What makes an outstanding teacher?

What makes an outstanding teacher?

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Hmmm.. That is a very good question with many good answers!

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I personally believe that this question is bias and depends completely on the person.

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I think an important characteristic that an outstanding teacher would have is for that teacher to have her students understand her, while also having the ability to understand her students. Times do get tough for us students sometimes. With all the projects, tests, quizzes, and daily homework our lives to get a little hectic and [extremely] stressful.

An outstanding teacher (I will now be referring to an "outstanding teacher" as "OT"--just because I can and it is easier) should also be able to keep her students' attention within class. They should be able to get the lesson taught, yet involving the students. There is this thing we call "teacher fun," which unfortunately has no correlation to what we students consider "fun". Some activities done in class can sometimes lose the minds wandering away. Grabbing and holding a student's attention in class is essential for success.

Some teachers are rather awkward to talk to. Unfortunately, these are the worst ones to have. It is hard to talk to them. When someone has a question, naturally a teacher will go to explain it. Sometimes some students still do not understand it and just nod and say "ooooh!" This is seen in many instances--trust me.

When students ask a "stupid question" it is also in the teacher's judgement whether or not to judge that question as rather not-so-smart or a simple error. Some students are discouraged when teacher shoot their question down. It is part of the teacher's job to, hopefully, get everyone on the same page and encourage them to pursue higher goals.

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And the student went on to greater things, through the teachings of the outstanding teacher.

Happily ever after.

The end.

Happy birthday!! ♥

Today is my brother-dearest birthday!! WOOHOO!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADRIAN!! YOU GET A RANDOM POST ON MY AP LANG BLOG (LOL) !!

I hope you had a wonderful day!!

[You/he will probably never see this.. But it's okay because I wrote him a personal card, too]

I have been with my brother since he was born!! ♥

He has been once of my best friends for quite the while :D !!

Here is a poem in his honor [that I found from the internet]:

Brother of mine
I know sometimes I may whine
But deep down I really find you somewhat divine

You are smarter than you think.
Smarter than me – in some ways
Wiser than you know - 
You have experienced pains and joys
Some twice your age have never seen
Because of all of this you are three times the man

Brother of mine
I could be no prouder
I could love you no more
I will always be here for you.
No matter what occurs - 
No matter what is said or done
I will never be too far away
No matter the distance 
You’ll always be in my heart. 

♥

Source: Brother Of Mine, Brother Poem
http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/brother-of-mine#ixzz2Qla2wX4I 
www.FamilyFriendPoems.com 

I read that a couple of days ago and thought that it really reminded me of him. I could make this AP LANG-related and use my magical rhetorical analysis on how the author constructed this poem, but I will save that for another time. For now, I will just leave it as it stands. It's a poem I will maybe read to my brother one day. :')

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Love,
Arielle :)

Joe was the last person on earth I'd expect to do that.

"Joe was the last person on earth I'd expect to do that."

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My friends and I were sitting at our table in Starbucks last Thursday when we heard the chime of the door sound, signalling that someone had entered. We all turned around and in came Joe dripping wet from walking to Starbucks from his house (that happens to be 8 miles away) in the pouring rain. Things only got stranger from there. After thoroughly drying his shoes on the rug, he began to take of his outer layer of clothes. It surprised most of us that he was wearing a whole new outfit underneath it all. Underneath was a very nice, clean-cut tuxedo that seemed to be tailored just for him.

Out of no where, he pulled out a rose from his pocket and skipped to everyone in the Starbucks, asking if they would like to smell it. He never did come near us though. After majority of the customers declined his offer, he then ordered a drink. Upon receiving his drink, he burned his tongue and proceeded to smash the coffee cup into the floor. At this point, we all thought Joe was crazy. He then pretended to act like a dog and lick it all up--off of the floor.

Finally, my friend went up to him and asked, "Joe, are you crazy? You are in public and going nuts on this place. What's wrong?"

Joe answered, "I just wanted to let you see how much you drive me crazy."

My friend was speechless. Joe had just confessed to her. The next thing that happened was predictable. Joe then took her hand and asked her to prom.

At the end, I admitted, "Joe was the last person on earth I'd expect to do that."

TED Talk Review

The relationship between any father and daughter is one to truly cherish. Angela Patton makes this clear in the TED talk she has filmed. Her understanding of what a true bond between a father and a daughter should be is evidence to her argument. The two main appeals used in her talk is ethos and pathos. She crafts her argument through a chronological set of events that compiles the whole talk to one.

She starts with the story that illuminated the light on the precise topic her entire argument is about. The small anecdote reminisces a time she had with her friends that helped her realize the need and pull she felt towards the idea that daughters need to have connections to their fathers--especially comparing it to the one her close friend does not have. What she shares with the audience exposes their minds and hearts to the privilege some people to do not have with their fathers. By juxtaposing the idea of her friend complaining about her dad always "being on her back" and "calling all the time"; to the idea of her other close friend not having contact with her dad in years, she builds the emotion in the audience and slaps the truth right onto them that some girls do not, in fact, have this.

Patton goes on to describe the next event and this further brings out the sympathy and caring nature human nature endows. She shares plenty of heart-tugging stories between little girls and their fathers that completely support her point. There are also visuals to associate with the story--allowing the audience to actually see the faces to the people in her story, making it even more real than they can imagine. Also, Patton mentions her very own father attending the event draws to the audience's understanding that she holds a bond with her father. It makes her knowledgeable about her argument seeing as she has no problems with her father.

One strong point she makes is the obstacle of jail being between a daughter and her father. Even through this tough problem, Patton fights through it and makes it possible. She even quotes the guard's advice about having the fathers having a bond with their daughter helps them. She describes it all as "beautiful."

I think Patton effectively delivers her argument in her TED talk. Personally, I do understand the personal bond between fathers and daughters, so this talk did affect me emotionally--I understood the love and admiration felt with the bond. Patton is able to effectively shape her argument by drawing out the emotions of the people through the anecdotes she gives.

http://www.ted.com/talks/angela_patton_a_father_daughter_dance_in_prison.html