The following are all taken from my end of the year surveys. I have included the questions to which the students were responding. Some of these I included because I think they are funny. Some I included because I think they are telling. I did not include any of them merely for the sake of stroking my own ego. Ok, maybe that's not entirely true; but even the ones that may seem a little egocentric on my part are still pointed, I think. In any event it's my blog, so I get to write what I want. As always my comments in ( ).
What was your least favorite work we read this year and why?
- My least favorite work was The Crucible because it wasn’t really the type of book that wanted me to read more.
- Chuckleberry Finn because some parts seemed like the author was writing just to make the book longer.
What did you like the most about English this year?
- The talks about the works we read that went off on tangents. (The talks went off on tangents, not the books.)
- The righteous tutelage and many interesting arguments between you and the jar-headed students.
- I liked that we did not watch movies because in every other class we do and they are boring.
- That we had a pretty good teacher that was funny and always honest even if it was mean. (“Pretty good?”)
- Honestly, talking about things that were important but not relevant to class. (Oh, it’s all relevant, baby.)
- (This is from a student in the advanced class.) I like that we are trusted that we will read and do the homework and aren’t badgered about useless busywork.
- (Also an advanced student.) I liked being in a class where number grades didn’t matter as much and where the other students cared about school, at least some.
- I liked how it wasn’t about grades but actually learning.
What did you like the least about English?
- Reading.
- The annoying people we all know of.
- Carrying that fat red book. (The English 11 textbook.)
- Too much talking in class. (She meant she doesn’t like to discuss things.)
- [Name removed] walking in every morning late and interrupting our class.
What are one or two important things you have learned this year in English?
- I need to read more of the assignments, and not fall asleep in class.
- You can almost never win an argument with Mr. Chaffee. (No, it's never; not almost, just never.)
- I’ve learned to think about things a little more & in different ways. (I am always so depressed that few students seem to be challenged to think on a regular basis.)
- If you ever need anything done around here, just say “Chaffee.” (I am not entirely sure this is true.)
- Make sure your drink has a re-sealable lid.
- There is actually some good short stories in the world.
- I’ve learned to think for myself, mostly.
- I should never call a teacher a freak. (Took you this long to learn that?)
On a scale of 1 -10 (1 being “easy”) how hard was this class?
- 1 if you do your work, 10 if you don’t, like me.
Do you have any suggestions about how to make English class better?
- Don’t let girls talk.
- Have a Super Awesome Techno Dance Remix Party next year.
- Have smaller classes so more time can be spent 1 on 1.
- Those who read the book/homework should be the ones to contribute in the class discussion.
- No, because you’re not going to change anything so it doesn’t matter.
True, I don't plan to change much.
Jeremiah
7/10/09
7/7/09
Say What?
All of these sentences are from those "last English paper assignment of the year," when they just don't care anymore. On the plus side, it's comedy gold. The papers are on topics from poetry to Hamlet to novels. As always, my comments are in ( ).
- ...the two girls fall at the feet of the name who has a nice name.
- ...punksuation... (Is that like a comma with a mohawk?)
- What is being imaged in the Poem is talking about a cat.
- She stairs at the wall.
- The Emotion he is showing is complaining.
- e. e. cummings is a modernist poet do to the way he rights.
- The blizard of snow symbolizes coldness. (Deep symbolism there.)
- The last two lines (of the poem "Richard Cory") change the poem from an okay feeling to a deep, dark, undelightful feeling. ("Undelightful" should definitely be a word.)
- In the poem "The river Merchant's wife: A Letter" they use alot of differt things to show what her feels where when her has been left her. (?)
- He shoot him self to so he wouldn't have to go throw the pain.
- In the first stanza of the poem the emotion happy is portrayed. It is about two children, with their innocence playing together.
- Modernist poetry is when a poet writes outside the box.
- This idea is shown throughout the poem in different the literary techniques.
- The loss of a loved one can effect people in two ways. One way is physically / emotionally. The other way is mentally. (What about spiritually / psychologically?)
- What are Modernist? (Good question.)
- Then one day at the end of the poem...
- Although they are not the same there are differences.
- She grew love for him. (Don't over water it.)
- Loss means the condition of being removed by a loved one. (Isn't this the plot of The Godfather?)
- He is rarely never home.
- The setting was Jem and Scout always getting in trouble. (Interesting interpretation of the term "setting.")
- During the Victorian ear...
- The reader can tell that Hamlet has an intense feeling of sexuality built up inside him.
- "Hamlet" by Shakespeare has always been renounced as one of the best plays of all time.
- People love to delve into the meaning behind literary pieces of work. (Yeah, lots of people love that!)
- Gene has lacked the knowledge of knowing what Finny is about.
- Gene is afraid to confess his actions to the boys at Devon and to Finny because he is afraid. (So he is afraid because he is afraid?)
- Ignorance can always cause ignorance to occur.
- John Knowles uses cauterization to show Gene as out-going.
Well, I'm going to try to get some reading done while both my kids are asleep! Next post will be comments from the End of the Year Surveys.
Jeremiah
- ...the two girls fall at the feet of the name who has a nice name.
- ...punksuation... (Is that like a comma with a mohawk?)
- What is being imaged in the Poem is talking about a cat.
- She stairs at the wall.
- The Emotion he is showing is complaining.
- e. e. cummings is a modernist poet do to the way he rights.
- The blizard of snow symbolizes coldness. (Deep symbolism there.)
