At this point in the semester, teachers have been known to engage in a sport called "you're not going to believe what my student said." In pubs, on blogs and in coffee shops across the country, instructors vie to tell the most egregiously ridiculous anecdote, topping each other faster than you can say "can I change to audit?".
Well, I'd like to add a twist to the game. Let's start a "you're not going to believe what I said in class" competition. I'll go first. Last week, my basic writing students, having had a lively class, had trouble settling back down for the last fifteen minutes. Four students began asking me questions (simultaneously), and another three packed up and headed for the door.
"Hey, everyone stop moving. Go back to your seats. Raise your hand if you have a question." I glanced around the room at my students. "Look. It's the end of the semester, and you're doing a great job of hanging in there, but you've got to slow down a bit. I can't listen to all of you at once. Remember, I only have two sets of ears."
That's right, only two sets. "Or not, " I added, admiring the way the class swallowed their laughter. And with that, I began calling on the questioners, all ears.
ETA originally posted at 2 Board Alley
Powered by ScribeFire.
Ha! Good story, and better idea.
I remember doing the one-up game at Michigan, during summer portfolio reading at the English Composition Board.
Posted by: Bryan Alexander | August 29, 2007 at 10:05 PM