Quote of the Day (helpless)

"Mister! I got it right WITHOUT your help!" - Excited response from a high school student after she  completed a difficult problem and checked her answer with mine. Just minutes earlier as I was explaining how to do it, she was the only one loudly grumbling about how each problem looked impossible. (12/4/12)

Quote of the Day (deadline)

"Oh, don't worry. I'll be able to finish before then." - Surprisingly confident response from a student who had under 40 minutes to finish her make-up exam that she had procrastinated till the very last day. She did "finish" the exam in time...with 7/20 questions left blank. (12/3/12)

Quote of the Day (shade)

"Our (evacuation) spot should be under that tree." - One of many whiny comments from my students during today's fire drill. Others included: "Can we just stay in the class?" "Can we not go back to the classroom?" "That fire drill was so short, it was a waste of time." (11/30/12)

Quote of the Day (hero)

"The Dork Knight. Solving math problems by day. Solving mysteries by night." - Resultant from a witty back-and-forth between a few of my students after I joked that despite what they thought of me, I am not a good enough detective to figure out who the owner of a nameless assignment was. (11/29/12)

Quote of the Day (usurped)

"Shh! Mister! I'm trying to teach." - Playful scolding I got from a student as I tried to interject with a helpful comment when she was showing her friend how to do a problem. (11/28/12)

Quote of the Day (job)

"I know she has you because she said you are always talking about math." - A student's description of how she found out that I also teach her friend. (11/1/12)

Quote of the Day (blood)

"Always give 100% except when you're donating blood." - Advice from one student to his friend at the beginning of class. (11/26/12)

Quote of the Day (bandaid)

"Mister, do you have a bandaid?" - Request from high school student that I quickly obliged. A few minutes later, I noticed the contrasting light bandage across his dark forehead. When I quietly asked him if everything was alright, he replied, "Oh, it's just a pimple." (11/21/12)

Quote of the Day (bottle)

"Ice cream is happiness entering the body." - Statement from a student entering class. When she recognized that I had no idea what she was talking about, she pointed to her water bottle that read, "Pain is weakness leaving the body." (11/19/12)

Quote of the Day (007)

"So Mister, when he says, 'Bond, James Bond' is that his first name or his last name?" - Question from a high school student asked of me right as class was beginning. I was cruel; I convinced them that he was actually stating his full name. So for now, they think that 007's first AND last name are Bond and that his middle name is James. (11/19/12)

Quote of the Day (twilight)

"So, do you want to go with me to see Breaking Dawn or not?" - Question I overheard from a pair of high school students at the beginning of class...a pair of male students. (11/16/12)

Quote of the Day (penmanship)

"I have the handwriting of a 6 year old boy." - Confession from a female high school student. (11/15/12)

Quote of the Day (hate)

"Miss hates me; she gave me a D." - Complaint from a student after I handed out her mid-quarter progress report. I had no idea I could give grades based on how much I like students. (11/14/12)

Quote of the Day (religion)

"Duh!? He's Korean." - A student's matter-of-factly stated response to her peer's question to me about what my religion is. (11/13/12)

Quote of the Day (distance)

"It's too far." - A student's reason after I asked her why she didn't move seats to work with her group on the other side of the classroom. (11/9/12)

Quote of the Day (sacrifice)

"Are you going to be here for lunch? I'd like to come in and make up my test." - Quote from a student who never showed up after I gave up my lunch break to help her out. (11/7/12)

Quote of the Day (election)

"Mister! That's like saying you voted for Mitt-rama." - Frustration from a nosey student after I told her I voted for Obamney after multiple queries about my voting choice. (11/7/12)

Quote of the Day (voting)

"I guess if I could vote, I'd vote for Obama. I hear he's a pretty good basketball player that's why." - Remark from a high school student and proof that keeping the voting age to 18 or higher is a good idea. A second reason that I heard was, "I'd vote Obama 'cause he's chill." (11/5/12)

Quote of the Day (insult)

"You're a mean teacher." - (Half serious) Comment from a disappointed student who asked for a ride home while I was waiting for the stoplight to change. (11/2/12)

Quote of the Day (recommendation)

"Hey Mister, remember that story you were talking about? Well, I looked it up and read it. It was very strange." - Surprising comment from a student who remembered me telling him about how reading the satire, A Modest Proposal, and how it shaped me to become a critical reader. (10/?/12)