WELCOME TO COLLEGE WRITING!
Hello! My name is Leigh Bennett, and I am delighted that I will be your instructor this semester. I grew up in Massachusetts and graduated with a BA in English Literature & French from Wellesley College, a Master's in English and American Literature from Boston University, and an MFA in Fiction Writing from Bennington College. I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Higher Education from UMASS Boston. I have taught a variety of literature and writing classes at B.U., Fitchburg State University, and Bunker Hill Community College before joining the English Faculty full-time at Massasoit Community College in 2014. There I served as Chair of the English Department before joining the faculty at BHCC full-time. Currently, I live in Arlington, Massachusetts with my partner, Chris, my two boys (Tobin and Rowan), and my cats (Bellini and Seven). Outside of teaching, I enjoy reading, writing, knitting, baking, watching horror movies, and spending time with my family.
I look forward to getting to know all of you this semester! |
❝ Docendo Discimus. ❞
~ Latin proverb meaning "by teaching, we learn."
~ Latin proverb meaning "by teaching, we learn."
ON TEACHING:
I have diverse teaching and research experience. Nothing inspires me more than learning from others and sharing what I know. My background in instruction includes: college writing, literature, gender studies, creative writing, digital story-telling, equity and social justice, and developmental reading and writing. I have taught students of all ages and backgrounds, but I have found my strengths most valued and rewarded in community colleges, where I have witnessed firsthand the pivotal power of education. I want our classroom to be a safe, brave, and productive haven! The most important thing I can do as an educator is to get my students to recognize their worth and help them build confidence in their abilities. You deserve to be in school, so believe it! Thus, I view every class an opportunity for not just academic, but also personal growth. Without a doubt, cohort-based, interdisciplinary approaches to teaching (learning communities, first-year seminars, and accelerated models) accomplish this best. My teaching philosophy centers around high-impact, holistic practices: hands-on, experiential instruction, collaborative cohort-models, self-reflection and self-assessment, process-oriented writing, integrated student support services, and interdisciplinary, intercultural competence. All of my classes are student-centered and student-driven. Of course, I love feeling valued as an educator, but my greatest success comes when a student no longer needs me....but still finds time to check in or grab a coffee once the semester has ended. I feel most rewarded when I witness your successes!
ON ADAPTABILITY:
REACH OUT!
There is nothing I love more than spending time getting to know my students! I love teaching because I love interacting with my students. Still, I ask that contact me respectfully so that I can spend time engaging with my students in meaningful ways, not pointing you to material you can find on your own. Be sure to check the syllabus, course website, course content, and your classmates before contacting me. If you have missed a class, it is your responsibility to check Moodle or contact your classmates for what you missed. This is important training for life after college – when you have a question, the first thing you do should not be to email your boss. I do not want to discourage you from engaging with me. However, I also do not want to inhibit your ability to think critically, problem-solve, or collaborate with others. I will always be here to answer clarifying questions, I just ask you to make an effort on your own.
There is nothing I love more than spending time getting to know my students! I love teaching because I love interacting with my students. Still, I ask that contact me respectfully so that I can spend time engaging with my students in meaningful ways, not pointing you to material you can find on your own. Be sure to check the syllabus, course website, course content, and your classmates before contacting me. If you have missed a class, it is your responsibility to check Moodle or contact your classmates for what you missed. This is important training for life after college – when you have a question, the first thing you do should not be to email your boss. I do not want to discourage you from engaging with me. However, I also do not want to inhibit your ability to think critically, problem-solve, or collaborate with others. I will always be here to answer clarifying questions, I just ask you to make an effort on your own.
❝ Words are all we have. ❞
~ SAMUEL BECKETT
~ SAMUEL BECKETT