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The Acronym of the Week: PAITE!
Kelsey Smith
April 05, 2024
Last week I had a conversation with Julie Swallow, our college’s Center for Teaching and Learning consultant, about what I was doing in the classroom, and—there’s no better comparison for it—it was like therapy, the best kind of therapy: I felt safe, I talked openly about my teaching concerns, and, with Julie’s help, I discovered a way to make a classroom activity better, more helpful for my students.
After Julie left my office, I couldn’t help but wonder if we could meet monthly . . .
The Acronym of the Week: PAITE
What initially brought Julie to my office was PAITE—Protocol for Advancing Inclusivity Teaching Efforts. A few weeks earlier Juli and another CTL consultant, Ursula Sorensen, had observed me teaching and conducted a PAITE assessment of what happens in my classroom and what’s included on my syllabus—they were practicing their PAITE observation and recording skills. I was a guinea pig!
And Julie came to discuss what they had observed using the PAITE inventory. To me, PAITE is about helping you see and assess the learning community you create in the classroom: Is growth-mindset thinking encouraged? Are skills and concepts applied to the real world? Are students actively learning during class? Are diverse examples shared? Do students interact with each other? Are there opportunities for students to build relationships with the teacher and each other?
In other words, PAITE is helpful. I now know concrete things I can do to make the learning experience inside and outside my classroom better for everyone.
You can be a PAITE guinea pig too!
Julie needs more teachers and classrooms to observe and conduct PAITE assessments! If you’re interested—and I hope you are!—send her an email to schedule a day and time: [email protected]. (Of course, the last two weeks of the semester may not be ideal since caring about school by both teachers and students is low—but make a note in your planner to contact her at the start of the next semester you teach! You’ll be grateful you did! Trust me!)
Useful PAITE book
If you attended last year’s Adjunct Faculty Seminar, you might have received a book all about PAITE: What Inclusive Instructors Do: Principles and Practices for Excellence in College Teaching. I had forgotten about this book until I asked Julie for a book I could read about inclusivity—and I kid you not!—she looked up at my office bookshelf and voila! I already had a book about it.
Ahem, I’ll certainly be reading it now.
Writing residencies are for you and me
When I met for lunch with my fellow Give and Take editors and now friends, Tara Carpenter Estrada and Hilary Wolfley, Tara had just returned from a two-week writing residency in Vermont—the Marble House Project.
For two weeks, Tara wrote. Alone in Vermont. With all of her meals taken care of. And with access to a writing coach. I decided right there over my Demae bento-box lunch special that I must go on a writing residency.
We should all go on writing residencies! We are writers! Fortunately, Tara was willing to share her list of residencies to help each of us get a headstart in finding a residency that works for us: Residencies.
NOTE: Tara has also done an artist residency in Italy . . . when she mentioned this, I almost burst into green flames of jealousy.
Stuff for your calendar
The final descent of WInter 2024 is in motion—hold on! Remember, you can now see our adjunct faculty happenings on the department Google calendar—our events are in green: The English Department Calendar. (Thank you, Juli Todd!)
APRIL: A month of good tidings of great joy!
April 18: The Adjunct Faculty Biennial Conference! One of the best days of the year! I’ve seen the lineup, and I’m excited! Watch your inbox for an email for the schedule—it should be arriving soon!
April 18: The Adjunct Faculty Award Luncheon! After the biennial conference, we’ll meet for lunch at noon on the third floor of the Hinckley Center to celebrate all of our good works! If you missed the RSVP window, send me an email to let me know you’re coming! We have plenty of food—we just want to know who to expect!
April 18: Student Ratings Close. Perhaps request a rating analysis from the Center for Teaching & Learning SCOT program—and go for the big picture: ask them to sort and categorize your last three years of student ratings (don’t worry if you’ve been at BYU that long :).
April 19: Faculty Women’s Spring Retreat from 9-1 pm at the English Language Center (35 E University Parkway). The keynote speaker will be Rachel Wadham—that alone makes the event worth it! Register today!
I’ll be presenting with Tara Carpenter Estrada and Hilary Wolfley during the second session on how to pursue creative endeavors along with everything else women are called upon to do!
April 30: Grades DUE by NOON!
April 30: Spring semester starts! Good luck speed teaching!
MAY
May 7: Add/Drop Deadline. Hallelujah! The class rolls are set!
JUNE
June 1: Student Ratings Start. Already?!
June 4: Withdraw Deadline. Remember, a W is better than a F! Encourage struggling students to meet with their academic advisor!
June 17: Last Day of Class.
June 19: Juneteenth. No finals!
June 19: Student Ratings Close.
June 24: Summer semester starts! Say it ain’t so!
June 27: Spring Semester Grades DUE by Noon!
JULY
July 1: Add/Drop Deadline. You now know who you’re working with this semester.
July 4: Fourth of July. No classes!
July 24: Pioneer Day. No classes!
July 30: Withdraw Deadline.
AUGUST
August 12: Last Day of Classes.
August 21: Summer Semester Grades DUE by noon!
Our makeshift website
The Adjunct Faculty Commons website is coming—aiming for the end of spring semester! Until then . . .
Observation Opportunities—sign up to be observed or find someone to observe!
Syllabus Requirements: I just added another option—the RWC’s official syllabus statement that you’re welcome to customize!
Write NOW!—want to get some of your own writing done? Write NOW! can help!