The First Week

Like an airplane sitting on the end of the runway, the first week is a series of check-ins and procedures. I always try my best to begin the first day with content. It is important for me to send the message that the learning is what is most important, not the rule following and procedural classroom management issues. I know this flies in the face of a majority of advice, opinion and practice out there, but it seems to be effective for me.

The beginning content, in my view, is the equivalent of the engines being ready for takeoff. No stalls. Next we can do the procedural check and make sure all are on board, the flaps work, all the lights that are supposed to be flashing are doing so, and that the class understands that they are in the role of the co-pilot and have half of the responsibility for the class and where it goes.

Then, it's time to get to know the passengers, and, for them to get to know each other. Within the first week I've already learned about recent family deaths, summer surgeries, past abuse, who have siblings and who are only children. The stories that will play out for the rest of the year have started to be told, and those narratives, the life stories, are some of the raw material that I will use to teach and reflect on history and what we know about ourselves.

Getting ready for the second week is speeding down the runway. And already my desk is buried in paper and grading. There just aren't any flight attendents to help out.