I am so grateful for all of the practice timed writings we have been doing in class all year, although at the beginning of the year I feel as though we may have spent too much time grading essays together as a class rather than doing some at home and then in groups. I liked grading in groups much better, mostly because I felt uncomfortable giving my input on things because I felt judged every time I said something, and that certain people would always try to contradict me or in some way tell me I was wrong. If you did more active group work, then it would bring the students closer and engage them more, since I know it always irritates you that our class never talks.
Some of the Ted Talks were irrelevant and very boring, and I personally saw them as ineffective. I enjoyed the Socratic seminars (although it was a hassle to do the writing aspect of it) because they kept everyone engaged and I feel as though they helped me analyze a writer's tools and purposes, which is a skill I will need on the AP test. These blogs are also a creative way to get to know everyone, and I like how every week was just a random prompt that we had to respond to, much like the AP essays. I feel very well prepared, but I think that it would be helpful to many students if at the beginning of the year you discussed clauses, syntax, and grammar-type things to improve their essays. I wish that we had random vocabulary review quizzes all year long so that the words could be engrained into my existence, because I only recall a certain amount of them, but I wish I had been forced to continuously review them.
Overall, your teaching was a success! Thanks for your hard work.
