“Welcome or welcome back” is my usual salutation in my letter at the beginning of the fall semester to the 25 (now 32) graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) who will be joining me in teaching introductory biology. Thinking about this August issue reaching you after our traditional two-month hiatus conjured up that greeting in my mind, along with the letter that I send and what it means. It is the beginning of a new academic year and with it the excitement of trying out new ideas and guiding new teachers.
The next line in my memo is always “I hope you have had an enjoyable and/or productive break,” and I offer you the same sentiment. Like you, my GTAs have spent their summers in a variety of ways. New GTAs may have recently graduated with B.S. degrees and may have completed an internship working long hours for the experience (and maybe...
University of California Press