Last year I played videos at the beginning of class as a way to encourage students to come to class on time.  The videos were 2-3 minutes in length and covered a variety of topics.  Students would fill out a reflection worksheet, and this would count towards their grade.  I just found some of the responses while cleaning out some old folders from last year.

I liked the fact that instead of the regular rapping and singing he was screaming.  I feel the same way he do.

They is a mess.  He got pimples on TV!

I did not like the lyrics I could hear, or they haircuts, or that he say he the devil.

I did not like the name of the group.

I liked the name of the band.

The song made no sense, they seem crazy.

I liked the girl in the beehive hair and the Nazi outfit.

The lead singer is so ugly.

Why they look so dirty?

I like how loud they were.

I can't understand the lyrics, and the drummer was off beat a lot.

I liked that they tried to pursue the audience.

They singing a song about attacking people.

Today is the last day of the second session of camp. I have only three weeks left of teaching out here in suburbia.

The biggest difference from the school year is the lack of discipline problems. When students are well behaved and respectful of each other it is possible to create an environment where they can't help but learn. I think that some of my students believe they are goofing off. I want to create spaces that gently direct students through projects and learning.

I want to fight less.