Dr. Melissa Read

Colleen, It sounds like you know yourself well. That's a great start. Sometimes being honest about our strengths and opportunities is the first step toward a more effective path. Dr. Melissa Read

Colleen, So true! It can be tough when schedules aren't predictable and when we don't have enough time to give our courses proper preparation. Sometimes I find a savings when I'm asked to teach the same course, but that does not always happen. Sometimes we have to make sacrifices and work on the fly, which can also be a challenge. Dr. Melissa Read

Helen, Interesting that you should mention this. Shopping can be great exercise. A lot of times, people don't realize how much of an impact just walking can have. To your point though, it's important to watch the wallet too! Dr. Melissa Read

Krista, These sound like great ideas. I like how you identify both stressors that can and cannot be eliminated. Yes, books on tape as well as music work wonders for long commutes. You may look forward to this time too, as it can help you decompress. Dr. Melissa Read

Stephen, So true. With your kind of schedule and responsibilities, I imagine it's impossible to just walk away from everything at the end of the day. Sometimes instructors in your position do well by having a transition period between work and personal worlds. This can happen on a long drive home for example. The idea is you'll use the transition period to cool down from the day instead of turning off work stress like an on/off switch. Dr. Melissa Read

Dawn, While that is not best practice, you'd be amazed at how often instructors take this approach. Completing easy tasks can be great confidence builders before moving on to harder ones. Dr. Melissa Read

Randall, Excellent to hear. Yes, both stretching and sleep are two great coping mechanisms. Many instructors use stretching successfully throughout their day. Dr. Melissa Read

Krista, So true. I love watching this kind of learning. Sometimes the best way to learn is to evaluate and critique the work of others. Dr. Melissa Read

Kesa, Yes, sometimes getting a jump start on organization is all we need to get everything complete. It can be tempting to jump on to completing tasks right away, but the reality is that sometimes a better approach is better planned. Dr. Melissa Read

Cheryl, These are important points. There is often a gap between our ideal grading state and what we can realistically accomplish. Technology constraints in the classroom often stand in the way. Student capabilities are another important factor. The grading methods we choose are often a balance between what we want and what we can do. Dr. Melissa Read