Hi all,

It’s been a while since this listserv has seen any action, but now’s a good a time as any to see what I can kick start!

With the start of the fall semester right around the corner, here’s a question for the list: What have you found effective in preparing your new graduate teaching assistants in math for their TA duties?

I’ll start!  As part of our university-wide TA orientation, our new math TAs engage in what we call practice teaching.  Each is given the chance to lead a mock class (usually calculus) for 5-7 minutes where the other new TAs and the facilitator of the group act as mock students.  Following this, the TA is asked to reflect on the experience (what went well, what didn’t) before the other TAs provide feedback.

You might not think that 5-7 minutes is enough of a teaching demo to be useful, but the feedback portion is typically very productive!  The new TAs walk away with a greater understanding of their strengths as a teacher and areas for improvement, as well as a little more confidence going into their first class as a TA.

Okay, your turn.  How do you help your new TAs get ready for the semester?

Derek

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Derek Bruff, Ph.D.
Assistant Director, Center for Teaching
Senior Lecturer, Department of Mathematics
Vanderbilt University
www.vanderbilt.edu/cft/
www.derekbruff.com/teachingwithcrs/
twitter.com/derekbruff