Mr. V: I made some juice with beets for the first time this weekend.
Student: You made juice with headphones?
March 4, 2013
Mr. V: This myth is going to tell us the origin of the phrase "opening Pandora's box."
Student: We watching a porno?
February 25, 2013
Mr. V: "Lord of the Rings" is an example of an epic because the hero, Frodo, has to take on a quest to destroy the ring.
Student: Why can't he just bury it so nobody can wear it?
Mr. V: The ring has to be destroyed in the volcano where it was created.
Student: Or...he could just bury it so nobody can wear it. That movie sounds stupid.
February 21, 2013
Student: Mr. V, do girls have sperm?
Mr. V: We're not talking about this.
Student: I didn't think so, but then I heard about this thing called squirting.
Mr. V: We're not talking about this.
Student: My brother was talking about how his girlfriend squirts.
Mr. V: WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THIS.
February 20, 2013
Mr. V: What are you doing on your phone? Why is your thumb moving so quickly?
Student: Playing a game. You have to guess words, but I don't know any, so I just move across the letters.
Mr. V: If you don't know any words, why do you play a word game?
Student: I like moving my thumb fast.
February 15, 2013
Mr. V: So, what are your reactions to the video we just watched of the meteor over Russia?
Student: Russia has cars?
February 14, 2013 - Visting Another Classroom
Teacher: So if my weight is two times the weight of this student, what are two numbers we can apply to our weights?
Student A: You're 400 pounds and she's 200 pounds.
Teacher: Gee. Thanks.
February 13, 2013
Mr. V: Why is there a footprint on your back?
Student: Mr. V, life in the hood be complicated.
February 1, 2013
Student A: Kanye West is right in this song. People always be buying things they don't be needing. I think the song criticizes black people for spending they money on things that isn't as important.
Student B: Says the boy wearing the Jordans who can't read.
January 30, 2013
Mr. V: Did you have a good day today?
Student: Yes.
Mr. V: So you didn't hit anybody?
Student: Nope.
Mr. V: Isn't it sad we have to measure whether or not you have a good day by whether or not you hit someone?
Student: I accidentally kicked someone. Can we still say it was a good day?
I teach at an urban school in a major US city. Most of my students live very tough lives, dealing with issues of poverty and broken homes. Some things they say make me laugh. Some things they say make me cry. Everything they say shows how incredible they are.