Like New Year’s Day, new academic semesters start with effervescent promise. Students and instructors recalibrate their sleep and wake cycles, set new routines or modify old ones, and prepare for the work ahead. First days of class can be boisterous affairs, full of nervous energy from both instructors and students. There’s the novelty of new unknowns, a fresh cohort of students, and a full slate of assignments to be tackled with potentials waiting to be unlocked. The classroom vibe and student optimism markedly differ from the last few days of class and particularly from when grades are posted. When faced with their final grades, many students seem to be surprised and hold out hope for that one last chance to improve. What if we started by giving them a better idea of the effort it takes to succeed so that they could end better?
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