Classes begin next week at one of the two colleges I teach for. As an adjunct, preparing for the semester can be a gamble. You don’t want to begin too soon in case your class is cancelled, but if you start too late it’s hard to catch up. Being prepared is the number one thing that gives me confidence as a teacher, but I also struggle with procrastination. So what to do? I turned to my friend and fellow writer/teacher, Katie Ionata, for help.
Katie and I share an office, so I’ve personally witnessed her organization skills. I’ve also had the pleasure of seeing her teach, so I know she prepares great classes to engage her students. Recently I asked Katie how she prepares for the semester. These are the tips she gave me:
- Make a big list of everything you need to do before school starts. Then try to do a few things each week, starting in August. Breaking a long list into manageable portions makes it feel less daunting.
- Write or revise your syllabi.
- Proofread/have someone read your syllabi.
- Submit syllabi for copying.
- Set up Blackboard or Webstudy (or whichever online learning platform your school uses) sites for your classes.
- Review new readings.
- Complete lesson plans for Weeks 1 and 2.
- Start thinking about the first paper assignment.