Essential learnings, assessment, bias in testing, literacy acquisition, visual arts as they relate to learning, movement as it relates to learning, and gender based work are the types of topics Sherry would be willing to work on with students. I look for students willing to improve skills. I assess students in multiple ways. Students will write a paper, I list things the student is doing well and two things that student needs to work on, and I have the students come in to talk about their work. Lately, I have been using rubrics with graduate students because they will be using these in their teaching.
Portfolio assessment helps students reflect on their work.
I work really hard on being clear on where students should be going. I took that to mean that I coached and supported the process of birth of their knowledge and skills. Another said I was more like a 'gad-fly' always in her ear, bugging her all the time about things she should get better at. I have a lot of passion in my teaching, a lot of conviction that it is important for students to do what we are doing. One or two students each year inevitably say I am not approachable.