The most important part of a compliment is the timing.

I'm not proud of anything.

I showed no growth in this last quarter. I only showed a decrease in my grade.

I wanted to improve on the Common Assessments, but I didn't.

No, my steps did not help me because I went down in grades this term.

The steps did not work because I did not use them.

I am not proud of anything this term.  I need to do more homework and try harder in class.  No growth at all - I went backwards.

I'm not proud of anything this quarter.  I was really slacking.

I am proud of my effort but I am disappointed that I got an A-. I should work even harder on ORQs and tests because I am proud of my essays and I don't understand why I went down on Achievement because I tried really hard.  I need to focus REALLY hard and I'm going to try soooo hard because I need to get a solid A.  I improved my participation but I went down on my average percentage which makes me sad and confused.  I want you to know that I will do even better to get an A.

I would like you to know you are an awesome teacher and I am privileged to have you as my teacher.  Thank you for everything.  I'll miss you up at the High School.

Quarter 3 self-evals

1. What are you proud of?

2. What do you need to focus on? What are two real steps you can take to help you make this change?

3. Is there anything else you’d like me to know?

One thing I should improve on is getting a higher grade in homework. Two actual steps that would help me focus on this is to put more effort in it, and do it more consistently. And not being lazy.

 I should focus on homework. I could start doing homework at home instead of on my bus.

 I can do homework. Stop being a lazy bum and pay attention to understand it.

My overall grade needs to go up and I’m not really proud of anything. I need to work on everything. I need to bring my grade up. I grew three inches, though.

 I did not show much growth as a student, but my shoe size went up.

I would also like you to know that since I’ve been in your class I have started reading on my own time instead of being forced to, and I didn’t do that before.

Going to a rock concert with a unicorn is dangerous. When the unicorn head-bangs and fist-pumps, get out of the way.

Apparently our lesson in formal vs. informal writing wasn't such a success.

"The third literary device in the poem is setting. In the poem “prince” this is what they said. “Start with the underwear. sit him down” … uhh ok so other than that being really awkward and out of context the setting I HOPE is in a bedroom."

(For the record, this is the poem referenced in the student's essay - so he didn't exactly have a correct read on it.)

What is poetry?

“Blah Blah I’m in love” this is what love poems would sound like if there were no literary devices. The Mood, tone, and theme, are three of the literary devices that poets will use to draw a picture in the reader’s mind. Without these, all Love poems would all be very dull.

In poetry, there are a good amount of literary terms that compare and contrast in poems. Do you think that next time you read poems you would take the time to notice some comparisons? Or maybe some things that are different? It’s not as hard as you think, just take a moment and really look at what each word means.

All poems are different. Some easy to understand some not so much. Having literary devices like metaphors, similes and personifications can make us understand poems a bit better. Sometimes it takes two or more times rereading a poem to finally understand what the poem means but with literary devices not only do they help us understand they can make a poem really creative too. You never know, Poems are really interesting things.

So next time somebody decides to read a poem, read it with them and try to point out these types of writing to educate them about the amazing world of literature.

Wait, you did WHAT? (Oh, ok.)

Earlier this year, a few students asked if we would be willing to advise a 7th/8th grade GSA during lunch.

Students at first GSA meeting: 4
2nd mtg: 5
3rd mtg: 9
4th mtg: 11
today's mtg: 13

We sent a couple of students to an anti-bullying conference this week, and today one of our students told us, "You know, kids who are gay are in the minority here, and most people look down on them. But I'm straight, and I was in the minority there, and everyone was nice about it. It's just, you know? It shouldn't be that way."

me: So, what else did you do there?
student 1: A lot of socializing, and we made some buttons.
student 2: And there was a seminar part, where we talked about bullying issues and solutions and things like that.
student 1: Yeah, and then we did pelvic thrusts.

So apparently, this conference was also their first introduction to the "Time Warp" song from Rocky Horror, but it took a minute before I figured out what they were talking about. But that's what a good GSA should be, I guess - one part activism, one part support, and one part social. And sometimes that social aspect is best served by lip syncing and synchronized line dance, you know?