Like, over the semesters I've had multiple students approach me after class, eyes wide and expressions hopeful, asking if I was serious about all this extra credit talk. I was like, no, of course not.
But.
As a break from our intensive research and writing this semester, we're concluding class (last week and this week) with student presentations and Q&A sessions. They are both lively and laid back - a nice, calming way to end the chaos that has been Fall 2016 and also gear up for finals week. So, one of my students was talking about getting a brand new kitten and I may or may not have said that she wouldn't even have to give a presentation if she would just bring the cat to class.*
We all laughed and yet everyone totally knew I was serious.
Well, well, well, take a look who showed up for our very last class today:
I was like, omg stop you get an A we're done here. I may or may not have held the little sweetie while wrapping up the entire semester.
It occurs to me that, try as I may to be strict, I might actually be transparent and frighteningly easy to manipulate. And I sort of don't care if it involves fuzzy animal preciousness. Yet, the way students snicker sometimes, combined with my increasing deafness as a result of old age and my general un-hip/un-cool demeanor...it has me a bit self-conscious.
Speaking of animal preciousness, or the lack thereof, this festivity:
quickly degenerated into this bah humbugness:
C'est la vie in dawrighthouse. Three introverts live here and most of us are surly this week. Two. More. Days.
*She did, of course, have to give a presentation. But, who am I kidding, she aced it and bringing in a 10-week-old kitten can only improve your communication skills, amiright?
I have been giving some thought to teachers' effectiveness lately - mostly because the kids have had a leader leave and be replaced with someone they do not like at all - and it is interesting to me that as much as they belly-ache about her, they are learning some important skills (beyond just how to deal with someone you don't like.). Often they do what she asks just to stay out of her line of fire, but the things they do are good, helpful habits. So in short - I think students are learning all the time, even if it is just how to manipulate others!
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