I am really enjoying my day classes this semester but have been struggling with the night class. The students seem to resent that I keep them the full three hours, they whine about the workload, many did not do well on the test. As I mentioned in a earlier blogpost, one complained to the Dean that I had kept them 18 minutes after the class was to have ended one night. I was starting to have negative feelings about going back into the classroom, just six weeks in. Yesterday I realized that I had another ten weeks to go and that it was up to me to change the climate of the classroom.
So last night I put on one of my best suits, put a smile on my face, and made a point to make small talk with many of the students individually as they came into the room. I made sure that I sounded energetic and enthusiastic as I lectured, using lots of examples and gestures.
And...the class was great. I enjoyed it. And they appeared to have too. I'm looking forward to next week's class.
What a difference attitude makes.
Your example of managing your attitude is great.
Authors such as Goleman of "Primal Leadership" have made the point well. Attitude is part of the emotional stew created by the leader.
It does make a difference.
Thanks for the post!
Posted by: Michael Wagner | October 13, 2006 at 11:56 PM
Hmmm... must be something in the water. I had some challenges in my class recently, and it took a lot of attitudinal muster to rise above those situations as well. At least my problems were not because of my students. Great post, Delaney. We miss you at Drake, though.
Posted by: Timothy Johnson | October 14, 2006 at 11:35 PM