Teaching Circles

Every semester, the Sherrerd Center sponsors a variety of Teaching Circles in which faculty and teaching staff come together to discuss a teaching topic of shared interest. These have proven especially useful over the past several years, and we encourage faculty and staff members to consider leading or participating in a Teaching Circle. The Sherrerd Center arranges for Teaching Circles to meet on some specific Fridays from 12:15 until 1:15 p.m. with lunch provided and available at noon, so please RSVP on the forms provided (note that once you have sent in your RSVP for a circle, you will receive calendar invitations to that circle for each session, so you need not RSVP each time). The RSVPs with the calendar invitations help us determine more accurate counts for lunch and seating.

Spring 2025 Teaching Circles

  • February 14
  • March 14
  • April 4
  • April 18

Most circles will meet in the Campus Center from 12:15–1:15 p.m., with lunch available beginning at noon.

Human Rights Initiative Teaching Circle

Carrie Cuthbert (Dir., Human Rights Initiative) and Loretta Ross (SWG)

The Human Rights Initiative’s Teaching Circle is designed as an informal space for those who are engaged in human rights education inside and/or out side the classroom, interested in learning about the field of Human Rights Education, and/or wish to benefit from ongoing peer conversations about experiences integrating a human rights lens into their teaching. Funding and schedules permitting, we will bring in a guest speaker. Our hope is to build on both our year-long Kahn Project (2023–24) and inaugural summer Curricular Enhancement Grant Program (2024) to establish a human rights education “community of practice” at Smith. All are welcome. Please note: no circle on March 14. RSVP to the Human Rights Initiative Teaching Circle.

Languages Across the Curriculum Teaching Circle

Ilona Sotnikova (REEES) and Maureen DeNino (FRN)

This teaching circle provides an informal space for language educators and faculty across disciplines to discuss ways to collaborate and connect world languages with other majors and areas of student interest and promote languages at Smith. Faculty from all disciples are encouraged to attend! RSVP to the Languages Across the Curriculum Teaching Circle.

Reflective Practices Teaching Circle

Jessica Bacal (Dir. of Reflective Practices) and Cat McCune (Dir., Spinelli Center)

Inviting students to “describe your process” can generate a chorus of groans, but reflective practices don’t have to be arduous or soul-depleting. In this Teaching Circle, we will facilitate a sharing of interesting alternatives and best practices for reflection across all divisions. We will talk about the goals of reflection, including learning transfer—something which can be challenging for students but which is a core value of a liberal arts education. We will also look at evaluating and grading reflections: What makes a good one? A great one? What can be done when a reflection doesn’t hit the mark? RSVP to the Reflective Practices Teaching Circle.

TFF Teaching Circle

Mona Kulp (CHM), Reid Berone-Johnson (LSS), Christiane Métral (FRN), and Yalin Chen (CHI)

The Teaching Circle for TFF (Teaching Focused Faculty) will offer an informal space for TFF across disciplines at Smith to make connections, build community and share helpful resources. Additionally, we hope to build consensus and serve as an advocacy group for TFF as a whole at Smith. We hope this will provide a space for new and veteran TFF to connect. RSVP to the TFF Teaching Circle.

Ungrading, Grading, and the In-between Teaching Circle

Kementari Whitcher (SDS)

Join our informal conversations to discuss ungrading and related alternatives (like contract, specs, and labor-based grading), and their benefits and challenges. We also explore course learning objectives and ways of giving feedback. Come discuss how you can incorporate even small elements of ungrading/alternative grading in your classes. Guests in this circle may include some experienced “ungraders,” others who use other grading methods, and those curious to explore the options. RSVP to the Ungrading, Grading, and the In-between Teaching Circle.

