From some students in Victoria... who I've never even met before! Ain't technology grand? Sir Burning Garbage and I have become close over the past year. Wishing him (and these other kind students) all the best in their post-PreCalculus 12 adventures. Thanks for the card, guys. You definitely made my day!!
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This week's Student of the Week is Xhoi M. And let me start by saying:
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY XHOI!!!" I am going to make a bold statement now: Xhoi has the coolest name of any student I have ever taught. EVER! C'mon! X-H-O-I. Pronounced "Joy". It's too good! I am embarrassed to admit how many times I have talked about Xhoi's name to family and friends. I mean, my own sister's name is Jocelyn, which shortens to Joy. But Joy is no XHOI! So, well done Parents of Xhoi; you have bestowed upon your daughter the world's coolest name... One of the great things about Xhoi is her balance between taking her academics very seriously / working very hard... BUT, at the same time, not getting overly flustered or upset when things are difficult. She just keeps plugging away and plugging away until she masters the material. Great perseverance! Xhoi has the enviable ability to not make it mean anything when she is struggling ("I can't do this", "I'm stupid", etc) but rather to stay focused on what needs to be done to be successful. This is a lesson we can all (myself included) learn from Xhoi. Have you ever seen Xhoi with her younger brother, David? It's quite heart-warming. She looks out for him but in no way talks down to him or treats him like a nuisance. They are a great pair. During the recent (unfortunate) bomb scare, Xhoi came to me in the tennis court and - though very calm - expressed immediate concern for David's well-being. It was very, very sweet. What a wonderful big sister! (And by the way: Xhoi may have the world's greatest name but David has the world's greatest voice. Look into a career in radio, Dude!) Here's the ultimate compliment I paid Xhoi in our time together: she is one of only three people who I allowed to sit as a group of three in my class!!! WOW!! It's one of my biggest NO WAY's but when you are as awesome as Xhoi I MIGHT make an exception (of course, there are two other awesome people who make up the trio. I don't suppose I need to name them do I?). I assume that I will never teach another "Xhoi" in my teaching career. And that's great news! Because how could any one else be expected to measure up to such a personable, thoughtful, determined, special girl? Just like you're name, Xhoi, you are simply fantastic!! Apparently there was a low-lying fog in the class this day... (either that or someone actually has a worse camera phone than ME!!! SHOCKING!!!!!)
Wish I was famous and could make someone THIS happy... just by waving! Pretty darn adorable!16/12/2013 Excuse the bad language but this might be the best Xmas song of them all!! This week's Student of the Week is Stefan A!
Stefan is another one of the students (well, to be more accurate, another one of the boys) in grade 12 that has, over his time at KG, sometimes run afoul of the rules of the school. I know there are some teachers who have had "run-ins" with Stefan, and I have to believe them when they relate these stories to me... BUT THEY ARE HARD TO BELIEVE!!! In the four years I have taught him, I honestly have never had to discipline Stefan in any way. Nothing! Not a single word. Maybe (MAYBE!!) I asked him to lower his voice on a couple of occasions but, c'mon, I've asked every ONE of you to lower your voices at least once. So way to go Stefan! And thank-you very much! Here's some other things about Stefan that I will not soon forget:
It's been fun, Stefan! Keep up your tremendous efforts. Thanks for always being so friendly and polite to me. You may not actually be my son, but I'm pretty darn proud of you anyway!! Here's a little story I may have told you before (I tell it whenever some student claims I am especially smart. I tell it to show that I am NOT very smart at all) but that now has a new, surprising ending...
When I was working towards my Master's Degree (in Secondary Math Education) I took one class where we had to solve really difficult problems every week. Most of us - though we did get the answers - took a LONG time to find the solutions. We struggled and we worked very hard (this is why I tell the story. To emphasize that I am somewhat determined and persistent. But not especially bright). But there was one guy - Johnny - in this class who was amazing. Every question the professor asked, Johnny knew the answer. He wasn't conceited or demonstrative of the fact that he was quicker than the rest of us. In fact, he usually WOULDN'T offer to answer any questions until the professor called on him. But EVERY time the professor did so, Johnny would calmly and modestly provide the correct answer. Very impressive! A pretty awesome second took place this morning (presumably, while you were Silent Reading). Check this out...
Year: 13 Month: 12 Day: 11 Hour: 10 Minute: 9 Second: 8 BONUS: When will be the next time the 6 units (from largest to smallest) read as consecutive integers (from largest to smallest)? |
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