Category Archives: work

When first days and last days collide: back to school

Posted on September 4, 2014 by rglw

Summer is over and no matter how hard I try to conjure up corn on the cob, swimming with my littles, picking berries, lazy post-dinner walks, or getting some sun, those last days are fading. Every last bit of everything has … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, blogging, everyday life, higher education, lessons learned, personal, schools, summer, teaching, what professors do, work, writing | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Sometimes it takes a village, except when it shouldn’t

Posted on July 23, 2014 by rglw

Last week a story surfaced about a woman in South Carolina, Debra Harrell, who was arrested because she made the conscious choice to let her 9-year-old daughter play in a public park while she went to work. I had already seen … Continue reading →

Posted in community, everyday life, family, kids, lessons learned, motherhood, parenthood, personal, vacation, women, work, writing | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Summertime with my academic babies….

Posted on June 21, 2014 by rglw

It was a really good week. Some highlights: strawberry picking, blue skies, homemade shortcakes, playtime in the yard, swimming at the pool, and the first CSA delivery of the year. Some low moments: 2 sick days, plenty of bickering, a few … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, blogging, community, everyday life, family, kids, lessons learned, motherhood, summer, what professors do, women, work, writing | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

What teaching taught me: 2013-2014 edition

Posted on May 23, 2014 by rglw

I posted my final grades in haste over a week ago, and save a few student emails about those grades, I am finished with the 2013-2014 school year. The year was a blur. The work goes from a high-speed car … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, blogging, everyday life, family, higher education, lessons learned, personal, productivity, research, sociology, students, teaching, what professors do, work, writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The social construction of grades

Posted on May 21, 2014 by rglw

At least once a semester I tell my students that grades do not matter. When I tell them that grades don’t matter, I am typically a little huffy about it. I recognize that it is a tough pill to swallow when we’re taught that … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, higher education, lessons learned, students, teaching, work | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Grading vortex

Posted on April 19, 2014 by rglw

No matter how well I plan and no matter how hard I work, there comes a point in every semester when I am overwhelmed with grading. All teachers experience that moment when they stare at The Pile of papers in front … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, higher education, procrastinating, productivity, students, teaching, Uncategorized, what professors do, work, writing | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Professor goes to Washington

Posted on March 18, 2014 by rglw

Okay, so I did not exactly go to Washington. I did take some students to the capital building to watch a public hearing last week and returned yesterday to listen to testimony on other education committee bills. Before last week, … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, ed policy, everyday life, higher education, lessons learned, media, personal, politics, sociology, work | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The one where I tackle: “Should I Go to Graduate School?” (Part one)

Posted on March 4, 2014 by rglw

Several former students have contacted me seeking letters of recommendation as they consider applying to graduate school, so I have been thinking about what I would say to them when we discuss their future plans. If you ask most grad students … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, grad school, higher education, lessons learned, personal, real talk, teaching, work | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Students are people, too: When you’re the professor and the therapist and the career counselor…

Posted on February 12, 2014 by rglw

Towards the end of last semester, a blog that I follow featured an essay entitled “I’m Your Professor Not Your Therapist.” In it, the author described feeling helpless and unprepared for dealing with students in crisis. The only advice offered … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, grad school, higher education, schools, students, teaching, work | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The difference one year makes: on snow days

Posted on February 5, 2014 by rglw

This week, I am in the middle of a solo parenting stint. Despite the last two stressful works days and the snow, I am feeling relatively calm. In fact, I could use a snow day. This time last year, a … Continue reading →

Posted in dissertation, everyday life, family, grad school, kids, lessons learned, parenthood, personal, work | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment