rayanda Scribbled:

"This will be the 25th time I've started high school"...What a great opener. I really enjoyed reading this piece. Do you hand this out to your students? I wish you were my English teacher when I was a student. Unfortunately, I had "that" English teacher. Chuckle. Your writing zips and sparks, Suzanne.

Phantomimic Scribbled:

What you wrote sounds a lot like many of the stories I have heard from teachers over the years. Finding that balance you described is a difficult thing, especially when dealing with particularly irksome or hostile students. If, like they say, a teacher's influence lasts forever, then you must try to make it a good one.

cwdowdy Scribbled:

We have younger children but our exchange student is in High School. She's from Columbia and got a detention today because I got her there late and she cuold not explain. She's in high school on steroids with the English gap but your story did bring back the high school days. I'm from a family of teachers and they would approve of your methods.

suzanner Scribbled:

Luckily, I had teachers who taught me what it means to learn; I'm passing it forward. Wish y'all could come audit a good Shakespeare class!

duponthumanite Scribbled:

What a great summary of what these students are.

Laura Novak Scribbled:

I love the sensitivity and wisdom this shows. You know how young they are! Is this an urban school? Public? I wonder if there is any difference!