What Warms a Teacher's Heart

I have a "Help Sheet" that I make available to the students. It's a half sheet of paper where they check off one of various options -- "I'm missing a handout" or "I want to know how I'm doing in this class" or "I'd like to request a seat change," etc. Below there's room for comments. They fill it out and drop it in my box.

Got this yesterday from Kaelijn, in math class:

I think I am going ok but I want to do better and also bring up my test scores. I want to stay in your class Because I worked hard to get here and I aint leaving.

How to Irritate People

The best tactic I've discovered for dealing with argumentative kids: deliver your final say on the matter, then immediately turn your back and walk away.

Usually produces this reaction,

but then they go off and fume to their friends instead of continuing to bug you.

Guest Anecdote

I wish this had been written on a test I had given:

Q: What is the difference between "value" and "a value"?

A: "Value" is anything that has value, and "a value" is a certain value.

...yup.

HT to P.B.

Teaching Moment

Sam was very, very amused when I used the phrase "tongue lashing" today. It was a good opportunity to talk about figurative language.

(But he still went around to everyone saying, "I'm gonna give you a tongue lashing! Argleargleargleargle!")