Our math department puts out a survey to all students at the beginning of the year and this morning they are going over their Mathematical Autobiography sheets together as a team. The laughter sucked me right in so I joined them to read through the answers.
The questions are benign enough, but it gives them an idea of what their math experience has been in the past. It’s a quick way to assess how much the students like or dislike math as a discipline. As one who has a little math anxiety, I can empathize with those students who don’t like it.
Some of their questions were:
1) Describe your favorie memory of mathematics.
2) Describe your worst mathematics experience.
3) What characteristics would your ideal teacher have?
It was that last question that nearly made all the coffee in my mouth shoot straight out of my nose. Not so much because of the question, but because of one of the answers from a 7th grade boy. We often joke in education that Spring brings too many meetings for teachers and too many hormonal surges for students. But this is the first week of school so we don’t normally talk about this stuff yet. We’re too busy getting to know the students to know much about their likes and dislikes and their personality types. This kid is already surging toward Spring according to his answer:
Q: What characteristics would your ideal teacher have?
A: Tyra Banks. Fine and sweet like a chocolate covered donut.
The standards have apparently risen since I was studying to be a teacher in college. I don’t recall the class entitled “Chocolate Covered Teaching 101″. I’ll have to go back and enroll in that one. Also, I’d prefer to be a little sticky like a Krispy Kreme, too.
OMG!! Boys are so grooossss! That is damn funny and did this survey have his name on it because, that is ballsy! Good luck with the new school year, I think we all need some!!
I think that is awfully cute. Already practicing his moves ;^)
1) The day I realized that the Geometry class I took actually could be applied to real-life (unlike most everything else in high school).
2) The day I realized that the Calculus class I took had absolutely no real-life application.
3) Be just like Elizabeth Hurley in the “teacher” sequence in the movie “Bedazzled.” Fine and sweet like clotted cream on a scone (whatever that is).
i.cannot.stop.laughing!!!
Hilarious!
and since i have a 7th grade event tonight, this will be at the front of my mind.
I don’t think i will ask them what they want in an ideal youth director, tyra i am not! though i do like doughnuts…
Does the chocolate covered donut have sprinkles on top? Because I think that would soooo outdo the Krispy Kreme. Although I’ve never really cared for donuts. I think my ideal teacher would look like Blair Underwood. I really wish LAX was still on the air. Ooh! Or Matthew McConaughey. I could listen to him lecture all day long.
Here I go daydreaming again.
Too funny! My personal favourite is the donut with caramel on the inside and toffee and chocolate on top. Mmmmmmmm I could see the appeal…..
)
ha! i wrote an entire blog post a month or two ago about TILFs (which is apparently what this kid is looking for). middle and high school age boys, i swear… and the junior class at my school, which is the grade i’ll be teaching, has a 70-30 split of guys to girls. eek!
TILFs – too funny. When I was in HS, I had a long, painful crush on the young, hot photo teacher. Which he totally encouraged because he was dogging around with students, I found out later.
Too funny!! Isn’t that a little young to be thinking that? Oh.My.
Okay, I must be slow. What is TILF?
Wow, somebody pulled the TILF card.
We all know the correct answer would have be certain coffee drinking literacy coach.
Julie, rent American Pie.
Jeez someone teach me how to write.
That very answer was in my sub-conscious when I was in the seventh grade. LOL
I have a favor to ask: if you have time, could you stop by my space and read my rant. I’d love to hear your take on what we’ve been dealing with at our kids’ school.
Muchas Gracias!
Natalia
when i was in 7th grade, i don’t even know what is tyra banks. well its the modern age now!
Well… won’t that kid be surprised when VANESSA WILLIAMS walks in to teach the class!
That is so hilarious. That’s all those boys think about TILFs and MILFs. But were they written anonymously?
: ) Sue
Jessica & Sue – Yes, his name was on it. What was he thinking?
Pam – Too true. We’re keeping an eye on that one.
Dave – I’m SO surprised by your third answer. SO surprised. Total shock. Really.
Jenna – Well, now you know what those boys will be thinking of…
Dana – WHAT? Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, beats a warm Krispy Kreme. It trumps all others.
Jennifer – Who else is hungry now, huh? Anyone? Anyone?
Kari – I must admit, that’s the first time I saw TILF. But, I immediately knew what it was.
Suebob – So you know of what this young man speaks, huh? Poor Suebob. That wasn’t very nice of that teacher. Don’t you hope he’s fat and bald now?
Julie – I just can’t write it out. Not here. Imagine the Google searches! Go to Urbandictionary.com. I learn all the bad stuff there.
Tom – Oh, you flatter me. You’d sit right in the front of my class, wouldn’t you?
Natalie – You kill me, girl! You got more than a chuckle from me on that one. I’ll be over to visit soon!
azhan – Yes, but who would you have chosen to be covered in sprinkles or chocolate, eh?
Eric – I’m afraid Tyra beats out Vanessa in his mind, but thanks for the thought!
Who said it? I HAVE to know!!
lmfao! Walllllll, is he wrong?
Wow–I thought that was more of an eighth grade issue than a seventh grade one–but, they start young these days, don’t they. I’m enjoying my new seventh graders–they’rea little sweeter than eighth graders.
KM
In 7th grade i was worried about…
That’s too far back to remember but i’m pretty sure it wasnt a chocolate covered teacher…
Favorite math memory…Mr. Tsiantis’ (small Greek man) Geometry class. He only had one arm and watching him draw circles and diagrams was really funny. We would get him to draw circles over and over again…he was a great guy.
Worst math experience…repeating Algebra I with Mr.Fish. Ugh. One year was bad enough, but two? He was going to pass me but my mother (the teacher) said nuhuh, she’s going to repeat and you’re going to TEACH her. Thanks mom.
Characteristics of a great math teacher…calmness in the face of adversity. Meaning those of us who just don’t get it. A sense of humor and of course patience. Looking like Tyra Banks does nothing for me, there are some men though…
That is hilarious. Lord help the girls in his grade, he’s starting early!
I work in finance and almost failed Math in school at every turn. Yay calculators!
Well, at least he didn’t say “cream filled chocolate covered donut”.
I supopse that’s something…
~(:=o)