Teacher: What did you learn in these learning strategies classes?
Student 1: I learned about society, what is expected and I learned about myself.
Teacher: But what about tools, like map, flash?
Student 1: I love Flash cards. It works really well for me.
Student 2: I feel that they take a lot of time!
Student 3: I am hyperactive. Cards work really well
Teacher: Why are you so breathless?
Student 1: I ran to come earlier, I need to talk to you before the class starts. My daughter…
Teacher: She is welcome to attend the class whenever you need.
b) She does informal “small talk”
Student 1: I feel discussion activities are a waste of time but this “comment a saying” is ok. I like this teacher because she makes small talk, asking us about our other classes, our progress. When the class begin I am more relaxed.
Student 2: She (the teacher) always arrives little early; I can ask her things when I missed class.
Student 3: I feel like talking to her…Even you who hate to talk in class commented on the saying today!
Student 4: Yes…but don’t get used to it.
Student 2: It is personal…We talked long after class. She knows what is happening to me.
“I didn’t do the portfolio. The teacher has seen how well I have done the assignments. She doesn’t need the portfolio to grade me. This is just aesthetic”
“I am sick, I am going back home”
“I need to carry her to the hospital. She is sick”
“My boyfriend cheated on me, I am looking for a place to stay”
“Her accent irritates me…likeee, ”
“Chinese cookies? No thanks. I don’t eat Chinese stuff…it is too far, they don’t worry about us, they just want to sell us things”
“Send them to jail?! They will be living on our taxes. They should be killed to show Canadians don’t tolerate terrorists.”
aw3
Teacher: It is so hot in here....Please go downstairs to room B201, and get a fan... I understand why you came with this shirt but there are rules. Tomorrow you have to bring something you can at least use in the hallways.
Student: Are you saying we will be able to take off our jackets in class?
Teacher: Yes. It is too hot. But in the halls you have to wear your jackets
a) mark in red, please
Student 1: Wow, it is all marked in red! I would give up if I were you
Student 2: She said she would usually not be so picky. It is a special treat. As an immigrant she is helping me out. This way I study ESL while learning the class subject.
b) no choices, please
"I want to know exactly what is due today, if I am not told I have more urgent interests…I am like married style guy, I don’t want to think (laugh). Just give me clear instructions. I don't want to choose between fancy coffees...just bring me a regular coffee" (a student who runs between part time jobs and school)
"I don’t like to be asked to choose. I like when I know what to do. What? Teachers don’t do their homework and expect me to plan for their class?! I do not have patience" (student whose boss has given him time off to study)
c) no lies, please
"…So according to the ABSOLUTE QUALIFIERS rule…if I say I never lie, I am a liar!? It is bullshit. I refuse to learn this! I don’t want to learn how to cheat on tests..I am a person of principles" (a student who was facing a difficult divorce in court)
d) caps, please
"...caps are not always for gangs. I hate that. People say things they don’t know. Doesn’t matter I don’t mind missing school if I feel like wearing a cap… Do you think my hair is always like this? If I am having a bad hair day I skip class. No cap, no class."(this student’s hair hides a facial scar which she got in a fight with bottle)
e) no group work with people with accents, please
I used to call you Chink...Oh dear! You keep coming...the first time you walk to our group…Oh dear! Nobody believed how irritated I got. You don’t know but chink is very disrespectful, like N word for blacks. I want you to know, I am not like that at all...back in my home town, we were all white and people used to tease the only Chinese family, owners of theStudent: My mother kept telling my teachers I was a genius, they didn’t believe her (laugh) Since kindergarten, I knew I didn’t need to go to school…I am a kinesthetic learner, I don’t learn through books or lectures! My mother was right I am a genius. I knew it before the scientists!
Student: For me, personally the computer was the last helpful technique. I don’t do well if I am told to go there and get information. I need to be taught instead of teaching myself.
I learn better when it is my own interest, when I have no money problem, when I get paid to learn, when I have a right environment, when I dance, when I have brain food (rest, group and teacher good energy, visual handouts, interesting subject), when I have time enough to learn and time to repeat once and repeat again” (quote from a poster made in class)
Student: ... I prefer to learn by listening. I am too lazy to write, draw or walk a sequence.
“We expect the teacher to provide “us” the knowledge to success in this class, understanding of personal circumstances within reason, respect our opinions and views, provide different pathways for each student, stimulate our minds, hearts and souls daily, provide “us” the skills to become KILLERS in the real world, have reasonable expectations over the period we are together (quote from a poster made in class)
If you step on it then it’s your problem
If it’s meant to be, it’s up to me
Opportunityisnowhere
Everybody loves hard workers
Failure is a bump on the highway of life (Perigord
An unwritten want is a wish, a dream. A never happen. The day you put your goal in writing is the day it becomes a commitment that will change your life. Are you really ready? (Tom Hopkins)
Do what you want to do now, we can not live in eternity
We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hands – and meeting like a snowflake (Mary Bayron Ray)
Life is like a box of chocolate, you never know what your going to get
(Forest Gump)
