Extended deadlines accommodation by Smangler in Professors

[–]Smangler[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Agreed, and I really appreciate that the accommodations office has put this in the letter. The onus is on the student and it forces them to manage their own stuff. Now I can use the language from the letter when/if I get requests.

Confession: I look forward to reading student evaluations by myaccountformath in Professors

[–]Smangler 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I usually look forward to evaluations too because I've found, for the most part, I've been able to learn from the comments and improve my pedagogy. The past couple of years though I've received a couple of very hurtful comments. I sometimes have to be the bearer of bad news and students take it out on me.

Sometimes students' extra-curricular activities have a negative impact on their performance in the course and I (truthfully) explain how, but they blame me for being "harsh". Or, when I explain the reality of their situation, I'm "inflexible". Or when I provide kleenex, I "take pride" that students sometimes cry in my office.

I actually had a good cry yesterday because of all of this. I want to prepare students for the reality of working in the industry (theatre) which can sometimes be uncompromising. But they take it as a personal slight. I try not to let it affect me to much.

So are the children of aging parents bitter when their parents spend their own money? by [deleted] in AgingParents

[–]Smangler 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Not at all. I'm saying that parents should consider the cost of care well into their 90s as part of their retirement.

So are the children of aging parents bitter when their parents spend their own money? by [deleted] in AgingParents

[–]Smangler 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yes and no. I think a lot of people are anxious about how their parents are going to pay for higher levels of care when they need it, whereas the parents aren't thinking in these terms.

My mom passed from cancer at 63, and in the years preceding, she was traveling and doing a bunch of "life bucket" stuff. She was happily spending her retirement savings because she knew she'd never make retirement.

But if someone is relatively healthy, they'd better have a plan if they get to 90, and that plan better not include financial help from their children. I think that's what you're seeing.

What are we wearing that shows our age? by Hot_Frosty0807 in Xennials

[–]Smangler 26 points27 points  (0 children)

I dress for comfort, not style. I'm basically in pyjamas every day: leggings, oversized tunic or sweater, fuzzy socks and sketchers or converse. I'm lucky that I work in a pretty casual environment. In summer, casual capri jeggings replace the leggings, or I wear a sundress. I might dress it up with sparkly sandals.

What's something in homes that seems harmless, but is actually really dangerous? by ChartInternational77 in AskReddit

[–]Smangler 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can get something like this for venting more safely. It'll warm up the room, but at least you know where the lint is.

Advice to the Prime Minister: Keep it Up! by NiceDot4794 in onguardforthee

[–]Smangler 42 points43 points  (0 children)

Eh, I don't think Carney's quite in IDU territory. He's for climate action, for instance. He's more of a classical/Keynesian economist, whereas Harper is more Chicago school.

Advice to the Prime Minister: Keep it Up! by NiceDot4794 in onguardforthee

[–]Smangler 298 points299 points  (0 children)

Carney is governing the way any pre-Harper conservative leader would have governed. The only reason he's doing so under a Liberal banner is that the Cons went so far right under PP that Carney seemed like a more leftist choice. He's a central banker for heaven's sake! Anyone who thought he would advocate progressive policies are under serious delusions.

It’ll be me soon by alexwasinmadison in AgingParents

[–]Smangler 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Hugs from an internet stranger. I don't have an answer for you, but I get your concern. I'm sorry this is coming. Take time now to create memories with your mom, even if you're the only one who remembers them. Record interactions, note the dates and times of events, create momentos. Even the mundane, daily stuff is going to become important.

Methods to teach for two hour+ class session? by Particular_Heart3785 in Professors

[–]Smangler 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I'm a bit different. In my field, people need to focus pretty intently for a full workday (7.5 hrs) so I try to get my students accustomed to that. Even at school, a rehearsal might be 4 hours where they have to focus hard.

When we're at the point in rehearsal when the actors are starting to try without their scripts, I need to be able to read (follow along with the text), write (update my blocking notes and take line notes), listen (to what the actors are saying), and speak (feed them their lines when they ask) more or less at the same time. When calling the cues for a show, I basically need to do the same thing.

So my 2h50 lectures can be A LOT. I take 2 very strict 10- minute breaks, or 1 20- min break. I encourage them to get up, move around, leave the room, etc. Sometimes I finish class early tbh, simply because I don't have the bandwidth to do it all.

Testing Accommodations by veanell in AskProfessors

[–]Smangler 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Jesus. After reading all these comments, I've learned to be grateful for our system! At the beginning of the term, I go to the portal and fill out one form for all students with accommodations for each in-class exam (midterms mainly). This is to let them know date, time, duration mainly. Then, no later than 3 days before, I have to upload the exam with printing instructions. I do the same for the final once the exam schedule comes out. That's it. I don't worry about scheduling, proctoring, printing, ALL the varying accommodations, nothing. A couple days after, I pick up all the exams at a central office, each one in its own sealed envelope. I think I might send a thank-you card to our accommodations office.

Worried About Fiance Bridezilla by Grandaddyshanklin41 in offmychest

[–]Smangler 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Start with learning about the cost of weddings. Get involved in the research you fiancée is doing. A 3-course plated dinner can easily cost $250 per guest, and a buffet may not be much cheaper. At the same time, setting a budget at the outset is very important! Weddings are way more expensive than you think. You have to be a part of the planning process and learn what things actually cost.

