Reflections on Teaching: North Central Sociological Association 2011 John F. Schnabel Lecture: Roller Coasters and Revolutions: Themes in the Reflections of First-Time Teachers

Abstract

This keynote address by the 2010 John F. Schnabel award winners discusses the emotional rhythms of teaching for the first time. Examining new instructors' self-reflections about teaching, the authors identify three phases of the emotional trajectory experienced by most instructors. It begins with the unnerving combination of anticipation, enthusiasm, and anxiety; transitions to an emotional dip in which the reduced emotional turmoil in the classroom is accompanied by predictability; and finally moves to resurgence and reconciliation. The authors rely on new instructors' comments to illustrate each stage of the trajectory and the different mechanisms that instructors use to reach this final phase. The authors conclude by reflecting on these reflections and offering suggestions that can transform the experiences of new instructors.