It's not that I wish I was back at school. Really, I'm thrilled that it's summer. But I do miss seeing kids every day. I just found this note from a student I had this year, and it made me pine for the ridiculousness of life surrounded by 100 teenagers.
Dear Mrs. Scherer,
This is a public service message stating that I, Ted King (not even close to his real name), go hard in the muthaf***ing paint, ni#&a. Also you are required to attend all my football games next year.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
Teacher Rickrolling: The Aftermath
As a follow-up to my last post, I have to share first the beautiful video Matt made to help me trick my students:
Before I started the video, I handed out the essay questions found in yesterday's post and told them they had the last 15 minutes of class to work on this supplementary final exam. It's sad, really, how many of them actually thought they would be writing two essays on "The Divine Existentialism of Cyrano de Bergerac" in fewer than 15 minutes. Some even became openly hostile. It was delightful.
A couple of my favorite students did something I hadn't planned for, however: they actually answered the stupid question. Keep in mind that these are not the students Baltimore County has labeled as "gifted," and that they had maybe 10 minutes to write these essays.
Student 1
On Professor Puetner's follow-up lecture on Roxane's love interests, he dispels the myth that the Don Juan complex flourished at the time of the Musketeers. I believe that, yes, it would have flourished in the pre-Raphaelite age at that time because of the many events in world history, including (1) the French Revolution during the 18th century with the conflict between the ruling class and the bourgeoisie on voting on important issues and (2) the European colonization and use of the sphere of influence of China's cultures as it relates to not controlling their own government.
Student 2
The Professor's follow-up lecture on Roxane's love interest in Christian dispels the myth that the Don Juan complex flourished at the time of the Musketeers. The historical evidence of Charlie Sheen relates to this because of the way he treats women and his true love. Roxane is actually Charlie Sheen in disguise. I do not believe this is appropriate to read about in a 10th grade English class. Thanks for being a great teacher, Mrs. Scherer!
The students have become the masters. Mission accomplished.
Before I started the video, I handed out the essay questions found in yesterday's post and told them they had the last 15 minutes of class to work on this supplementary final exam. It's sad, really, how many of them actually thought they would be writing two essays on "The Divine Existentialism of Cyrano de Bergerac" in fewer than 15 minutes. Some even became openly hostile. It was delightful.
A couple of my favorite students did something I hadn't planned for, however: they actually answered the stupid question. Keep in mind that these are not the students Baltimore County has labeled as "gifted," and that they had maybe 10 minutes to write these essays.
Student 1
On Professor Puetner's follow-up lecture on Roxane's love interests, he dispels the myth that the Don Juan complex flourished at the time of the Musketeers. I believe that, yes, it would have flourished in the pre-Raphaelite age at that time because of the many events in world history, including (1) the French Revolution during the 18th century with the conflict between the ruling class and the bourgeoisie on voting on important issues and (2) the European colonization and use of the sphere of influence of China's cultures as it relates to not controlling their own government.
Student 2
The Professor's follow-up lecture on Roxane's love interest in Christian dispels the myth that the Don Juan complex flourished at the time of the Musketeers. The historical evidence of Charlie Sheen relates to this because of the way he treats women and his true love. Roxane is actually Charlie Sheen in disguise. I do not believe this is appropriate to read about in a 10th grade English class. Thanks for being a great teacher, Mrs. Scherer!
The students have become the masters. Mission accomplished.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Rick Rolling, Teacher Style
As their final project each year, my students create Facebook pages for the characters in Cyrano de Bergerac. They typically have a lot of fun with them and ultimately show a greater understanding of the text than if they had simply written a paper.
