Sorry ... my mistake!
I was embarrassed ... (Third place, Story of the month)26 total reviews
Comment from jessizero
Did you ever find out who was rearranging your posters? Or did it just stop happening? Thanks for sharing your story here. It was entertaining. Best wishes.
reply by the author on 05-May-2022
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Did you ever find out who was rearranging your posters? Or did it just stop happening? Thanks for sharing your story here. It was entertaining. Best wishes.
Comment Written 05-May-2022
reply by the author on 05-May-2022
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Hi Jessi, no I never found out. It just stopped happening! Lol.
Many thanks for your review and good wishes.
Wendy
Comment from WalkerMan
We all make mistakes at times, and teachers are not exempt.
You did your best to immerse your students of French in the culture of France; so continually having to restore your posters to upright position was a nuisance, and finding them all upside-down was understandably beyond your patience. You checked the timetable to see which class had been assigned to your room when your class was not in session, but it had not been revised to show that the other class had been rescheduled for outdoor Physical Education in that time slot. You handled the resultant embarrassment well by apologizing to the students in the accused class, thereby both greatly increasing their respect for you and assuring that they would convince the culprit to cease the annoyance.
Thus, the episode ultimately benefitted all involved, and now has become a superb story for us to read. Brava!
reply by the author on 05-May-2022
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We all make mistakes at times, and teachers are not exempt.
You did your best to immerse your students of French in the culture of France; so continually having to restore your posters to upright position was a nuisance, and finding them all upside-down was understandably beyond your patience. You checked the timetable to see which class had been assigned to your room when your class was not in session, but it had not been revised to show that the other class had been rescheduled for outdoor Physical Education in that time slot. You handled the resultant embarrassment well by apologizing to the students in the accused class, thereby both greatly increasing their respect for you and assuring that they would convince the culprit to cease the annoyance.
Thus, the episode ultimately benefitted all involved, and now has become a superb story for us to read. Brava!
Comment Written 05-May-2022
reply by the author on 05-May-2022
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Thank you for that. Yes, I will attend to it. Many thanks for your thoughtful and detailed review and encouragement. Always appreciated, as are the beautiful six stars. Feeling honoured.
Wendy
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You are most welcome, Wendy. I see the change and have removed my comment on it, as is my custom, to leave you a clean review. You have demonstrated the value of honesty and humility in such a situation. Increasing mutual respect is always good.
:)) -- Mike
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Thank you Mike! That was so lovely of you. I always value your input. It's funny - I rarely use semi-colons, but I don't know why!
Wendy
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The rules about semicolons are rarely taught, so it is no surprise that few writers feel comfortable about using them. I didn't know all the relevant rules until I self-taught on my way to my doctorate. However, the rules themselves are relatively simple, once you start using them. In case you didn't save my comment, I'll resend it to you in a PM so you'll have it for future reference. :)) -- Mike
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Thank you! That's very kind.
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:))
Comment from Jesse James Doty
Yes, Wendy...this was a win-win situation and I am proud of you for apologizing to your students. You told this story well and kept my interest throughout the tale. Enjoyable to read and reflect on as you taught all of us a lesson in being graceful and thoughtful. I loved reading this and hope to read more like this.
Thanks, my friend!
Jesse
reply by the author on 05-May-2022
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Yes, Wendy...this was a win-win situation and I am proud of you for apologizing to your students. You told this story well and kept my interest throughout the tale. Enjoyable to read and reflect on as you taught all of us a lesson in being graceful and thoughtful. I loved reading this and hope to read more like this.
Thanks, my friend!
Jesse
Comment Written 05-May-2022
reply by the author on 05-May-2022
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Thank you so much Jesse, and I appreciate your gift of six stars - a lovely honour. I am glad you enjoyed this one. I was thinking of you last night, and decided before I went to bed that I would message you today to see how you are going, as I hadn't seen you around for a while. I hope all is going well with you, and also your new carers?
Thank you again.
Wendy
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Hello Wendy. My story is too long to tell in a few words and I am afraid I would leave something out so suffice to say I am doing well my friend thanks for asking.
I hope all is well with you too!
Take care,
Jesse
Comment from Paul McFarland
An interesting story. I think you and I are on the same page when it comes to relationships with students. When I was teaching, I never passed up an opportunity to better my relationship with my students.
reply by the author on 05-May-2022
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An interesting story. I think you and I are on the same page when it comes to relationships with students. When I was teaching, I never passed up an opportunity to better my relationship with my students.
Comment Written 05-May-2022
reply by the author on 05-May-2022
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I think that is very important. Teachers are human, and it's important for students to see that teachers model the same behaviours they expect from students. Honesty and respect - and no hypocrisy.
Many thanks for your review. Appreciated, as always.
