've got this odd system where we can't require attendance, though we can have a participation grade (including for participation that isn't possible without attending).
Also, apropos of nothing in particular, have you noticed that this blog has a search function (upper left corner)?
Katie has been an occasional member of this blog and the one that predates it. She's controversial. She sometimes sends us material and then demands we take it down. She counts her students among her "besties," and there are many posts about her on this blog, all easily searched through the search bar on the top left of the page, or by using, like, the Google.
Between this and Katie, I've figured out our problem. We're not bat shit crazy enough.
ReplyDeleteI just work here.
DeleteThe RGM
Uh oh. I must be *that* one...
ReplyDeleteBeyond the self-congratulatory tone (which probably shoulda been self-flagellatory, in keeping with the metaphor), I did not find this terribly Katie-esque.
I don't think Ben was saying the sensuous Supernunny was like Katie at all, unless he meant they both sound batshit crazy. But, hey, that's just me. I can see how Supernunny's point of view might be really cool and interesting, so I hope she writes some stuff for us in the future.
DeleteI was really just commenting on the idea of a nun thinking she could post without giving away her gender. Now I suspect that it might be a joke, which makes it pretty funny. The idea of a sensuous nun without chastity seemed odd, although the point of view from a person would definitely be different and probably entertaining.
DeleteI'm thoroughly confused by this: so s/he (a nun without gender?) checks to see if students have done the work before they enter the classroom, and if they haven't, she sends them away to do it? And then what? Do those who did it get to leave? Does class continue? Does she sit in the desk in the hallway to teach class? Do students sit in the desk? Does someone wear a hat?
ReplyDeleteMother G will clarify to some extent in later blog entries.
ReplyDeleteI may incorporate the hat element.
Who is Katie?
"A nun is never idle. One never sits there doing nothing."
Who is Katie?
DeleteThat's a far more complicated question than you'd think. I think I'll let the RGM handle it (or ignore it, as ze chooses).
Katie?
DeleteNothing to see here. Move along.
Hmm. Very early in my teaching career (it might even have been in the weird itinerant teaching gig I had the year in between undergrad and grad school), some of my students told me I sounded like the "church lady" on SNL (the one who said "well, isn't that special?" Yes, that was a very long time ago). I think I was using sarcasm as a pedagogical/disciplinary style. I'm not sure whether I do that much anymore (in fact, I'm not sure I was doing it all that often then). I think I've become, if anything, more earnest, which seems like an odd trajectory, but there you have it. So maybe I have something in common with someone who "behave{s] like a nun in some respects, and [whose] classroom management style resembles that of the nuns [he? she? ze?} had as teachers." I am, however, actually female (and actually a church lady in some meanings of the word, though probably not quite what you'd think of as the stereotypical church lady).
ReplyDeleteThat said, I, too, am a bit puzzled by the doorcheck thing. It seems like the sort of thing one can do, effectively, once, but what happens as the semester wears on and some students still don't do the reading/annotating? Or what happens if they do it for the first few weeks, then slack off? (a common phenomenon). What happens if they just stop coming at all if they haven't done the reading? (also a very common phenomenon in freshman comp, even without door checks or similar tactics). What happens if nobody at all shows up one day? I can see the value in establishing a reputation for strictness right from the start, but I think I'd prefer to save the shock tactics (send them away, stalk out yourself) for later in the semester, if at all.
And completely off topic, but this thread seems like the appropriately surreal place to ask: what was in the subhead that was taken down? (Then again, I suppose revealing that might defeat the purpose of taking it down. Ah, well; that's what I get for buckling down and working on course materials today.)
ReplyDeleteA community member noted that the two line subhead clashed stylistically with the relatively thin header. Don't ask if you don't want to know.
DeleteOh come on, we KNOW it was Cal!!!!
DeleteThe doorcheck is worked into their participation grade. I believe I mentioned that in my blog. Also, they know what days there will be a doorcheck. The department also created an attendance policy. One is allowed a certain number of absences and tardies and the grade begins to drop. The unmotivated students end up dropping out anyway. Trust me, it does work, when I do it. I have actually had students who looked forward to the doorcheck. Maybe they are just as bananas ...
ReplyDeleteWhat subhead? What was taken down?
C'mon, who is Katie?
Well, with that structure in place, I can see it working. We've got this odd system where we can't require attendance, though we can have a participation grade (including for participation that isn't possible without attending).
DeleteAlso, apropos of nothing in particular, have you noticed that this blog has a search function (upper left corner)?
Katie has been an occasional member of this blog and the one that predates it. She's controversial. She sometimes sends us material and then demands we take it down. She counts her students among her "besties," and there are many posts about her on this blog, all easily searched through the search bar on the top left of the page, or by using, like, the Google.
DeleteOr, this.
Delete