1: Getting Classroom Ready

Welcome to Getting Classroom Ready! We are beyond thrilled to have a place to share both the perspective and process that we’ve developed over the years.  

A bit about me- I’ve spent years with students of nearly every age group and simply have a deep love for learning environments. My background is in social science research with a nearly entire focus on education in urban contexts. While most of the examples will fall under this topic, we argue that the fundamentals of social science research call for a similar (if not identical) approach and writing format.

During my number of years as a graduate student (about 6 years and counting), I’ve had many conversations with peers about how to best handle weekly classwork and final assignments. Early on, I asked for their best tips on mastering a full classload. Eventually, I passed on my approach to students new to graduate study. These conversations would often happen outside of class- getting coffee, taking a breather from a group project to chat, or working as a professor’s research assistants.

The point? The real work is done outside of lecture or seminar. That is where you learn to get to the finish line. The reality is that, with more students enrolled in graduate school than ever before, everyone does not have the time nor operate in an environment for these organic conversations to occur. The Working Folks’ Guide to a Ph.D. fills in that gap. This blog will create a space for these conversations and get you to the finish line.

Please ask questions and tell us what you think below as we build Getting Classroom Ready for you.

-Jennifer