Expectations for IWS Teaching
Fellows
For English DA students who are also teaching fellows, IWS sees
the educational experience in the doctoral program at St. John’s
University as one where DA students bring together research and
theory of the teaching of writing into dynamic equilibrium with
classroom application and practice. As IWS teaching fellows, DA
students undertake coursework in language and writing theory while
also working in the Writing Center (WC) and in the first year
writing (FYW) program. Either the Director of IWS, Director of the
Writing Centers, Director of WAC, or Director of FYW will be
assigned as a mentor to each teaching fellow to guide fellows
through the often complicated and overwhelming process of being a
doctoral student: navigating doctoral coursework, comprehensive
exams, and dissertation planning; understanding and participating
in the profession; becoming an effective writing teacher; creating
a CV and teaching portfolio; and developing a research program.
Mentors guide DA students though the doctoral process and work
closely with them on their teaching.
As IWS Teaching Fellows teaching ENG
1000c, DA students will be required to:
• attend the annual 2-day Fall Orientation where FYW faculty
collaboratively engage an inquiry into teaching and learning
(usually the week before classes start)
• attend the annual Fall Writing Center orientation for consultants
(usually one week after classes start)
• look closely at ENG 1000C syllabi and meet with FYW faculty to
understand the vision of the program
• understand and implement the vision of the Writing Center
program
• understand and implement the vision of the FYW program as
articulated in the Program Handbook
• meet deadlines for the posting of syllabus and high-stake
assignments for 1000C (with rubrics/grading rationales): hard and
digital copies of these items must be provided to the IWS
administrative assistant who transfers these items to a shared
network drive and the Writing Center
• serve 15 hours per week during semesters when working in the
writing center
• hold at least 3 office hours per week when teaching 1000C (not
counting additional one-on-one student conferences as needed
throughout the semester)
• maintain ongoing communication with the Freshman Center about
students’ academic progress when teaching 1000C
• attend any relevant FYW faculty meetings at the request of the
Director of FYW
• attend any relevant WC meetings at the request of the Director of
the Writing Centers
• complete online pedagogy class for any course that involves a
hybrid experience (even if students meet online only one day in the
semester)
DA students will be observed and evaluated at least once by
their assigned mentor, whether they are teaching ENG 1000c or
working in the Writing Center.
For comments and questions, please contact the director of
First-Year Writing, Dr. Carmen Kynard at kynardc@stjohns.edu