The Chatty Professor Blog
A tenured professor of Communication Studies helps students correctly–not cluelessly–speak/deal with those who teach them. The outcome? Better student-prof relationships, improved grades, and confident and competent communication skills for college and beyond. The opinions expressed are my own or those of commenters. All student situations described are real (at least one term old to protect current students); identifiers have been omitted and carefully disguised to protect student privacy.
The Response: Should You Tell Your Professor About Your Anxiety/Depression?
(When we left off last week, a student wrote in wondering if is appropriate to tell a prof about issues with anxiety/depression that could affect class performance. I am simplifying, but here’s the post. Here is my response to the student. I also consulted Jennifer Sandler, who heads up Access/Disability Services at Highline Community College, for back-up). Dear Student, I’m going to attempt to give you the best advice that I can. Not to get too cheerleader-y on you, but I’d like to first celebrate the fact that...
read moreStudent Question: Should I Tell My Professor About My Anxiety/Depression?
(A student wrote in with this question quite a while ago and let’s face it, thousands of students–people, really–suffer from anxiety/depression! I have been corresponding with the student for some time now and want to update that the student is moving forward, so that is great news! I held on to this post because I wanted to consult with my own Access Services Office to ensure that I had all of my information correct and get some additional advice to offer up. I hope that what the student shared will help any other students...
read moreTalk About This Today: Facebook Doesn’t Have to Make Us Lonely… Or Full of Ourselves
(Bringing back news you can talk about! Start a conversation about this with someone today–hopefully on the phone or, better yet, face-to-face, given the context of the topic. I haven’t tapped into general interpersonal talk in a while, and this piece has been on my mind, so here goes!). When you teach Communication, the subject of Facebook inevitably arises. From ’07-April ’11, I was absent from the Facebook scene and students did not let me hear the end of it. I told them, “I’m online all the time. I just...
read moreFive Talking Tips for Summer School
(I’m setting aside Word. Wednesday for a bit because just because we start summer school in the Pacific Northwest practically on July 4th–just kidding–others around the country are starting now. So, I thought it might be timely to revisit this post from last year when my blog was only two months old! I’ve retooled and condensed it since I’ve learned about brevity since then. Yes, it was even longer than this. Okay, stop laughing and start getting the tips…). Many students have a love-hate relationship with...
read moreHow a College Success Book (Not Mine This Time) Can Change Your Life… Even if You’re Not in College
(Hello, all! Some updates from me: -First of all, my blogging rhythm is still off and quite honestly, as a new blogger, a new author, a mother, and a public employee, I’m just still juggling my way. So, I’ll say that I appreciate your patience as I continue to find a pattern that works and one that maintains my quality of content for you! -Second, an exciting update! Remember last week’s post where I told you about my colleague who confronted the class? Guess what? Colleague taught class Colleague’s way using the...
read moreWhat to Do If You Have a “Bad” Class
(Back to business! This is not an easy topic for faculty to talk about, myself included. Based on a discussion I had recently with a colleague who teaches elsewhere, it seemed timely. I hope students and faculty will weigh in. We’ve all been there with a class that didn’t go quite as we planned. It may not be something that we necessarily want to admit, but the situation does not happen in isolation. Read on!) It was my third year of teaching. It was an 8 a.m. class. Some students shuffled in, slumped in their seats, and pretty...
read moreThis Student Turned a Failing Grade Around (And Other Updates)
(One of my favorite blogs, Confessions of a Community College Dean, has a feature called Friday Fragments. In my unexpected blogging absence this week, I’m going to mimic this model to do a little catch-up. I really hope to be back on track next week… a few unexpected challenges! I hope all of you are doing phenomenally well!). Update #1: Do you remember when I wrote this post called “You Failed Your Class. Now What?”? Well, that post received the highest number of views on my Blogger space… nearly 2,000 (for...
read moreThe Discussion Continues with the First-Gen Student
(I mentioned in my last post that I already had some particulars on the situation with the first-gen student. Here is the rest of the story. Students, maybe you’ve faced this situation where you found that there were other things that fueled your passion way more than your schoolwork. Then, you had a hard time focusing on assignments, studying, etc. Well, let me tell you, you don’t have to be in college for that to happen! Read on for more of the story–and some advice that may help you deal with this issue while you’re...
read moreStudent Question: “I just finished my first year. I’m not doing so hot.”
(Remember that low cost textbook Gates grant I wrote about a while ago? We are gearing up for a huge milestone and I’m in charge of that milestone. So, please be patient if I miss a few blog steps. In the meantime, with the timing of the term, I had planned to blog about failing grades… again. I’ve received two student e-mails recently about the topic. This one really got to me, so I’m diverting from Word. Wednesday. to feature it. I know many, many students are in this student’s same position! My hope is that...
read moreWord. Friday. Say it Now: “Can I connect with you on…?”
(Pardon the two days late on my usual Word. Wednesday. post. Being gone all last weekend on the faculty retreat and having a book out there in the world has been a new source of wonderful and challenging in my life. Anyway, I’m combining Wednesday’s usual post with the great day of Friday. Thank you for having some patience with me as I find my groove again!) What’s the Word? (A phrase!) “Can I connect with you on…?” Many of you are coming to the end of school right now. Again, in the Pacific Northwest, our...
read moreBuy the Book!
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A tenured professor of Communication Studies helps students correctly--not cluelessly--speak/deal with those who teach them.
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