- The last two lines (of the poem "Richard Cory") change the poem from an okay feeling to a deep, dark, undelightful feeling. ("Undelightful" should definitely be a word.)
- In the poem "The river Merchant's wife: A Letter" they use alot of differt things to show what her feels where when her has been left her. (?)
- He shoot him self to so he wouldn't have to go throw the pain.
- In the first stanza of the poem the emotion happy is portrayed. It is about two children, with their innocence playing together.
- Modernist poetry is when a poet writes outside the box.
- This idea is shown throughout the poem in different the literary techniques.
- The loss of a loved one can effect people in two ways. One way is physically / emotionally. The other way is mentally. (What about spiritually / psychologically?)
- What are Modernist? (Good question.)
- Then one day at the end of the poem...
- Although they are not the same there are differences.
- She grew love for him. (Don't over water it.)
- Loss means the condition of being removed by a loved one. (Isn't this the plot of The Godfather?)
- He is rarely never home.
- The setting was Jem and Scout always getting in trouble. (Interesting interpretation of the term "setting.")
- During the Victorian ear...
- The reader can tell that Hamlet has an intense feeling of sexuality built up inside him.
- "Hamlet" by Shakespeare has always been renounced as one of the best plays of all time.
- People love to delve into the meaning behind literary pieces of work. (Yeah, lots of people love that!)
- Gene has lacked the knowledge of knowing what Finny is about.
- Gene is afraid to confess his actions to the boys at Devon and to Finny because he is afraid. (So he is afraid because he is afraid?)
- Ignorance can always cause ignorance to occur.
- John Knowles uses cauterization to show Gene as out-going.
Well, I'm going to try to get some reading done while both my kids are asleep! Next post will be comments from the End of the Year Surveys.
Jeremiah
7/3/09
A Little Now...
...and more later. Our daughter was born on June 23rd, so I have been busy. But I have a stack of quotes gleaned from end of the year papers and tests that I shall parcel out in several posts. Here is the first. These are from various places, though many are about A Separate Peace or The Great Gatsby. As always my comments are in ( ). Enjoy...
- A dream can only be lived if it exists. (?)
- Finny is seen as being higher up, and above everyone else, not only physically but with his mental thinking. (As opposed to what other kind of thinking?)
- Myrtle took things out of control.
- Daisy is characterized as having a mouth full of money. (There is a line in The Great Gatsby in which Gatsby says Daisy's voice is full of money. But I like this image, too.)
- Tom acts stupidicly.
- Even though Daisy is a fine wife for him, Tom has to please himself with poor people.
- Ephscott Fitzgerald (This would be the author of The Great Gatsby.)
- To get Finny to not be good at life Gene pushes Finny out of a tree.
- Gatsby lost a great amount of money because he never obtained it.
- In the begging of the store the was are car weark. (Let me just say, I have some 11th grade students whose grammar and spelling are this bad and worse, but I don't post many of their sentences because it's just too easy...and sad.)
- The poem's use of imagery makes this poem very dimensional.
- Gene learns stuff about himself.
The following are from Regents Exam essays. The Regents being the 11th grade state English test.
- There is always something that allows you to be able to recall a memory with vividity.
- One of the most important things in are persons life is there memories.
- When you are younger most of your memories are at home. (That's where I keep all my memories.)
- He thought his plan was flawless, until the irony kicked in. (I hate it when the irony kicks in.)
- ...the descrimination the man received...
- ...the person who is most lonleyiest...
- They soon got eloped.
- This moment in the novel really defys Huck as a character.
- People are clueless of what they don't know. (The Don Rumsfeld theory of knowledge.)
- Juror number eight does not want to convict the suspect to death.
That is it for tonight. I have much more, including comments from my end of the year surveys, which is actually the first thing I posted way back on Share Nicely.
Jeremiah
- A dream can only be lived if it exists. (?)
- Finny is seen as being higher up, and above everyone else, not only physically but with his mental thinking. (As opposed to what other kind of thinking?)
- Myrtle took things out of control.
- Daisy is characterized as having a mouth full of money. (There is a line in The Great Gatsby in which Gatsby says Daisy's voice is full of money. But I like this image, too.)
- Tom acts stupidicly.
- Even though Daisy is a fine wife for him, Tom has to please himself with poor people.
- Ephscott Fitzgerald (This would be the author of The Great Gatsby.)
- To get Finny to not be good at life Gene pushes Finny out of a tree.
- Gatsby lost a great amount of money because he never obtained it.
- In the begging of the store the was are car weark. (Let me just say, I have some 11th grade students whose grammar and spelling are this bad and worse, but I don't post many of their sentences because it's just too easy...and sad.)
- The poem's use of imagery makes this poem very dimensional.
- Gene learns stuff about himself.
The following are from Regents Exam essays. The Regents being the 11th grade state English test.
- There is always something that allows you to be able to recall a memory with vividity.
- One of the most important things in are persons life is there memories.
- When you are younger most of your memories are at home. (That's where I keep all my memories.)
- He thought his plan was flawless, until the irony kicked in. (I hate it when the irony kicks in.)
- ...the descrimination the man received...
- ...the person who is most lonleyiest...
- They soon got eloped.
- This moment in the novel really defys Huck as a character.
- People are clueless of what they don't know. (The Don Rumsfeld theory of knowledge.)
- Juror number eight does not want to convict the suspect to death.
That is it for tonight. I have much more, including comments from my end of the year surveys, which is actually the first thing I posted way back on Share Nicely.
Jeremiah
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