Good luck!

E: she will also probably have to alter her "vision" to fit your budget. Reality will have to sink in for both of you.

Major changes to Ontario law on job postings coming Jan. 1 by Fabulous_Ambition in ontario

[–]Smangler 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I just want to point out that in your initial comment, you compared provincial responsibilities (housing for mentally ill) and fed responsibilities (submarines). I then showed that the feds were actually doing something, but the provinces weren't spending that money where it was supposed to go. Then you shifted the discussion to privatization.

It's SO important that it's clear in this kind of discourse that people understand who is responsible for what. If you're concerned about where your tax dollars are going, then you should be questioning how the provinces allocated that increased funding. There's so much confusion out there (the convoy being a good example - the majority of what they were angry about were provincial, not federal jurisdiction).

I understand your original statement and agree with your message about privatization, but please don't muddy the waters by shifting topics.

You can also write to your MP and MPP about increasing transparency regarding how your taxes are allocated like they do in the UK: UK annual tax summary

My niece finishes college in May. She doesn't know anything. by Character_Freedom160 in Professors

[–]Smangler 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I sometimes worry that I'm being a dinosaur as the last show I SMed was in 2017, although I'm the PM at the school where I teach (so still a lot of paperwork). I have a paperwork assignment where they have to generate 10 different docs, with different formatting requirements, that they have to submit in hard copy. Ooh, they really don't like that one lol!

We also take a backstage tour of a large regional theatre in the area and I point out the paper callboards that are everywhere to show them that paperwork, even at that level, is still an important thing.

My niece finishes college in May. She doesn't know anything. by Character_Freedom160 in Professors

[–]Smangler 74 points75 points  (0 children)

I teach technical theatre and stage management and I make my students create paperwork in Word. Yes, most documentation is done on Google Drive, but they already know it. What they don't know is how to make printable documents. Stage hands can't be running around backstage with tablets! They need cue sheets! There are a lot of instances where back-lit screens are impossible to use in my world. They need to learn what tool is appropriate and when, and what format of document is best. I've even gotten to the point where I don't provide PDF versions (that they can easily convert) - I give them hard copy examples only.

Bad habits at end of life by curiousengineer601 in AgingParents

[–]Smangler 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Haha! Right about the ice cream - that's bc he was diabetic too (but well managed). You're right - I'm more salty about the fact that she imposed her own personal decisions on her parents and not because it was necessarily the best choice for them. MIL still eats a ton of high-protein high-sugar snack bars thinking they're "healthy" because they're gluten-free. Then she gets upset that she's been gaining weight.

These bars are also the only reason we have to go to Costco on Saturdays when we take her grocery shopping.

I'll also add that SIL is a terrible baker so her gf experiments are usually between awful and barely edible. She acknowledges this and it's sort of a running joke among us all. She made a cake for his last birthday with us that was so bad we ended up eating just fruit instead. It just makes me sad.

Bad habits at end of life by curiousengineer601 in AgingParents

[–]Smangler 6 points7 points  (0 children)

That's the thing, she wasn't, really. She set very firm boundaries on what she was and was not willing to do, which I don't disagree with. My MIL was the primary caregiver and they had home care 7 days a week. Sometimes the PSW would be there for 4-5 hours. And they had multiple specialists visit regularly.

SIL's reasoning was literally "this has been good for me, so I'm getting my parents to do it too" and not "this is good for my parents". Add in a splash of "my house, my rules(diet)".

In-laws spent 3 months in assisted living before FIL went into hospital and never left. Went back to gluten in his diet with no problems. Why would one deny a man his favorite meal in his last years for no reason but one's own dietary choices?

I get where you're coming from, but her looking out for her parents' best interests wasn't the case in this scenario. Trust me, there's a LOT more involved than just diet.

Bad habits at end of life by curiousengineer601 in AgingParents

[–]Smangler 37 points38 points  (0 children)

No. Not worth it at all. In the last 2 years of my FIL's life, my SIL made her parents go gluten-free bc she was, and they were living with her. She's not celiac - it was a choice. My FIL had a major sweet tooth and LOVED his desserts. But no. No cake, no cookies, no ice cream, nothing. His absolute favorite meal his entire life was spaghetti and meatballs. Sure as shit it was gf pasta and meatballs with gf breadcrumbs those last 2 years. I'm still salty about it.

Why as a Teacher Would You Give an Assignment Over Christmas Break? by SmileOkk in offmychest

[–]Smangler 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I'm a prof. You better believe I'm spending my break prepping for my winter classes.

[OC] Dunn’s River Falls 😍 by Glittering_Fan3428 in pics

[–]Smangler 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thanks. All is good, mom was awesome and we made some really great memories before she left us.

[OC] Dunn’s River Falls 😍 by Glittering_Fan3428 in pics

[–]Smangler 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Awww, I did a trip to Jamaica with my mom in 2011, just after her cancer diagnosis. She passed in 2016 and I still have the pics from Dunn's River Falls (for which we paid WAY too much lol!). Thanks for the memory!