This year, I've had a uniquely close relationship with many of my students. As a result, they felt it would be okay to Rick Roll me through these projects. For those not aware of the act of "Rick Rolling," it involves tricking people into hearing the lyrics and/or music of Rick Astley's 1987 painful classic "Never Gonna Give You Up." Said listener wasn't expecting to hear the song, and he or she then curses the prankster as the song (rick) rolls through his or her head all day. Allow me to Rick Roll you now as a demonstration:
I'm not one to sit back and let teenagers have the last laugh. After they've taken their final exams this week, I'm going to tell them we're listening to a recording of a lecture about Cyrano de Bergerac and that they will be expected to respond to it with two formal essays, each of which will count for 50% of their final grade. After they've received the instructions below, I'll begin to play the text of the "lecture." And then Mr. Astley's song will kick in, thus effectively Rick Rolling my sophomores. Last word: Mrs. Scherer.
This year, I've had a uniquely close relationship with many of my students. As a result, they felt it would be okay to Rick Roll me through these projects. For those not aware of the act of "Rick Rolling," it involves tricking people into hearing the lyrics and/or music of Rick Astley's 1987 painful classic "Never Gonna Give You Up." Said listener wasn't expecting to hear the song, and he or she then curses the prankster as the song (rick) rolls through his or her head all day. Allow me to Rick Roll you now as a demonstration:
I'm not one to sit back and let teenagers have the last laugh. After they've taken their final exams this week, I'm going to tell them we're listening to a recording of a lecture about Cyrano de Bergerac and that they will be expected to respond to it with two formal essays, each of which will count for 50% of their final grade. After they've received the instructions below, I'll begin to play the text of the "lecture." And then Mr. Astley's song will kick in, thus effectively Rick Rolling my sophomores. Last word: Mrs. Scherer.
The Divine
Existentialism of Cyrano de Bergerac
Final
Exam Supplementary Essays
Directions:
As
you listen to Oxford University professor Raymond Logue's lecture on
the existentialism of the divine actions of Cyrano de Bergerac, write
a well-organized and detailed essay on the professor's assertions that dichotomy of Cyrano's perfunctory nature is in direct contrast with his stouthearted
actions.
Further
analyze the professor's opinion on the protagonist's archaic actions
as contrasted with the coquettish nature of his fraternal cousin and
the play's heroine, Roxane.
In
a second essay, predict how Professor Logue's follow-up lecture on
Roxane's love interest, Christian, seeks both to support and dispel the myth that the Don Juan
complex flourished at the time of the Musketeers. Would such a
complex have flourished in the pre-Raphialite age as it did at that time?
Or are the two inherently mutually exclusive? Support your answer with at least
six historical examples, including direct quotations from Sigmund
Freud's early theories (references to later theories or other
psychologists' refutations of such theories will result in zero
credit).
In
both essays, support your position with exact quotations from Cyrano
de Bergerac
and at least three other texts read this year. Paraphrasing is
unacceptable and will result in zero credit.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Maternal Superstar
My mom is receiving an award for her amazing volunteer work at Rezek House in St. Paul. Other retirees take up knitting or gardening; my mom reaches out to homeless teenagers. She's uniquely amazing.
The recognition ceremony for this award is tomorrow night, and it has me running Carol Berg memories through the brain. Who else's mother includes a quote from Hamlet in the senior ads portion of the high school yearbook? Everyone else's said some Chaska variation of, "Go, Billy! We love you!" but mine said, "Darling daughter: to thine own self be true." I've done my best, Mom.
Then, of course, there's also the memory of the time she had the second margarita and gave us a very entertaining car ride home (from the passenger seat, naturally), but I'm sticking with the Shakespeare thing.
The recognition ceremony for this award is tomorrow night, and it has me running Carol Berg memories through the brain. Who else's mother includes a quote from Hamlet in the senior ads portion of the high school yearbook? Everyone else's said some Chaska variation of, "Go, Billy! We love you!" but mine said, "Darling daughter: to thine own self be true." I've done my best, Mom.
Then, of course, there's also the memory of the time she had the second margarita and gave us a very entertaining car ride home (from the passenger seat, naturally), but I'm sticking with the Shakespeare thing.
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