week 10 Thursday, Apr 19 2012

Because I didn’t do the service learning project, I can’t write about that. So instead I’ll talk about how I volunteer at a certain geriatric facility (nursing home). At the nursing home, I can’t really do anything medical, which is a real bummer, so instead I do little things. Like read to the bed ridden patients and polish the nails of old ladies who tell me I remind them of their grand-daughters, or some other members of their family, or even themselves when they were my age. There’s one particular patient that I consider my favorite. She always runs around looking for her daughter and refuses to believe that her daughter is now a grown woman with children and a family of her own. She says over and over again, “I just bought her an ice cream and she ran off with it, she’ll ruin her new dress.” No matter how many times anyone explains to her that her daughter isn’t there, she won’t listen. Her eldest son even went so far as to write her a note explaining that she is in a geriatric facility and that instead of worrying all day she should relax. It doesn’t work. In her mind, the note says that he’ll be there to pick her up after he leaves work, which is strange because she actually does remember how to read. We believe what we want I guess. Even though I’m technically not supposed to, it makes her feel better if I agree that her daughter actually did run away from her. Sometimes I even help her look for her daughter. We search until she snaps back. She has early onset Alzheimer’s and she goes in and out. I honestly enjoy the time I spend with this particular patient, it makes me feel good to know that I can “help her.”

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Week 10 Response Saturday, Dec 10 2011

Dr. Kelley,

 

I just want to thank you for helping me this semester in lab whenever I needed, as well as always making class fun. Have good break!

 

Thanks,

 

Chelsea Thomas

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Thanks Favorite teacher Saturday, Dec 10 2011

Dear Dr. Baker,

You are an incredible professor. Where did you get your degree from? Anyway you are so awsome you can tell the other english professors to kick rocks. I’m totally kidding that is not nice and they will probably shun you for it so just do it in your mind. I really wish I still had you for next semester. Okay so let’s see. The books and essays you had us read were so interesting. I’m glad I did not have to write about something boring. It was actually stuff that I cared about. I think my favorite writing had to be when we had to pick a poem by Lucile Clifton and analyze it. Also when we had to make our own poem. I did not submit it to new voices yet, but do not worry I will and I think my parents will keep a copy and frame it. I swear they are so corny. But any way I like how you help to explain and analyze the things that we read. I wanted to keep the This I Believe book but I rented so I have to give it back. But thank you for introducing it to me. All the stories and philosophies were interesting. HUGE thanks to not making us do like a ten page research paper! I remember I had to do it for my senior year in high school. I want to say thanks for giving great feedback on my essays it really helped. I feel prepared to go on to the next english. I want to also wish you the best of luck with your wedding! I really wish I could come crash it but anyway don’t worry too much because that gives you wrinkles. And as a result you wouldn’t look “thick.” But anyway I just really wanted to thank you for a great english semester. It was seriously one of the classes I wouldn’t think about skipping. So thanks again!

 

Jade

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Week10 Saturday, Dec 10 2011

Dear Ms. Kaitlin,

I would like to thank you for a wonderful semester of Math 990. Before entering your class, I was struggling with many of the concepts and I thought that it would hinder my freshman year. During the beginning of the semester I struggled to score over a 75 on most of the exams you gave to the class. When you sent me an email that recommended that I attend your office hours at least 2-3 times a week, I knew that you were not like most professor’s. Most professor’s would not attempt to be so curteous and reach out a helping hand. You also recommended that if I needed help on any of my math homework or if I had any questions, that i should attend the math lab. I was not familiar with the math lab and I was not sure if they would be able to help because I did not want any of the peer teachers to judge me based on how many questions I had. Putting aside those fears I began to attend your office hours and the math lab at least 2-4 times a week. Also in class I began to ask questions about topics I did not understand. By you reaching out a helping hand, it prompted me to take initiative in my other courses. I would like to thank you for helping me build my math skills this semester and I look forward to your Intensive Pre-Calc course.

Sincerely,

Keyvae Singletary

 

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Email your favorite teacher Friday, Dec 9 2011

Hi Dr. Baker,

For my Freshman Seminar blog, I am required to write an email to my favorite at Xavier and thank them for their hard work. I chose as my favorite teacher because you made me feel comfortable in class. I don’t know if this was the same for the other students but, for me English is not my best subject. When I came into your class I didn’t know what the outcome would be. Once classes actually started, all of my nerves went away. You made me feel like I was back in high school, doing work with a bunch with friends I consider brothers and sisters and a teacher I can always talk to. You made the work fun and easy to understand. Also you made each assignment easy to relate to so we wouldn’t have to struggle with anything. Your feedback on each paper helped me to grow more as a writer and I know when I go to pick up a book, I won’t judge it by the cover or the name. I just want to say thank you so much for all the work you’ve done for me and I know all of your work will go on to bigger and better things.

