My Advice for Teachers

- Make whatever you teach more fun. Everyone likes things when they're more fun and interesting. If your teaching and having fun while you're doing it, I'm almost positive that the kids you're teaching will react in the same way.

- Don't give lectures. Unless you want to bore everyone to death and make us feel like you're talking AT us rather than TO us, don't give lectures. Lectures are never fun, but if there i no other way to teach us then try to get the students to participate with you while you're teaching.

- Treat us with respect. We're people to and we like our views on things to be heard. If we think of something important enough to say while you're teaching, let us say our piece about it and move on. Nobody likes it when the teacher won't let anyone express their own thoughts and opinions on the matter at hand. Usually when a teacher respects the students, the students respect the teacher back.

- If there is any debate on the topic being taught let all the students debate (not argue) about it and let them hear each others point of view. It makes people more comfortable knowing that some people in the room share their views.

- Share things about yourself. The students like to hear about your life too (just not ALL the time) because it makes them feel more comfortable to be around you. It makes the teacher seem more normal to them and not like some strange adult telling them what to do.

Valentine's Day Limericks

There once was a woman

who fell in love with a roman

he was so smitten

he gave her a mitten

and she said dang man!

I met a guy named Steve

We went out on Valentines Day eve

He told me good-bye

and told me to get some shut-eye

For the next day he had to leave

There was a man who helped kidnap

a woman by hitting her in the knee-cap

He did not want to be alone on Valentines Day

but he was happy and gay and did not delay

letting her go on her way with a map and boot-straps.

There was a guy with a rose

who liked writing prose

He wrote about a lady

and called her an old bitty

and he got hit on the nose.

Today is the day

people go and say

I love you dear

and want to hold you near

for it's Valentines Day.

Life Changing Experience.

I don't know if this counts, but here goes...

My brother was heavily involved in drug throughout his teenage years. It got him all messed up in school, he lost a ton of weight, had a bad attitude, hung out with the wrong people, and generally was doing terrible. As I watched him go though all these things it has influenced me not to do any drugs.

A lot of my family members are alcoholics who's livers are going through hell and other health problems. I see them gradually growing worse and drinking more while their kids look on worried and scared because they just won't stop.

Because of this, I would never want to put anyone through what my family and I have gone through by doing drugs or drinking so now I loathe even the thought of doing drugs/drinking and I never want to do it.

I don't mind if other people do it, it's your decision and I won't judge you for it. That's just my personal belief. A lot of people I know and some of the people I respect drink and stuff and it doesn't bug me, just don't expect me to join you because it's just not anything I would want to do.

Prepositional Phrases.

In the middle of Missouri, about halfway between Branson and Springfield, is the quiet town of Crane. Over hills, down the old Main Street, and through the one stop light in town, lies my dad's quaint little house. If you go through the hall, down the stairs to the basement, and take a sharp left there is my favorite place. Sitting there among the rows and rows of old records and books, music floating throughout the air and before the fireplace, nothing could be better.

Teachers.

Some of my most memorable teachers that created somewhat of a "spark" in me are my second grade teacher Mrs. Boone, my fifth grade teacher Mrs. Deas, my eighth grade art teacher Mrs. Bromley as well as some others.

Mrs. Boone was my second grade teacher at my elementary school in Alabama. She was always one of my favorites and I liked her a lot. She was one of the first teachers who noticed that I had a higher than normal reading level (I had a twelfth grade reading level) and always encouraged me to read more difficult books which I gladly did. I also remember that that was when I started liking math. I LOVED math back in elementary/middle school and that's when it started. She always used to brag about me to other teachers and it always made me feel good about myself.

Mrs. Deas was my fifth grade teacher was also always supporting my reading and math too. She would always let me go to the library even though I had gone the day before, and the day before that, and the day before that, and so on. (Yeah, I went everyday.) Eventually I became one of the top readers in the whole school. (Only ten points behind first place.) Since I was really good at math as well she convinced me to join the math team (that she ran) and we went and had competitions and stuff. So, that made me like math even more.

My art teacher Mrs. Bromley was the most eccentric, creative, and awesome-est teacher I have ever had. She always made sure that the kids loved whatever it was we were doing and made us understand artists better and would always come up with the coolest projects. I liked her a lot. I had her for two years in a row and would have loved to have her for another. She was awesome.

Looking back on all this I am realizing how much of a little dork I was am.

I don't think I'd change it though.

My Nicknames.

I've had plenty of nicknames over the years especially the generic ones that come with my name being Jessica like Jess, Jesse, and other variations. Those all just came from my name (as you can tell) and all of my friends have called me that at one time or another.

One of the not-so-ordinary nicknames that I now have is Jessimandiffer. I know, it's extremely long and weird, but I got it because when I first met one of my friends (whose really bad at remembering names) they couldn't remember my name so they kept calling me Amanda, Jennifer, and occasionally my actual name. So the rest of my friends told him just to call me Jessimandiffer then he's always be just a little bit right. So, that's why I have that one.

Another nickname (that isn't that much of a nickname) is JesEcA, it's weird. I don't even know how that one really came about, but they just spelled my name like that ALL the time and since I didn't really mind, they just kept on doing it.

I have a zillion of other nicknames but I would rather not write about them because that could go on forever and ever and ever and ever. I don't ever usually mind it when people call me something different (unless it's mean or something bad) so usually when someone gives me a new nickname I am pretty much indifferent about it.

Being a Braggart.

What am I good at?? hmmm... gotta think...

I'm pretty good a math. I think it's pretty easy and I don't really have that much trouble doing it. It's one of my best subjects and always has been. Because I'm good at math I am pretty good at accounting too which I think will be my career when I get older.

Oh, I'm pretty good at memorizing stuff right before I have to take a test on it too. Like, in french last year, I never studied but right before the tests I would look over everything real quick and get A's on the tests.

I'm good at reading. I love reading. I actually stayed up extremely late last night because I was so into one of Stephen King's books called "Salem's Lot" (So far, it's really good.). I am pretty good at answering the questions to do with reading too. For example, I've always scored really high on the reading part of standardized tests like the SAT and the FCAT.

I am good at keeping my head on straight and I don't let other stuff influence my opinions about things. I form my own opinions based on my own beliefs.

I'm pretty good at giving advice. Although if you ask me for it, be prepared for a pretty straight-forward answer because if you come to me to hear my opinion/advice then I will give you a completely honest answer.

I'm also pretty good at breathing. I like to think that I'm pretty much an expert at it really. I mean, I have been doing it all my life.

I'm good at listening and being respectful towards people. I think that your respect is one of the most important things you can give someone. I like to be respected and I'm sure other people do too.

Speaking of computers, I am pretty good at using them and doing all kinds of stuff on them. I'm not a genius at it but, I'm pretty good with them.