Second note: though I will not be copying any of these comments below, many of my students wrote that they like how often we get "off topic" in English class. This always amuses me. I don't think we really go off topic often. Rather, we (or I) discuss ideas and issues raised by the literature, and some students perceive this as "going off topic." But if we are reading The Great Gatsby, and we discuss materialism, are we really off topic? (Besides, I often try to connect those "off topic" conversations back to the literature at hand, which I hope helps them understand the literature "on another level!") Anyway...
I will list the (generic) questions and under each some responses, which may come from any of my five classes. My students were all juniors and seniors. As always, my comments are in ( ).
What was your favorite work we read this year and why?
- "The Tell-Tale Heart:" it was the most interesting work I actually read.
- The Crucible because it was in class and easy.
- Ethan Frome because of the cat, and his purpose in the book. He... is an evil hench-cat. (I wish my dog was a hench-dog.)
- I really enjoyed The Great Gatsby because I liked T. S. Eliot's writing style. (I like Eliot as well, but...)
- Lord of the Flies because I actually read every page, and am proud of myself.
What was your least favorite work we read this year and why?
- Othello, I didn't like the morals.
- most of them
- Othello. I do not like plays at all. (Interesting, since your favorite work was The Crucible... a play.)
- A Separate Peace because all of the characters were high school idiots. (That might have been the original title.)
- Lord of the Flies: it jumped the fence very early. (The fence? It jumped the fence?)
Which of the papers did you enjoy writing the most? (College English only)
- The reflection paper, because it was about me!
What did you like most about English this year?
- I liked how we joked around most of the time but somehow still learned. (I strive to entertain.)
- Doing this end of year survey. (At least you went out on a high note?)
- Mr. Chaffee's sass. (Didn't know I had any.)
- I could knit. (Yes, I let her knit. But then under what she didn't like she wrote, "You're mean." Hey, I let you knit!)
What did you like least about English this year?
- The stories I didn't like.
- Having the class first period was a little rough because I was not fully ready to start the school day. (Have you tried "sleeping at night?")
What are one or two things you have learned in English this year?
- Nothing because I was barely here. (At least you have identified the problem.)
- don't bring / use your cell phone
- Standardized tests are bad. (Yeah, I get on my soapbox about that a lot.)
- "based off of" is wrong, it is "based on" (Now go teach the world!)
- Mr. Chaffee is the HARDEST grader. (I have a reputation to uphold.)
- It was somewhat nice getting into reading again. I missed reading.
- I learned that it is important to read what is assigned to you as homework. (Considering this came from a senior, it took long enough to learn.)
- I learned that every part of a work has meaning and significance. You can't just examine a plot summary and say you understand a work. (Preach!)
On a scale of one to ten, how hard was this class?
- 7.5, the regularity of papers is hard for a lazy person to get used to.
On a scale of one to ten, how much effort did you put into school this year? Explain.
- 3, i don't like doing work
Do you have any suggestions about how to make English class better?
- Give better grades. (Earn them.)
"Bonus:" Is there anything else you'd like to say on any topic whatsoever?
- Yes, i'd like to get through class without a certain someone interrupting. (Since you wrote this on the last day, it may be too late.)
Well, that is all for this year. See you in the fall.
J
