I’ve seen every stage of your teaching career and witnessed the joys and pains (mostly joys) along the way. You touched lives and created beautiful films. A great career!!!
I believe we may one day look back on COVID as a significant turning point in history—it’s reshaped our world on many levels. In any case, congratulations on your retirement! Having more time to write on this platform will be a gift to all of us. I’m looking forward to reading more of your work here on Substack.
Thank you PeDupre! It's very satisfying to have readers like you who appreciate what I've been doing. I have many more stories to tell and entertainment projects to review!
Can't help but seem bittersweet, here. Nice to be retiring on your terms, but it's really sad to hear about how students shifted in engagement post-COVID. I think we've all felt the way in which our day-to-day interactions with people has changed. Some, I hope, for the better, but I would say there is a new sheen of callousness over everything I experience. I do know a lot of people who used this frightening global stop-down to make positive changed in their lives.
Thanks for your response Joshua. You make an interesting point. I think everyone assumed we'd be so happy back in the outside world after the pandemic that we'd want to converse and connect. Sadly that didn't always happen. I think a lot of students are so used to screens and social media that their worlds are much more entrenched there than we ever wanted to believe.
Dan, reading about your teaching journey has been both enlightening and deeply familiar…..I feel all of your pains, and I look forward to all of your joys when I put down the chalk next year.
You mentioned it in this entry, and it’s something that drives me crazy too: the lack of note-taking. They simply refuse. They tap their phones, sit there empty-handed, as if they have photographic memories or as if nothing worth remembering could possibly happen in class. I had to implement a policy: arrive a little early, say hello to your classmates and your teacher, take out something to write with, and smile. Oddly enough, it worked. I remind them every so often, and I think the lighthearted approach has helped them become more aware of their own habits. I also use this policy as an example when I’m talking about nonverbal messages.
I also developed what I call the Rise Up System. Every class, students earn 20 points for showing up, 20 points for speaking up, and then complete a brief online reflection I call the write-up. Simple, but effective. Between that and my opening class policy, my students have become far more engaged. There’s more interaction, more humanity in the room. But the sad part? I had to regulate human connection. It no longer happens organically. Students don’t seem to care about what’s unfolding in front of them. College is just a means to an end—get the degree, get the job, make money. Intellectual curiosity feels like an afterthought.
Like the students you’ve made films with, I’m lucky to have the speech and debate team to keep me sane. Without those hard-working, inquisitive students, I don’t think I would’ve lasted this long.
Let’s celebrate your retirement once things settle down after my national speech and debate tournament. Congratulations on a fantastic career.
Thanks Jeff! I'm curious as to whether your students continued to arrive early, say hello, etc. as the term progressed. It has always seemed like they start off with good habits but then slowly fall back into familiar behaviors I also gave students points for attendance and discussion but they only amounted to a point per class session. 20 may have been more motivating!
Congrats on capping a fantastic career! I hope by now you’ve heard from your Dept. Head, but if not, let me instead raise a glass in your direction!
Thanks Kevin. I've NOT heard from him! I'm having some delicious port wine from Portugal right now raising my glass back to you!
I’ve seen every stage of your teaching career and witnessed the joys and pains (mostly joys) along the way. You touched lives and created beautiful films. A great career!!!
Thank you
Love this. Man, Covid messed so much up! Thanks for teaching. Love the memories you have.
Thank you for your thanks! 👊
Thanks Chris.
Congratulations on your retirement!!
I believe we may one day look back on COVID as a significant turning point in history—it’s reshaped our world on many levels. In any case, congratulations on your retirement! Having more time to write on this platform will be a gift to all of us. I’m looking forward to reading more of your work here on Substack.
Thank you PeDupre! It's very satisfying to have readers like you who appreciate what I've been doing. I have many more stories to tell and entertainment projects to review!
Can't help but seem bittersweet, here. Nice to be retiring on your terms, but it's really sad to hear about how students shifted in engagement post-COVID. I think we've all felt the way in which our day-to-day interactions with people has changed. Some, I hope, for the better, but I would say there is a new sheen of callousness over everything I experience. I do know a lot of people who used this frightening global stop-down to make positive changed in their lives.
Thanks for your response Joshua. You make an interesting point. I think everyone assumed we'd be so happy back in the outside world after the pandemic that we'd want to converse and connect. Sadly that didn't always happen. I think a lot of students are so used to screens and social media that their worlds are much more entrenched there than we ever wanted to believe.
Dan, reading about your teaching journey has been both enlightening and deeply familiar…..I feel all of your pains, and I look forward to all of your joys when I put down the chalk next year.
You mentioned it in this entry, and it’s something that drives me crazy too: the lack of note-taking. They simply refuse. They tap their phones, sit there empty-handed, as if they have photographic memories or as if nothing worth remembering could possibly happen in class. I had to implement a policy: arrive a little early, say hello to your classmates and your teacher, take out something to write with, and smile. Oddly enough, it worked. I remind them every so often, and I think the lighthearted approach has helped them become more aware of their own habits. I also use this policy as an example when I’m talking about nonverbal messages.
I also developed what I call the Rise Up System. Every class, students earn 20 points for showing up, 20 points for speaking up, and then complete a brief online reflection I call the write-up. Simple, but effective. Between that and my opening class policy, my students have become far more engaged. There’s more interaction, more humanity in the room. But the sad part? I had to regulate human connection. It no longer happens organically. Students don’t seem to care about what’s unfolding in front of them. College is just a means to an end—get the degree, get the job, make money. Intellectual curiosity feels like an afterthought.
Like the students you’ve made films with, I’m lucky to have the speech and debate team to keep me sane. Without those hard-working, inquisitive students, I don’t think I would’ve lasted this long.
Let’s celebrate your retirement once things settle down after my national speech and debate tournament. Congratulations on a fantastic career.
Thanks Jeff! I'm curious as to whether your students continued to arrive early, say hello, etc. as the term progressed. It has always seemed like they start off with good habits but then slowly fall back into familiar behaviors I also gave students points for attendance and discussion but they only amounted to a point per class session. 20 may have been more motivating!
Find more things that fulfill your life. It was great reading your teaching journey. Onto the next adventure!! Hope to see you soon.
Thanks Colleen!
Congratulations Dan! Retirement is the best. I have know doubt that you ill continue to be creative and