I don’t know how you feel, but I already feel as though I know my students really well and that they all know what to do at all times. However, today’s class reminded me that they are still adjusting to the schedules of their classes, figuring out the timing of homework (as seen by the early morning notifications I got from Canvas), and learning each other’s names. While I may feel like I know all of the students and that I have been clear on my directions, it’s possible that the students do not have everything figured out yet. So, this morning I realized that I should give a gentle, yet firm nudge of what to do. This nudge allowed for clear and direct expectations, as well as empathy for the student who is still figuring it out, whatever “it” is.
