WELCOME TO COLLEGE WRITING!
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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! |
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❝ 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:
Recently, while homeschooling my 9-year-old and his best friend, Amelia—the only other small human he’s had contact with in ten months—I was asked for help on a science project. Now, I’m no scientist, I’m a community college writing instructor, but I like to think I have a handle on fourth grade science curriculum, so I gave it a shot.
“What does adaptation mean?” Amelia asked, glancing down at her computer screen. I rounded the kitchen counter and stood behind her, in typical fashion. Her screen showed an image of a fox beside another of a man with a cane. Below the photographs were the following captions: “A fox adapted a tail to help it balance” and “Humans invented the cane to help them balance.” The assignment was to choose an animal, describe a physical adaptation, and provide an analogous human invention. “Leigh, what does adapt mean?” she asked again. “Well, it means the ability to change in new circumstances or in a new environment,” I said in my most teacherly voice. “Like, the way you and Rowan have had to get used to learning from home.” She looked puzzled. “That’s too complicated,” my partner, an actual scientist, said from the other room. “Okay, smarty, what have you got?” I said. |
“Think of it this way,” he said to Amelia, “it's freezing out today, so what did you do when you went outside this morning?”
”Put on my coat.” “Exactly, so you adapted your clothing to make yourself warm on a cold day. And if suddenly it was 100 degrees outside, you’d adapt again and take your coat off,” he explained. A lightbulb must have gone off in her head, because instantly, she went online and found a picture of an elephant and one of a straw. She pasted them side by side on her document and wrote: “The elephant adapted a trunk to drink water since it's so big and humans invented straws to help them drink from a cup.” I suppose my partner was right: the weather was an easier example. Still, this brief interaction made me think about the unprecedented adaptations we’ve all had to make over the past two years: how much my partner and I have had to learn about our children’s school and social needs, how we have had to apply what we learned to adapt our own works environments while supporting the family in this new normal. This iterative process is not confined to our small apartment, but extends to the larger community as well. That is why.... 
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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.
The best way to reach me is through BHCC email. I am committed to checking and responding to email from students within 48 hours Monday-Friday. If 48 hours have passed (M-F) and I have not responded, please forward your email again. It likely got buried in my inbox and I will welcome the reminder. If you email me regarding an assignment less than 48 hours before the due date, you will likely not receive a response before the assignment is due.
EMAIL: [email protected] |
OFFICE HOURS
I use Calendly (link below) to schedule office hours from Monday - Thursday in 15-minute increments. If you require more time, consider scheduling back to back appointments or contacting me directly. When you schedule an appointment, please also include a brief note about what you would like to discuss during the meeting. This will help me prepare in advance. Finally, if none of the times available work for you, reach out to me via email and we will find convenient times for both of us.
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TELEPHONE
Given the unique constraints of remote learning, I have included my cell phone number as an alternative means of contacting me. I only ask that you use it respectfully and responsibly. Questions regarding assignments, due dates, feedback, etc. are best addressed via email, during office hours, or through Moodle. Texting/calling should function as a last resort. I will always do my best to get back to you in a timely manner.
TELEPHONE: (617) 512-4931 |
❝ Words are all we have. ❞
~ SAMUEL BECKETT
~ SAMUEL BECKETT