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Things Teenagers Say: Volume 3

Join me today for Volume 3 of Things Teenagers Say. This is my regular round-up of the crazy and memorable things I hear my students say in class. It’s been over a month since my last edition. Enjoy!

things teenagers say

Things Teenagers Say

Me: Today we are going to be learning about polynomials!  Aren’t you guys excited?
Student: Why would we be learning about party animals?  I’m confused…

Student: Doesn’t the US cover all seven continents?
Me: No.  Let’s take a look at this globe.
Student: This globe must be wrong.  My seventh grade geography teacher told us that the US was on all seven continents.

Student:  The worksheet I just turned in has Icy Hot on it.  Sorry!

(Later the Same Day)

Another Student: I apologize that my homework I just put in the tray has tabouli on it.

(This is only something that would happen in Drumright.  Tabouli is like a way of life here.  It is served every single day in the cafeteria.  I’d never even heard of it before moving here.  I wasn’t impressed the first time I tried it at, but it definitely grows on you!)

(During a Celebrity Age Guessing Game to Motivate Linear Regression in my Stats Class)
There is a photo of Clint Eastwood on the Smart Board.  Students have to guess the name of the celebrity and their age.

Student 1: Isn’t that the guy from all those westerns?
Student 2: Yeah – that’s John Wayne, right?

Student discussing me with another student: “Of course she doesn’t wear makeup.  She’s a vegetarian.  They’re against stuff like that.”

Student: I don’t understand why my teachers always count my answers wrong when I put a line through my Ts.
Me: Do you know how to write an F in cursive?
Student: No.  Why?
Me: Well an F in cursive is a T with a line through it.  So, when you write a T with a line through it, your teachers think you are writing an F.
Student: That makes so much sense now.

Student:  What are you eating?
Me: An enchilada.
Student: Why are you eating an enchilada?
Me: Because I brought leftovers for lunch.  My mom made enchiladas when I went to visit my parents this weekend, and she sent me back some leftovers.
Student: Are your parents Hispanic?
Me: No.  Why do you ask that?
Student: Well, only Hispanic people eat enchiladas.
Me: Yeah, that’s not quite a true statement.  Do I look like my parents are Hispanic?
Student: Yes. You look like you are part Hispanic and part Jewish.
Me: (Awkward Silence.  Yeah, I didn’t have any words to respond to that.)

Student: Can we listen to some music today?
Me: Sure, who do you want to listen to?
Student: How about some Michelangelo?

(Upon entering my classroom on the first day that the desks went from groups of four to rows)

Student: Why is this set up like an actual classroom?  I’m confused.

Want to read more things teenagers say? Check out previous volumes here

Recent Volumes of Things Teenagers Say

Dave

Monday 2nd of December 2013

Love these!

"the US was on all seven continents" possibly refers to military bases/embassies, which I seem to recall have some sort of psuedostatus as being "American soil". Still funny

Sarah Carter (@mathequalslove)

Saturday 11th of January 2014

I hadn't thought about it in that way! Thanks for sharing.