Past Teaching Circles

Fall 2024

  • Human Rights Initiative Teaching Circle with Carrie Cuthbert (Human Rights Initiative) and Loretta Ross (SWG)
  • Languages Across the Curriculum Teaching Circle with Ilona Sotnikova (REEES) and Maureen DeNino (FRN)
  • NTT Faculty Teaching Circle with Mona Kulp (CHM), Reid Berone-Johnson (LSS), Christiane Métral (FRN), and Yalin Chen (CHI)
  • Reflective Practices Teaching Circle with Jessica Bacal ( Reflective Practices) and Cat McCune ( Spinelli Center)
  • Ungrading, grading, and the in-between Teaching Circle with Caroline Melly (ANT)
  • Universal Design for Learning Teaching Circle with Travis Grandy (LRT)

Spring 2024

  • Big Questions Circle with Patty DiBartolo
  • Let’s Talk OERs! with Elise Gowen, Jessica Ryan, and Abril Navarro
  • NTT Faculty Circle with Miranda McCarvel (Jacobson Center)
  • Teaching Circle for NTT Faculty with Mona Kulp (CHM), Reid Berone-Johnson (LSS), and Atsuko Takahashi (JPN)
  • Teaching Languages Circle with Ilona Sotnikova (REEES) and Maureen DeNino (FRN)
  • Ungrading Teaching Circle with Magdalena Zapędowska (Jacobson Center) 

Fall 2023

  • Algebra Skills Across the Curriculum
    with Jen Beichman (MTH) and Cat McCune (Dir., Spinelli Center)
  • Big Questions Circle​ 
    with Patty DiBartolo and Kate Queeney
  • Let's Talk OERs! 
    with the OER Team: Kevin Shea, Elise Gowen, Jessica Ryan, Abril Navarro
  • NTT Faculty Circle
    with Mona Kulp (CHM), Reid Berone-Johnson (LSS), Christiane Métral (FRN), and Yalin Chen (CHI)
  • Teaching Languages Circle
    with Ilona Sotnikova (REEES) and Maureen DeNino (FRN)
  • Trauma-Informed Pedagogy: A Practice for Equity, Inclusion, and Resilience
    with Kelly Vogel (Integrative Studies)

Spring 2023

  • Integrating Disability Inclusion Components into Your STEM, Social Sciences, and Humanities Courses Teaching Circle with Shiya Cao (SDS) and Caroline Melly (ANT)
  • Reclaiming Grading: Fixing the worst part of our job with Jennifer Beichman (MTH) and Marney Pratt (BIO) 
  • Teaching in the Time of ChatGTP with Miranda McCarvel (Jacobson Center)
  • Teaching Circle for NTT Faculty with Mona Kulp (CHM), Joyce Palmer-Fortune (PHY), Christiane Métral (FRN), and Yalin Chen (CHI)
  • Teaching Languages Circle with Ilona Sotnikova (REEES) and Maureen DeNino (FRN)
  • Trauma-informed Pedagogy: a Path towards Inclusion and Resilience with Kelly Vogel (Integrative Studies)
  • Creative Writing Salon/Circle with Gillian Kendall
  • Humanities and Social Science (HSS Labs) Teaching Circle with Joshua Birk

Fall 2022

  • Antiracist Learning Community (ALC) Teaching Circle with Floyd Cheung (OEI) and Hélène Visentin (PDOF)
  • Conversations about Advising Teaching Circle with Fraser Stables (Associate Dean of Integrative Learning), Adela Penagos (Associate Dean of the College for Advising and Mentoring), and Sarah Moore (Faculty Director of Liberal Arts Advising)
  • Exploring Metaphors in Teaching Circle  
    with Nick Howe (Computer Science)
  • Teaching Languages Circle with Ilona Sotnikova (REEES), Maureen DeNino (FRN)
  • Trading Teaching Tips with Miranda McCarvel (Jacobson Center)
  • Trauma-Informed Pedagogy for the Resilient Classroom with Kelly Vogel (Lecturer in Integrative Studies)
  • Ungrading Teaching Circle with Magdalena Zapędowska (Jacobson Center)
  • Creative Writing Circle for Faculty and Staff Who Teach with Gillian Kendall (ENG)
  • Teaching Circle for NTT Faculty with Mona Kulp (CHM), Joyce Palmer-Fortune (PHY), Christiane Métral (FRN), and Yalin Chen (CHI

