Oh Happy Day because of happy students

I've gotten some interesting positive feedback from students this week. Yesterday, I asked my 096 students to give me anonymous feedback about how the class is going and if there is anything they'd change. I'll spare the details, but what I learned from them is they are genuinely happy to be in my class. They like what we're doing, they like that their learning and they like how I treat them. Wow. How refreshing!

Then today, one of my 102 students wrote on Facebook that she always likes her English teachers even though she does not like English as a class.

All of this positive feedback has made me realize that, you know what?, I like my students this semester. They are really personable. And it's not just one class. The 9 a.m. class has so many students in it who are clearly trying so hard to do well. They ask great questions. They interact well with one another. (And the class meets in the room we used for the learning community, so it brings back good memories) My 11 a.m. class is just so real. The students in that class have distinct identities. And the the 12 o'clock class is so openly friendly. Some of the students in that class are just sweet. Others are sociable and, I don't know, just more awake than I'm used to. They make me kind of hyper and then they laugh with me (at least I think it's with me; it may very well be at me, but, again, they are paying attention!).

And then today the 102 class gave me great hope for interesting research papers this semester. Some of the students have really embraced the opportunity to work with one another and the give and take of ideas. I'm hoping they rub off on some of the other students (yup, I'm looking at you, Fantasy Sports guy).