Wendy
Comment from Katherine M. (k-11)
This was an interesting build-up and recital of events, but I was left feeling frustrated as I never found out whodunnit. For me that detracted from the lesson you were trying to show us. Also, it felt a bit like having to give a mystery library book back before I'd read the denouement (that's why I nevr borrow such books anymore).
reply by the author on 05-May-2022
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This was an interesting build-up and recital of events, but I was left feeling frustrated as I never found out whodunnit. For me that detracted from the lesson you were trying to show us. Also, it felt a bit like having to give a mystery library book back before I'd read the denouement (that's why I nevr borrow such books anymore).
Comment Written 05-May-2022
reply by the author on 05-May-2022
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Thank you Kate for reviewing. I didn't reveal who did it, because I still don't know myself who did it. But my story was more about the mistake I made of making a judgement, and rushing in, and the need to make an apology - and the results of that apology. The guilty person wasn't germane to the story. But it's interesting to see what people want and expect from such a story - so thank you!
Wendy
Comment from royowen
The fact that you humbled yourself in front what most teachers would possibly think were a bunch of insensitive "callows" would be unheard, you and my wife would be the only two who would, marvellous thing. One should always apologise to their children, they are, after all, our equals, not in authority, but in God's eyes, beautifully written, blessings Roy
reply by the author on 05-May-2022
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The fact that you humbled yourself in front what most teachers would possibly think were a bunch of insensitive "callows" would be unheard, you and my wife would be the only two who would, marvellous thing. One should always apologise to their children, they are, after all, our equals, not in authority, but in God's eyes, beautifully written, blessings Roy
Comment Written 05-May-2022
reply by the author on 05-May-2022
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Thanks so much Roy. Sounds like your wife and I are quite similar! I appreciate your thoughtful and kind review.
Wendy
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I think you are, I been trying to get her to write her memoirs, she always taught in lower socio economic high schools, interesting times for gentle ladies.
Comment from K. Lang-Slattery
I really like this personal essay. You share your feelings and talk about the students with love. You must have been an exceptional teacher. Perhaps, with a teacher like you, I might have actually learned French! Thanks for sharing this pleasing story.
. "I had left them. I would put things . . ." This is a place where some kind of link (to show cause and effect) would improve the writing. (can be as simple as making it a compound sentence).
reply by the author on 05-May-2022
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I really like this personal essay. You share your feelings and talk about the students with love. You must have been an exceptional teacher. Perhaps, with a teacher like you, I might have actually learned French! Thanks for sharing this pleasing story.
. "I had left them. I would put things . . ." This is a place where some kind of link (to show cause and effect) would improve the writing. (can be as simple as making it a compound sentence).
Comment Written 05-May-2022
reply by the author on 05-May-2022
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Thanks so much Kate. I?ll take another look. Appreciated, as always.
Wendy
Comment from Verna Cole Mitchell
I enjoyed this article for another part of your character it revealed. That is the way a teacher is supposed to conduct herself when she is wrong. I'm sure your students were very fortunate to learn with you as their teacher.
reply by the author on 05-May-2022
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I enjoyed this article for another part of your character it revealed. That is the way a teacher is supposed to conduct herself when she is wrong. I'm sure your students were very fortunate to learn with you as their teacher.
Comment Written 05-May-2022
reply by the author on 05-May-2022
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Thank you Verna! What a lovely review. I did have an excellent relationship with my students. It was a mutual pleasure to be their teacher. I miss them now.
Wendy
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I wrote a short book of poems, REFLECTIONS OF A TEACHER, ONCE AND STILL
Comment from barbara.wilkey
Thank you for sharing this contest entry with us. As of teacher for 26 years, I agree. I always apologuzed to my student when I was wrong. I also let them know that I didn't know everything and would continue to learn with them. Good luck with the contest.
reply by the author on 05-May-2022
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Thank you for sharing this contest entry with us. As of teacher for 26 years, I agree. I always apologuzed to my student when I was wrong. I also let them know that I didn't know everything and would continue to learn with them. Good luck with the contest.
Comment Written 05-May-2022
reply by the author on 05-May-2022
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Lovely review. Were you an English teacher? I also told my students that. As I told them, no-one even knows the English language perfectly, so we don't worry if we can't learn a second language perfectly. The aim is communication with ease, not perfection. so I would say I was a bit further along the way, and as I would continue to learn in English so I would in French as well. I even put a big "L" sign at the front, the sort learner drivers have to display when out driving.
Wendy
Comment from Dolly'sPoems
I loved your story here and your students sound delightful. At least the culprits did not destroy your posters and I expect the students you told knew full well who did this to you. Glad it was all sorted and you were able to continue with your French classes. Bravo professeur! Love Dolly x
reply by the author on 05-May-2022
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I loved your story here and your students sound delightful. At least the culprits did not destroy your posters and I expect the students you told knew full well who did this to you. Glad it was all sorted and you were able to continue with your French classes. Bravo professeur! Love Dolly x
Comment Written 05-May-2022
reply by the author on 05-May-2022
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Thanks so much Dolly. Yes, my students were a lovely lot. I never found out who did the prank, but I don't believe they were in any of my classes. Thanks so much for reviewing!
Wendy