Best,
Kenyal Rieux

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Week 10 Thursday, Dec 8 2011

Hello Ms. Sadaiappen,

I am Laken Smith in your 3-5 lab class and I was just emailing you to tell you that I lost my ID and I was unable to swipe my ID today for class, I was wondering if you were able to mark down that I was in class so I don’t have any absences.

Thank You, Laken Smith

She excused my absence and clumsiness. She’s pretty great.

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Favorite Teacher Tuesday, Dec 6 2011

Dear Dr. Baker,

For my Freshmen Seminar blog topic, I am required to email my favorite teacher at Xavier and thanking them their work.  Well I chose you to be my favorite teacher for many reasons.  At the beginning of the school year, I was scared about English class and did not expect to enjoy English at all.  English has always been my worst subject and I could not see me making good grades in English.  The first reason is that you make the students feel comfortable in the class and like to keep the class interesting.  During the first day of class, you got the class to do an icebreaker activity to get everyone to learn each others’ names and get to know each other.  You make the class fun and every student is comfortable enough to talk about any topics discussed in class.  Because I consider myself to be horrible in English, I was embarrassed to show anyone my paper to proofread.  But because I was comfortable with the class, I was able to share my paper with ease.  The second reason is that you are always available to help me when I am struggling with my essays.  When I got my first two essays back, I was very discouraged by the fact my writings were bad and I was not able to get the grade I wanted.  I felt helpless to the fact that I am not a good writer and will not make good grades in English. But after my second essay you encouraged me to bring my paper to you for you to proofread.  I was always uncomfortable with showing the teacher my paper before it was due, but I have learned that doing so would be the best choice for my writing skills and my grade in the long run. You helped me understand that I can always come to my teachers if I ever need help. But the most important reason is that you show how I can improve my essays after you grade them and I learn how to write better after reading what you wrote on my essay. I actually feel like I can overcome my fear of English class and make good grades in the future if I try hard enough. Thank you for being such a great teacher and reaching out to help me when I was struggling. I can’t wait to have English 1020 with you next semester! And have a nice wedding!

Thanks,

Anthony-Hieu Nguyen

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Email to my favorite professor at Xavier thanking him/her for all that they have done. Sunday, Dec 4 2011

Mrs. Caitlin

 

Hello, I am writing you today to thank you for changing my views on math.  I have always been a person that just hated math and everything about it. From the time that I stepped foot into high school I never had a math teacher that really just made math easy for me to learn such as you had.  You have changed my views.  I no longer hate math and believe that I can do the math as long as I have a good teacher and confidence in myself.  I appreciate how you took the time out to work with the students especially me to understand the math that we were working on.  I appreciate how you took time out and broke down the math problems to the point that I could understand it.  I appreciate how you always had a smile on your face and never one time was rude to any of us.  I appreciate that you did not get frustrated when I was having a difficult time on a problem and was overlooking the simple things.  I appreciate how your spunk and charisma flows through your teaching style.  Once again I really appreciate all that you have done for me and how you have changed my views on math.  I am glad that I was able to meet a wonderful person and great professor like you.

 

 

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Send an email to your favorite teacher at Xavier thanking them for their work, and post the text of the email in your blog. Sunday, Dec 4 2011

Dear Mr. Shade,

I am writing this email to you today thanking you for all the help and insight that you provided as my English teacher. At the start of high school, during 9th and 10th grade, I had a teacher that wasn’t really able to help me build my writing skills. As a result, I was not prepared and on the level I should have been. Thankfully, I had a teacher like you, to help me pick up the pieces. At first it was very discouraging to see that most of the other students were very advanced in their writing, but you made it so that I was comfortable in that environment. I enjoyed our in class discussions and reviews. Through our discussions I learned to analyze and look deeper into what seemed like simple topics. Also during review, we looked through the good writing as well as the writing that needed work, so that those, like me, would know how to polish their essays. Not only were you an awesome teacher, you were always available to help and talk after hours. Your personality makes you approachable about any problem, a perfect trait for any teacher. All of this helped prepare me for my next college course. Right now a have a B in your class which makes me feel as though I have come a long way from high school with so much improvement. Thank you so much for the foundation you have instilled in me, I know that I will remember your tips and teachings always.

Sincerely,
Ariane Sip

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week 10 post Sunday, Dec 4 2011

Dr. Edgecomb,

I appreciate the semester that I got to spend in your class. Public speaking has never been my strong suit but thanks to your enthusiasm and your overall skill as a professor, I have learned to overcome my fear and actually enjoy speaking in public. You are a wonderful educator and I don’t believe you should change anything in your teaching methods. They suit your personality just fine.

With Gratitude,

Kirbrea Melancon

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