OK - I know it has been quite a bit since I posted....SORRY! My RSD has been a bit out of control and it has been all I could do to manage teaching with the classes I am taking, not to mention they had two different exams in a week (plus quizzes and homework) in the College Algebra class I am teaching.
TEACHING COLLEGE ALGEBRA
The COLLEGE ALGBRA MASTERY EXAM - They had two tests in the last week and a half. The first is called a 'Mastery Exam'. It had two questions which pretty much summed up the material from the first few weeks. Not only do they have to solve the problem, but they must write about their problem solving process, so they get graded on correct answer, communication, and strategy. They MUST get 100% on this exam. If they don't, there are two additional versions of the exam they can take until they do get 100%. (Or if they don't pass on the last one, they just get whatever grade they get). The professors here have found that it does two things - more students do better in the class (and pass) because they are forced to learn certain concepts, and it boosts their confidence in doing math. HOWEVER, each time they don't pass, they have to meet with me and go over the problem. Nearly all of my 40 students had to meet with me and go over the problem, which was like 8 hours of my time at least, before they could take the second version. So far they have all passed, with about 5 students left!
MY STUDENT'S FIRST MIDTERM - Then Wednesday night they all had to come for a 'common hour' exam. All 15 classes of college algebra come on the same night at the same time, and take this test. They find the biggest rooms on campus and schedule us into them. And not only that, but we also check IDs to make sure students aren't sending their roommates to take the exam for them! It was crazy having so many students in one room with us teachers walking around. That was the SLOWEST hour. I know when I take tests, it seems like the time goes way too fast. Turns out when you are giving them (and you have to walk around - no computer, no nothing), time moves horrifically slow! So the last two days I have been grading these tests. We do group grading, which means each teacher gets a problem (like I got problem #6A), and I have to grade just that problem for EVERY STUDENT in college algebra - so like 600 students. They have this whole system worked out for switching the tests and getting them to each instructor for grading, but YIKES! I have about 400 done, and have another 150 or so to do... I am getting very fast at grading that problem!
HOMECOMING WEEKEND
Turns out all the big tough math and science classes have common hour exams. And they were all this week. Poor students have brains of jelly now. However, they are free and clear to celebrate football and homecoming this weekend, so that was a smart plan by the school! Also - people here are REALLY into football. A large chunk of the people I saw today were dressed in school gear with their faces painted!
RANDOM THOUGHTS
It is really bizarre to walk around on campus and everywhere I go I hear people talking math and science. A handful of odd casual conversations, but almost everyone talking math and science as they walk to and from places!
And they have Huckleberry soda here :) It is yummy!
BUBBLEGUM UNDER THE TABLE
Turns out bubblegum under the table is useful...I really needed some tape to put a sign on the door, but couldn't find any anywhere. So....a guy suggested seeing if we could pull gum off from under the table and 'rehydrate' it with water from the drinking fountain and it would work as an adhesive. Turns out it worked very well!
JACK & PI
Jack and Pi are doing well - having claimed BOTH the kitchen and under the couch as their home base! Jack is super talented at running up AND down the stairs to my bedroom! I am fairly certain that Pi sends him up to wake me up and feed them when they are hungry!
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