Spring 2022

  • Special Event: Sherrerd Center Teaching Circle on Teaching in this Momentw ith Sara Pruss and Patty DiBartolo 
  • Exploring Alternative Grading Methods with Marney Pratt (BIO) and Magda Zapędowska (Jacobson Center)
  • Executive Functioning in our Students Amidst the Pandemic with Kelly Vogel, Lecturer in Integrative Studies and former Learning Specialist for the Jacobson Center
  • Antiracist Learning Community (ALC) Teaching Circle with Floyd Cheung (OEI) and Hélène Visentin (PDOF)
  • The Small Teaching Circle with Caroline Melly (Sherrerd teaching mentor) and Miranda McCarvel (Jacobson Center)
  • Teaching Languages Circle with Ilona Sotnikova (REEES), Maureen DeNino (FRN)
  • Humanities and Social Sciences Labs Teaching Circle with Josh Birk (MED/HST), Christine Reynolds (Kahn Institute)
  • Science Ethics Circle with Betsy Jamieson (CHM)
  • Creative Writing Circle for Faculty and Staff Who Teach with Gillian Kendall

Fall 2021

  • Teaching Ideas for Team-based or Heavy-project-based Applied Courses (in person) with Susannah Howe (EGR), Megan Lyster (Wurtele Center)
  • Teaching Languages Circle (in person) with Ilona Sotnikova (REEES), Maureen DeNino (FRN)
  • The New Normal? Teaching in Fall 2021 with a particular focus on equitable and inclusive pedagogies (in person) with Patty DiBartolo (PSY)
  • The New Normal? Teaching in Fall 2021 with a particular focus on disabilities and learning differences (over Zoom) with Caroline Melly (ANT)
  • Science Ethics Circle (in person) with Betsy Jamieson (CHM)
  • Faculty-and-Staff-Who-Write Creative Writing Salon Teaching Circle (in person) with Gillian Kendall (ENG)
  • Humanities and Social Sciences Labs Teaching Circle (in person) with Josh Birk (MED/HST)

Spring 2021

  • Creative Writing Salon with Gillian Kendall
  • This Week in Teaching with Alicia Grubb and Miranda McCarvel
  • Lab Instructors Circle with Marney Pratt
  • Talking Through Remote Teaching: Creating Community, Accountability, Flexibility with Caroline Melly
  • Language Teaching Circle with Ilona Sotnikova
  • Africana and African Studies Course Teaching Circle with Daphe LaMothe
  • Contingent Faculty Teaching Circle with Bona Kang and Caitlin Shepherd

Fall 2020

  • Talking Through Remote Teaching: Creating Community, Accountability, Flexibility with teaching mentors, Liz Pryor (HST) and Caroline Melly (ANT)
  • Contingent Faculty Teaching Circle with Bona Kang (EDC) and Caitlin Shepherd (PSY)
  • First Year Seminar Faculty Teaching Circle with Alice Hearst
  • Laboratory Instructors Teaching Circle with Marney Pratt (BIO)
  • Talking Through J-term Teaching with Sara Pruss (GEO), Liz Pryor (HST), and Caroline Melly (ANT)

Spring 2020

Zoom Weekly Teaching Circles Beginning on Friday, April 3–Friday, April 24 via Zoom

  • Pedagogy through Zoom with Liz Pryor (History)
  • The SOCIAL constructivist hour with Al Rudnitsky (Education and Child Study)
  • Considering student well-being in the "remote" classroom with Sara Pruss (Geosciences)
  • Teaching in/with crisis with Caroline Melly (Anthropology)
  • Critical conversations in online classrooms with Peggy O’Neill (School for Social Work)
  • Remote teaching while contingent with Tian An Wong (Math and Statistics) and Bona Kang (Education and Child Study)