Category Archives: lessons learned

Taking your own professional advice is tough: on teaching

Posted on January 13, 2014 by rglw

This isn’t my first rodeo. I’ve prepped plenty of new classes. Every time I do, though, I go through the same exercise. Where to start, what to include, what to exclude, how to structure the semester…. My desk starts to … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, education reform, higher education, lessons learned, procrastinating, productivity, schools, teaching, work | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The opposite of a techie: The benefits and drawbacks of being a late adopter

Posted on January 7, 2014 by rglw

I am a late adopter.  I am often very satisfied with the level of technological innovation in my life that I don’t seek out newer or more efficient ways to get work done, to communicate with people, or to fill … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, everyday life, lessons learned, personal, productivity, technology | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Happiest of new years!

Posted on December 31, 2013 by rglw

I think my first resolution for the new year is to STOP writing things like “I can hardly believe that it’s already September” or “I can hardly believe that it’s December 31st” as I just started to type. Time passes … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, blogging, dissertation, everyday life, family, higher education, kids, lessons learned, marriage, parenthood, work, writing | Tagged | 1 Comment

Forging ahead: reflections on the first non-grad school semester

Posted on December 11, 2013 by rglw

The fall semester is grinding slowly to a halt.  If you told me on the first day of classes how this semester would proceed (family ups and downs, moving our whole life, moving the kids from one school to another, … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, dissertation, family, grad school, higher education, lessons learned, personal, productivity, teaching, work, writing | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Time diet update

Posted on December 3, 2013 by rglw

At the beginning of November, I wanted to get my act together. I invented the time diet where I tracked how I spent my time.  Here are my mixed results: 1. Strict dieting can really help get your act together: On … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, blogging, everyday life, higher education, lessons learned, productivity, work, writing | 3 Comments

If you ask me what I need, I’ll tell you nothing

Posted on November 27, 2013 by rglw

Too often, I’m writing about how quickly time passes and how incredulous I am that another month has gone by, that another semester is nearly over.  There is a seasonality to being an educator that is both comforting and confounding. … Continue reading →

Posted in being jewish, culture, economy, everyday life, family, food, holidays, hunger, kids, lessons learned, personal, writing | Leave a comment

My life is in boxes: reflections on making a home

Posted on November 19, 2013 by rglw

I mentioned a few weeks ago that we are moving.  Life has a way of making big changes feel ill-timed.  The past few weeks have been full of planned and unexpected transitions.  Even though we’re moving less than three miles … Continue reading →

Posted in family, kids, lessons learned, marriage, personal, writing | 6 Comments

My preschooler, the budding sociologist

Posted on November 8, 2013 by rglw

My preschooler is struggling with her social world. We switched her preschool about eight weeks ago, and she’s around more kids (other school was smaller) and more boys (other small class had only a few boys) than before. It’s also … Continue reading →

Posted in family, fashion, gender equality, kids, lessons learned, motherhood, parenthood, personal, writing | 6 Comments

I’m going on a time diet

Posted on October 31, 2013 by rglw

I’ve got an accounting problem on my hands.  Accounting was my worst grade in college–the only class where I earned a C.  Overburdened by responsibilities in other classes and woefully behind on and confused by the material, I capitulated mid-semester.  It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, blogging, community, higher education, lessons learned, personal, work, writing | 2 Comments

A post on Conditionally Accepted that is actually published

Posted on October 28, 2013 by rglw

I remarked three weeks ago that I thought the semester was flying.  It is indeed a slippery one.  By my calendar, it is Week 9.  The great push towards the end of the semester is on. Today, I am excited … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, family, grad school, higher education, lessons learned, personal, sociology, teaching, tenure, women, work, writing | 1 Comment