Self Reflection

Long story short, one thing I sometimes do at the end of the school year is ask my students to fill out their own report card. I tell them not to guess at what their final grade for each class will be, but write down what they think they should get for each class and why. It is interesting to read their grades and comments, especially for English. I thought I would share a few of their admittedly general and hasty self reflections and let you draw your own conclusions (though I may toss in a few of mine). For the most part I won't indicate which class they made a comment about, but for a few it is necessary. I'll give you the grade followed by their reasoning, and as always, my comments are in (    ).

- 98: I taught you new vocabulary. When the student becomes the teacher they get a 98. (#1. The "vocabulary" was popular slang with a shelf life, I would guess, of two more weeks. #2. The teacher would like to point out that you used the wrong pronoun; your "they" should be "she." Now who's the teacher?)
- 100: How can I screw up when I never know what's going on?
- 93: essays bring me down bro. (I feel you, dog.)
- 95: I am the only girl in the class and that deserves something.
- 100 (for gym): I can't catch, throw or kick, but I do track, and anyone that actually lives through track deserves a 100.
- 99 (for gym) I try like it's the Olympics but I'm terrible at sports. What I lack in athleticism I make up for in effort.
- C: because I do text in class I do sometimes listen to music but I do pay attention and try to get my work done.
- 89: may not do all work but I try hard. (Is this not a contradiction?)
- D: I don't really try because I don't understand.
- 80: sometimes I zone out.
- 80: I show up most of the time. (There you have it. Showing up most of the time is worth a B minus.)
- 80: this doesn't interest me so I have trouble focusing.
- A minus: I always do my work even when no one else does.
- B plus: I sometimes try but I don't understand it at all.
- B: I barely know what's going on half the time. (Half the time is 50%. Is a B 50% now?)
- C: I never really know what's going on.
- 90: It's easy because all you have to do is listen. (Like being married.)
- 60: I don't understand any of that crap.
- 100 (for "lunch"): eat all food groups.

I did not ask them to grade themselves in "Lunch," but if there were participation grades for lunch most of my students would pass with flying colors. (Pun intended.)

J