Geeky Pedagogy: A Guide for Intellectuals, Introverts, and Nerds Who Want to Be Effective Teachers (Teaching and Learning in Higher Education)

by Jessamyn Neuhaus

When one of your favorite students asks you for a recommendation letter, send an unofficial copy to the student along with your thanks for the rewarding experience of being their teacher. You know the kind of student I’m talking about here: the one you were always happy to see in class because they had a genuine interest in your arcane field or they exhibited the kind of intellect and leadership that could elevate a whole class or they overcame truly daunting odds to succeed. In whatever way they gifted you with moments of teaching happiness, saying thank you to that student could be the start of a gratitude practice recognizing and personally thanking students who make teaching fun. Your first reaction might be that such students are rare, but once we get into a habit of looking for and recognizing them, we will almost certainly find them. In the words of Thorin Oakenshield, to find something, you have to look for it.