Two Weeks In

We are about to get rolling on week 3 of the semester.  Time flies like crazy around here!

I don't have a whole lot to say about teaching yet.  Three of my four classes (all labs) are held on Monday, so with last week's holiday (MLK), I have only met with most of my students once.  The one time that we did meet was basic review of Maple, and most of the students have had Maple labs here before.  The classes tomorrow will be, more-or-less, a continuation of the review with some Calc 1 concepts incorporated. 

My recitation students are fun.  They are definitely making use of my office hours.  It got a little crowded in my office last week, and the conversation did not exactly stay on topic.  I'm thrilled that they are showing up, though.  I'm glad they are comfortable with me, and I really want them to ask for help instead of floundering (inevitably followed by flunking) in this class.  They seem to like the professor, and he and I work well together.

Classes are fun, but I haven't yet really been able to focus on Measure Theory and Topology as much as I'd like.  After Wednesday's Algebra exam that should change.  I think Algebra is going to continue to be a self-study for the most part, but I'm okay with that.  I've got great classmates and several additional textbooks for reference. 

Topology is interesting.  We've mostly been going through some set theory stuff, but are starting to get into the topological concepts.  This is my only Friday class, and is followed by a Set Theory/Topology seminar that most of us participate in.  I cannot yet form an opinion on the professor's teaching style, but he's a neat guy outside of class (i.e., during our Friday nights at the local bars).  He is also a possible advisor if I decide to go more towards Topology or Set Theory.  His mathematical lineage is quite distinguished, which would help when I start applying for jobs in a few years.  I'll have a better idea about what I want to do after this semester's Measure Theory and once I get started on the General Topology and Functional Analysis sequences next year.

For now, I'm trying to keep my focus on the Qualifiers at the end of the summer.  It promises to be a bumpy road!