Unexpected Tamaki Intrusions and Other Nonsense

[sciathan_file]

I'll most likely be back in action in about 2 weeks. In the last two weeks I have graded 180 essays (68 of those being 5-10 page research papers wherein I had to anally go over their MLA formatting -_-). Also, I comment compulsively on my students' papers so they know exactly why they got the grade they got. And I have 180 essays to go and

Comments

[sciathan_file]

1. Teachers are freaking busy people. And we don't get paid for being that busy, really. Especially if you are a sub. But my writing developed because a teacher took the time to comment on what the good, bad, and ugly of it, and I think this should be the case all the time (I always comment, but the volume of my comments depends on how much I am going to die of grading overload and how important the assignment is). Don't tell my honors students, but the first assignment I always give them I ream them on to set them in line... :) I am an evil teacher.

2. The Sun Also Rises is a junior English Honors novel...I've never taught it. :) Except for one day while I was subbing (the conversation went something like this. Student: "This book is about nothing!" Me: "Yes, and isn't that interesting? It looks like nothing, but there is definitely something there. Now, why would the author do that?" Student: *in shock due to subs knowing what they are talking about!*). We do Old Man and the Sea and the short story "The Short Happy Life of Francis MacComber" in 9th grade honors and this acts as an intro to both existentialism and the Hemingway code hero.

OMatS is kinda a tough sell to 9th graders. The only interpretation I've really seen that works is a reading a disagreed with, but the kids responded to. Also, existentialism is still shiny and new in 9th grade before they have to do TSAR, Camus' The Stranger, and Waiting for Godot senior year. Then it kinda loses its new car smell.

3. I <3 Tamaki. And my new vegetable peeler. He kept going "This man's prepared to go broke! DId you hear, we must act to lift him up from his poverty stricken excesses!"