Quote of the Day (10)

"Whew. I just lost ten pounds right there." - From a high school student who had just finished climbing the stairs to my classroom on the third floor. (8/21/14)

Quote of the Day (Up)

"Mister, did you know you remind me of the older version of the kid from 'Up'?" - Random comment from a very outspoken student. When I told her that it's reckless to say that only because we're both Asian, she said, "No it's not. I said you look like the older version of him." (9/3/14)

Quote of the Day (salad)

"Don't worry. It's only a salad." - Comment from a high school student after I warned her that leaving her lunch from home in my classroom in the morning so she can pick it up after class close to lunch posed a potential threat of getting it stolen (especially if it was a good lunch). (9/2/14)

Quote of the Day (palm tree)

"She looks like a...like a palm tree." - Description of one of my coworkers from a former student. (8/29/14)

Quote of the Day (hyperbole)

"That was the hardest thing I've done all day." - Comment said with a smile from a high school student that had just completed the "journey" up the stairs to my classroom on the third floor. (8/28/14)

Quote of the Day (reservation)

"I reserve Mr. Hwang next!" - Demand yelled across the room from a former student during a study hall in which many of her peers were asking for some math help. (8/27/14)

Quote of the Day (depressing)

"Mister, this is the most depressing class." - Greeting from a high school student as he entered the classroom. (8/26/14)

Quote of the Day (foreshadowing)

"Before you say anything, we both knew this day would come." - Opening remark during lunch from a smiling former student who I chastised for being overconfident when he understood lessons I taught and unwilling to try things before asking for help when he didn't understand lessons. Even now, he claimed, "It's like I understand it [new material in different class], but I can't get the right answers." (8/25/14)

Quote of the Day (trouble)

"Mister, you kinda got me in trouble." - Complaint from a high school student on the day after I called home because he wrote "YOLO" on 12 out of 20 questions on a pretest. (8/22/14)

Quote of the Day (gum)

Student: "Mister, do you want some gum?"
Me: "No, thank you."
Student: "It's really good gum."
Me: "No, thank you."
Student: "Is it because we're still in class?"
Me: "Yes."
Student: "It's only 5 more minutes till recess."
Me: "No, thank you."
Student (getting flustered): "You sure you don't want some gum?"
Me: "No, thank you."
Student: "It'll change your life!"
Me: "No, thank you."
Student: "C'mon Mister, it's a social experiment, you were supposed to say 'yes'."
Me: "No, thank you."
(8/21/14)

Quote of the Day (numbers)

"Um...numbers?" - Answer from a high school student followed by laughter as she realized the absurdity of her response to my question of "What's 16 divided by 8?" (8/20/14)

Quote of the Day (awesome)

"Mr. Lau may be the coolest teacher, but I guess you can be the awesomest." - Comment from a former student who dropped in during lunch only to rave about his new teacher. (8/19/14)

Quote of the Day (handle)

"@FlameBendingMonkey" - Immediate answer to a question I posed to a former student asking him what his Instagram name would be if he had an account. (8/18/14)

Quote of the Day (faster)

"Mister Hwang goes hiking. I'm pretty sure he could move faster than [other teacher's name]." - Supportive response from a student who:
a) has no idea how slowly I hike and
b) didn't realize that his peer was talking about math content when she said, "[Other teacher's name] moves so much faster than Mister Hwang."

(8/13/14)

Quote of the Day (stronger)

"I was hoping it was stronger so we wouldn't have school today." - Complaint on a hot day from a high school student talking about the hurricane/tropical storm that had just passed. (8/11/14)

Quote of the Day (imploration)

"C'mon guys! Stop asking so many questions so Mr. Hwang can go home." - Plea from one of several students who came into my classroom for help after school. The student who said this was eventually the last one to leave. (8/12/14)

Quote of the Day (exit)

"Mister, please don't kick me out of your class." - Comment from a high school student after I reminded the class that the upcoming pretest would help me predict how well they would do for the year and that I would begin informing students, parents, and counselors if the data points to them having a better chance of being successful in a different class. (8/11/14)

Quote of the Day (related)

"No, she's just my cousin." - Answer from a student after I asked her if she was related to a former student of mine. (8/7/14)

Quote of the Day (face)

"HEY! Why did you make that face?" - Question from a former student (who I am teaching again in a different class) after she announced her return to my room by saying, "Mister! Your favorite student is here." (8/6/14)

Quote of the Day (request)

"Mister, can I talk to you after class?" - Ominous question from a high school student on the first day of instruction. His conversation immediately after class started with a daunting: "I have a HUGE favor to ask of you." Bracing myself for some taxing request, he stunned me by saying, "I have a lot of friends in this class, and I feel like they would be a distraction to me. Is there any way I could switch periods so I can focus better?" (8/5/14)