tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486231447754719077.post3760485057470916550..comments2010-06-14T14:55:36.810-04:00Comments on A Learning Stretch: Blog (v): To read, write or edit a shared online journal.Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06772681945632026538noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486231447754719077.post-27438535215729541062009-09-16T16:36:47.670-04:002009-09-16T16:36:47.670-04:00Sure sorry that you're struggling with the cla...Sure sorry that you're struggling with the class performance levels, though I'm very proud to hear that you are trying to reach all of the students! In the school my kids attend, the teachers are also struggling with class performance levels, but instead of trying to reach everyone, they end up focusing only on the kids who are having trouble. While I'm grateful that my kids are doing well, they end up being completely and utterly bored! Knowing that their teachers aren't challenging them has become a great source of discouragement - which really concerns me, as I believe all students should be challenged, wherever they are in the learning process.... <br />Melanie, your kindness and willingness to be a helpful presence will soon be apparent to the kids, and I wouldn't be surprised if, in a short while, they are responding to that by trying their best! :D Kids know who cares and who doesn't...<br /><br />As for their mumblings and their colloquialisms - have fun with the fact that you're a Canadian! Tell them you need THEIR help to understand! :D Often kids just want to feel important, and if they feel that you need their help, they just may begin to look forward to your class, knowing that you're a learner too, and they can teach you! To use your own quote... "we're all in this together". I've always found that instead of "what's right" and being "in charge",we, as adults need to tell it like it is. Humans respond to encouragement, no matter what our age, and I think they have the best example in you, in that regard! :)<br />I look forward to hearing more about American school culture, which sounds incredibly different than us Canuckleheads! :D<br />Lotsa love to ya! ;DBrendanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486231447754719077.post-73154847268873365412009-09-16T15:43:03.763-04:002009-09-16T15:43:03.763-04:00Ha ha ... that's pretty awesome. Thanks for th...Ha ha ... that's pretty awesome. Thanks for the new words today ... all pretty new to me, except for ossify, of course (thanks TV for that one!!) ... oh, and maybe "profuse" too, since I PROFUSELY use that word! LOL.<br /><br />A real homecoming dance? And a REAL queen and everything? Oh dear. I'm so wishing I was with you down there, or that we'd gone to a real American high school. Now tell me your kids are applying to "out of state" colleges, and I'll be happier than a pig in mud!<br /><br />Oh, and I don't quite get the "write a test" thing. If they don't write tests, what do they do? Take them? Is it a matter of using "take" vs. "write"?? Confusion...Kimbernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486231447754719077.post-30184966211530872682009-09-15T22:02:27.506-04:002009-09-15T22:02:27.506-04:00you and your silly look into american life. yes, w...you and your silly look into american life. yes, we have real homecoming dances, and courts with queens and everything. i had it at my high school. and they have it at ehn. are the activities dressing certain ways during the week? that's what we always did (and, again, do at ehn...)<br /><br />as for the colloquialisms, i was going to comment about the "writing the SAT" thing because I was like, i didn't write an SAT, i took it my junior year of high school. it's so strange, but you really don't think about those little things until you are out of your home state. for me it happens when i say something like "bueller...bueller" and the kids just stared. me and my stupid pop culture...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com