Matt and I were running errands today, a task that is becoming increasingly less fun as my midsection expands. While we were at Trader Joe's, I was taking a break in the frozen food aisle while Matt kept shopping.
After a minute or so, a very sweet old lady came up to me and said, "Oh my goodness. You are so cute!" I thanked her embarrassingly and walked over to Matt to tell him what had just happened. He looked around and said, "Oh yeah? Who was she talking to?"
Friday, December 30, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Pearls of Teenage Wisdom
We talked about run-on sentences in class yesterday. I asked students if anyone knew the name of the grammatical error created by putting a comma between two independent clauses. The answer is "comma splice," but only one or two students all day had heard of the term. In one particular period, it quickly became clear that no one had heard of it:
Me: "Does anyone know the term for a comma separating two independent clauses?"
After some silence or a few random guesses.
Me. "It's a comma....."
Still no answers.
Me. "A comma ssss....."
Student: "Sutra!"
Who says grammar isn't sexy?
Me: "Does anyone know the term for a comma separating two independent clauses?"
After some silence or a few random guesses.
Me. "It's a comma....."
Still no answers.
Me. "A comma ssss....."
Student: "Sutra!"
Who says grammar isn't sexy?
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Pearls of Teenage Wisdom
Two of my favorite students (we totally have favorites; teachers who say they don't are lying) were working together on a project in class last week. Both students are extremely proud African American girls, as should be evident by this conversation:
Girl 1: Daaaang, Ms. Scherer. You gettin' kinda big!
Girl 2: Kinda? You done popped out!
Me: Is this a good thing?
Girl 1: Oh, for sure. You know how some pregnant ladies be all skinny all over, but then have the belly?
Me: I think that's kind of cute.
Girl 2: Ugh. That's so ugly.
Girl 1: I know, right? You look good, Ms. Scherer. You fillin' out like a pregnant lady ought to.
Girl 1 had told me previously that she has 11 (yes, 11) siblings. She knows what a pregnant lady ought to look like.
Later in the same class period, the two girls stopped me again.
Girl 1: Ms. Scherer, we decided we gonna buy you a present. What you havin? A boy or a girl?
Me: We don't know. It's going to be a surprise.
Girl 2 (to Girl 1): Here's what we gonna do. I'll buy a girl outfit, you buy a boy outfit, then we'll return the one we don't need.
Me: You ladies don't have to buy me anything. But you know, they do make gender-neutral baby clothes.
Girl 1: Snap! Ms. Scherer, that's why you the teacher, not us.
Girl 1: Daaaang, Ms. Scherer. You gettin' kinda big!
Girl 2: Kinda? You done popped out!
Me: Is this a good thing?
Girl 1: Oh, for sure. You know how some pregnant ladies be all skinny all over, but then have the belly?
Me: I think that's kind of cute.
Girl 2: Ugh. That's so ugly.
Girl 1: I know, right? You look good, Ms. Scherer. You fillin' out like a pregnant lady ought to.
Girl 1 had told me previously that she has 11 (yes, 11) siblings. She knows what a pregnant lady ought to look like.
Later in the same class period, the two girls stopped me again.
Girl 1: Ms. Scherer, we decided we gonna buy you a present. What you havin? A boy or a girl?
Me: We don't know. It's going to be a surprise.
Girl 2 (to Girl 1): Here's what we gonna do. I'll buy a girl outfit, you buy a boy outfit, then we'll return the one we don't need.
Me: You ladies don't have to buy me anything. But you know, they do make gender-neutral baby clothes.
Girl 1: Snap! Ms. Scherer, that's why you the teacher, not us.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)