Managing Stress: Tips and Strategies for a Healthier Mind and Body

[Astronuc]

I always wanted all my students to get everything, and the reality was very stressful. If I explained something several times over, and still the test answers were all over the map, I wanted to jump out the window. Now I am beginning to realize it is a long process, you jiust keep plugging away, and you always get only partial results.

I realized that as one progress up the ladder of higher education, we expect more as the work gets harder. However, people come with a variety of experience and abilities. I enjoyed the students who got it, many it seemed without effort, and there were those who got by, and there were those who floundered. I tried to work with each student as much as possible, and in some cases, the worst students, I would actually encourage them to drop the course and perhaps find another major. The attrition rate in nuclear engineering was about 80-90%. Of 100 freshman students starting, we might be lucky to have 10 +/- surviving to the senior year.

Even with graduate students, I'd encounter some who needed extra help, and I was always available. Being a mentor is an important part of teaching, but it also requires willing students.

And when I look over while lecturing and someone who emailed me about how hard it was to do the problems is actually sleeping, I just laugh and maybe whistle to wake him up and smile, instead of freaking out.

If it was a one time event, I'd let it go, but if it appeared to be ongoing, I'd talk to the student privately. Besides, I've fallen asleep in class myself.

its kind of weird to think of leaving here before learning all the beautiful math that's out there, and solving few more problems, and writing up the rest of my notes. and learning classical guitar, and learning to speak a few more languages, and watch my kids grow up.

Hang in there mathwonk. Do what you can do. Hopefully watching grandkids are in there too!

it gives you a certain freedom from procrastination though. like we are definitely going back to hawaii this summer. no reason to wait.

Don't forget the sunscreen!

 

[mathwonk]

sorry for passing on some of my stress to you cyrus, your points are well taken, it just gets tiring sometimes trying to produce a certain result in someone else that really should come from within.

I guess i make my own stress by focusing more on my failures than my successes.

here e.g. is a comment from one of my fall classes:

"Professor Smith succeeded in making an oftentimes dry subject interesting. He is incredibly intelligent and I hope to be fortunate enough to have him teach me again."

One would think that comment would make one happy. But I tend to ignore that one, and obsess over a negative comment from someone else.

I never seem to get used to comments like these, from two different students evaluating the same course:

student A:
"Dr. ... is a wonderful professor. I feel lucky to have had this man as an instructor. His enthusiasm in education and mathematics is unparalleled in any teacher I've had. I hope to take another class."

student B:

"Comes to class with only a box of chalk and a sponge. No lesson plan at all! Probably one of the worst teachers I've ever had, though he is a very smart man."

I confess to having completely forgotten the first comment and internalized the second.

I mention this for the possible benefit of some of you who are feeling stressed. If like me you are ignoring the roses and smelling only the exhaust fumes, try to give yourself a break!

 

[Cyrus]

"Comes to class with only a box of chalk and a sponge. No lesson plan at all! Probably one of the worst teachers I've ever had, though he is a very smart man."

I am curious, do you give a syllabus at the first day that outlines what will be covered during each day of class? All my professors provide a syllabus on the first day that contains what is covered, the hw, and what day the exams and final exam are (both time and location) on a tentative schedule (though deviations are very rare).

I think given the fact that the student said "he is a very smart man", no one doubts your depth of knowledge (which is a good thing).

I had an electronics professor last semester. He is extremely smart, and we all knew it-but none of us respected him as a professor because he was -*lousy* as a teacher. I've been to his office before and he's a nice guy, but I still think he needs to work on his teaching skills. People simply did not respect him when he stood there to lecture.

 

[mathwonk]

you seem also to be focusing on the negative comment.

but anyway, i give a syllabus with discussion of what will be covered, what are the prerecquiaites, the dates of tests and exams, office hours, phone number, email addresses, advice on how to study,... etc.

but the kicker is - almost no one apparently reads it.

I measured this once by putting at the top, the request that the student email me that very day, so I could have their email address. After 48 hours, i had received only one email, from over 35 syllabi handed out.

I think it is very difficult for serious students like those who post here, to identify with, or sometimes even believe the reality in the average class in many schools in the US.

you also seem to focus on the concept of "respect", which to you seems to mean fear.

People who do not have the wisdom to respect those who have achieved more than they have themselves, and who could help them do so as well, are to be pitied.

 

[verty]

but the kicker is - almost no one apparently reads it.

What is the cause of that; what is the solution? Is there something more that education broadly conceived can do?

 

[mathwonk]

change of subject

Yayy! I got the negative node biopsy from my oncologist today, which puts me in the "good group", only 35% chance of recurrence within 5 years.


On the way out to go to the doctor, a man hit my parked car with his truck. He seemed puzzled how little I cared about it.


Now we too can get back to our real business, arguing passionately over trivial issues of calculus instruction!

best regards to all, and thanks for the beneficial vibes!:!)

 

[radou]

Yayy! I got the negative node biopsy from my oncologist today, which puts me in the "good group", only 35% chance of recurrence within 5 years.


On the way out to go to the doctor, a man hit my parked car with his truck. He seemed puzzled how little I cared about it.


Now we too can get back to our real business, arguing passionately over trivial issues of calculus instruction!

best regards to all, and thanks for the beneficial vibes!:!)

I'm very glad to heart that, mathwonk! Thumbs up!

 

[Astronuc]

Yayy! I got the negative node biopsy from my oncologist today, which puts me in the "good group", only 35% chance of recurrence within 5 years.

That's great news. Celebrate with a bottle of good wine.

On the way out to go to the doctor, a man hit my parked car with his truck. He seemed puzzled how little I cared about it.

Did you tell him you don't sweat the small stuff.

Now we too can get back to our real business, arguing passionately over trivial issues of calculus instruction!

best regards to all, and thanks for the beneficial vibes!:!)

More positive vibes on the way!

 

[mathwonk]

may i suggest a troplong mondot 1998 sir?