Monday, February 28, 2011

I'll upbraid you.

Me: Sanctimonious
Student: Hoity toity . . .
Me: . . .
Student: . . . piety
Me: . . . Ok, close enough. Upbraid.
Student: It's how my mom wears her hair. She wears it up in a braid, an upbraid.
Me: Really?
Student: It's really pretty, in an upbraid.
Me: No.

Monday, February 21, 2011

I was going to say Democratic-Republican, but that works.

Me: So you remember the difference between Jefferson and Hamilton? We talked about it last week.
Student: Yes, Hamilton was a . . . Federalist?
Me: Yup. And he promoted a strong federal government, while Jefferson was for state's rights. But then he did that Louisiana Purchase thing which was against his ideals as . . . what was it that he was?
Student: An Anti-Federalist?
Me: Right, but there is a word.
Student: Hypocrite?

Monday, February 14, 2011

We are not pleased!

Student: I haven't edited this paper at all.
Me: Ok, let's see. . . . . hm . . . Galileo was executed because the Church was not pleased with his heresy. Really?
Student: What?
Me: Who talks like that? It is like the royal we. I am not pleased with this sentence.

Monday, February 7, 2011

I, give, up.

Me: Do you know what waive means?
Student: Like when you see someone on the street?
Me: That is w-a-v-e. This is with an i.
Student: Like when you waive your rights?
Me: Exactly. Give up.
Student: [writes on card]
Me: It's "give up", not "give, up"