Final Thoughts…English 1103, Section 090
Wow…I can’t believe it!! I just submitted the final grades to the first class I ever taught…for the English Department…English 1103…what a semester…I can remember the first night of class…I had to have a very good friend “stand in” for me because I was at my “day job”…Open House with my 4th grade students…why was I about to put myself through this? Teach all day then go to the college once a week to teach for 2 1/2 more hours…was I crazy? Yes! Was it worth it!!! Absolutely!!! This experience will remain in my thoughts for a very long time…I was so nervous walking up the stairs to get to my class of freshman students…my good friend and colleague Shana…who “stood in for me” had the students writing their introductory letters as a way to respond to the letter I wrote to them that Shana had just finished reading a loud…was I ready for this?? YES!!
I quickly learned that the students before me were very fragile writers…damaged by years of torture in high school, middle school, and elementary school…they didn’t like to write weren’t quite sure what to expect from me either…as I took over and started class…I reminded myself…”just be yourself” and everything will fall into place…my goal…as I stated that night…was to help them learn to love writing and view themselves as writers…TALL TASK…but I’m here to say…
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!
I just finished reading everyone’s portfolio which included a final reflective letter…each letter gave me a “window” into the heart’s and mind’s of each of the writers in our community…each writer talked about things they learned…highlights from throughout the semester…a-ha moments…etc.
The one thing that came shinning through each letter was that each student now enjoys writing…some more than others…but most impressive of all…each student now view herself as a writer!!! What a wonderful feeling to have at the age of 18…
I had to wait until I was 38 to experience that feeling and for each of my students to articulate in their letters was humbling…
Wednesday nights are going to feel really weird for a long time for I will truly miss engaging in the act of learning with this group…thanks to each of them for helping me along the path…I wish them all the best and would like to end by saying…
KEEP WRITING!!!
December 15th, 2006 at 5:07 pm
aw. this blog made me smile. :]
thank you so much for being such a wonderful teacher.
this was probably my favorite class this semester. so thank you for that.
i hope you have an amazing christmas & happy new year!
:]
December 15th, 2006 at 7:33 pm
i liked your blog a lot too.
you were definitely my favorite teacher that i think i’ve EVER had, and i never dreaded going to your class like i did all my other classes this semester.
happy holidays!
p.s. can you email me my grades…thank you tony!
December 15th, 2006 at 7:41 pm
THANK YOU!
December 16th, 2006 at 3:30 pm
WoW this class HAS been amazing! I had a great time, one of my favorite classes as well Kara. Thanks Tony for the writing experience. Happy holidays everyone I enjoyed having this class!!!
December 16th, 2006 at 7:23 pm
Hey everyone…thanks so much for responding to my reflection…I bragged about you all to my friends today at a meeting I went to…they were very impressed!!!
December 16th, 2006 at 10:41 pm
you’ve been a great teacher and it was really fun learning with you. I’m going to miss everybody. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
love ya’ll
December 17th, 2006 at 2:23 am
Hey guys…I definitely agree this class was by far my favorite this semester. I can honestly say that I had a great “College English Class” - and I am no longer scarred from years of red-marks. Tony you have a really unique way of teaching, I’ll be talking about it forever, thank you for making us all feel so comfortable with our writing and also with each other. YOU WERE BORN TO TEACH! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING!! Everyone have a great, restful holiday, and good luck in your second semester at UNC-C!!
December 17th, 2006 at 2:53 pm
Thanks to Erica and Lacey for responding…I’m so glad I taught this class and like I said at our last class…I’ll always have the memory of the work we accomplished…Happy Holidays!!
December 27th, 2006 at 11:47 pm
Thank you Tony!
Your class was wonderful–tons of fun. You were inspirational.
I’ll keep writing if you keep teaching…the world could use a few more teachers like you :o)
Happy New Year!
December 28th, 2006 at 6:03 am
Kelly…
You can count on me to keep teaching so stock up on notebooks and pens…Thanks for the kind words and a very happy and successful New Year wish to you as well!!