How to be a Teacher’s Pet…or Pet Peeve

lifted from http://blog.studentloannetwork.com/student-loans/being-a-teachers-pet-is-a-good-thing/

I am not posting from my experience as a teacher’s pet, because honestly, I think I was one of my teachers’ pet peeves.  This I realize now that I have been teaching for some time.  In fact, before I go ahead, I’d like to publicly apologize to the teachers I’ve offended particularly on my college days.  Sirs and mesdames, you know who you are.  Kayo po yung mga teachers na tinulugan ko o binasahan ko ng Harry Potter habang nagle-lecture.  Kayo rin po yung masama na ang tingin tuloy pa rin ang pakikipagdaldalan ko sa katabi ko, o kaya hindi ko pinapasukan o kung pinapasukan man eh para mag-sign lang ng attendance.  I’m not proud of what I’ve done–in fact, I am ashamed of myself now that I have followed your footsteps.  Ang sarap ko po palang kutusan.  I used to think that my “extracurricular activities” during your classes were not obvious:  kitang-kita pala that I was reading a different book, that I was tinkering my cellular phone, and that I was chatting with my seatmate (orally and even on paper, obvious pa rin) despite the fact that I was seated at the back.  I want you to know that if I were given a time machine, I would return to your classes and be a student who would motivate and inspire you to do better in your craft.

Anyway, I’ve rounded up the opinions of my colleagues (from our chitchats) on how a student becomes their pet or pet peeve.  Here they are:

lifted from waterytart23.blogspot.com

1. PET: The Eager Beaver.  Hermione Grangeris the poster girl.  While we admit that a student who can’t keep his/her knowledge to himself/herself is hilarious, we can’t help but admire such student.  Lemme give you  examples: A student in my husband’s science class was about to go out to go to the restroom.  As the student turned the knob, my husband posed a question–the student chimed in and eagerly answered the question despite the fact that he’s almost outside the room.  Another student in his class (different section) was already inside the restroom (the restroom is in the classroom…of course it’s closed!..but the person in the restroom can still hear the teacher), and my husband posed a question…and the student peeing in the restroom shouted his answer at the top of his voice!  Hahaha, we all had a good laugh upon hearing it.  But beneath the hysteria of what they’ve done, we still can’t help but admire these students.  Teachers have fond memories of the Eager Beavers.  A word of caution for eager beavers, though: Give your classmates a moment to shine.  When they’re the ones being asked to recite, be polite and don’t butt in.
2.  PET PEEVE:  The KJ-KJ (aka Kill Joy sa Korny Jokes).  There several types of KJ-KJ, and They include the following:

• a. The Deep-ako-ambabaw-ninyo!  This type of KJ-KJ feels like she (this is usually a feeling dalaga female) is the only mature person in the class, as she looks surprised/flabbergasted when her classmates laugh out loud.  She thinks that by not laughing at a joke posed by the teacher, she’ll gain respect from both the student body and the teacher alike.  WRONG!  The teachers KNOW they are cracking corny jokes, and if you don’t laugh, we either think, “Bahala ka kung ayaw mong tumawa” or that you simply did not get the joke.
• b. The Punchline Eager Beaver.  This is usually a naive pet student (see #1) who annoys a teacher by, yes, you guessed it right, giving the punchline of a joke.  This student thinks that by doing so, he will impress the teacher that he already knows the joke.  WRONG!  When a teacher delivers a joke, it’s as if Erik Santos is singing “Thiiiis….iiiis….theeeee….mooooo-MENT!” at the background…moment namin yun!!!  You are ruining it by giving away the punchline.  And, SURPRISE!  Your classmates may feel annoyed by your doing so, as I’m sure they’d rather hear it from their teacher.
• c. The Self-Proclaimed Funny Guy.  Yes, this is usually a guy.  This is the type who tries to bara the teacher with the hopes that his joke will be funnier.  Guess what?  Usually, the joke is on him.
• d. The Dogmatic KJ.   I hate this kind so much!  These are those who take offense at practically everything, even when everyone is taking the joke as what it is:  A J-O-K-E!  These are those who shudder when the teacher isn’t acting like Ms. Minchin or Prof. McGonagall.  Huy lighten up!  Otherwise, you’ll end up as a loser (Whoa, teacher nagsasabi na loser ako?!  Isusumbong ko kay Mommy, huhuhu…Hindi dapat ganyan ang teacher…dapat kasi respectable at good words lang ang sinasabi).
  

3. PET: Mr. and Ms. Congeniality.  Yes, we like it when you smile at us or greet us.  No, we don’t feel as though you’re making sipsip or nagpapaka-feeling close kayo.  On the contrary, we think you simply have good manners.  Guys and gals, what the hell is wrong with smiling at us or greeting us?!?  A “Hi” or “Hello” or a few words from students actually make our day.  Why do only a few students do this?  I know most of you are just shy, but sometimes when you act as though you did not see us, we feel offended.  I know the type:  you’re walking at a public place and then you see your teacher…despite the fact that the only remaining money you have in your pocket is your fare, you’d buy something from a store just so you won’t have to decide whether to greet us or not.  Bahala nang mag-wantutri sa jeep o maglakad hanggang mapudpod ang Havanas pauwi, makaiwas lang sa teacher.  Harumpft!

4. PET PEEVE: Close tayo?  While Mr. and Ms. Congeniality are like a burst of sunshine on an otherwise gloomy day, Close tayo? students are like a blinding ray of light that shines too brightly, the teacher wants to retreat back.  The line between being Mr. and Ms. Congeniality and Close tayo? isn’t exactly thin.  Lemme give you an example of how these two would react in this situation:

Scene: Teacher is passing by a group of students

Mr./Ms. Congeniality: Good morning po.  Ma’am ang ganda ng outfit mo ngayon.  Saan po ninyo nabili yan?

Close tayo?:  Siguro sa ukay-ukay mo binili yang outfit mo Ma’am ‘no?  Arbor na lang tutal mura lang naman ata yan!

5. PET: Your lessons are a matter of life and death!  There’s no such thing as Hindi-bibilib-sa-talino-ko-ang-teacher-ko-kung-ipapakita-kong-sobrang-interesado-ko-sa-itinuturo-niya-at-notes-ako-nang-notes.  Trust me, wala!  What teacher would tag you as “Ay hindi talaga matalino ‘yan, masipag lang” when you show him/her that you’re so interested in his/her lessons, and that you study diligently.  OK, meron siguro but don’t mind that teacher because if he/she acts that way, his/her opinion should not count!  Although I admit that there really are students who are not born with high IQ’s and nadadaan lang sa aral,  I respect them and not think lowly of them.  Let me tell you an open secret: your brain’s motto is “Use me or lose me.”  Your brain is like a sponge that absorbs whatever you feed it.  Feed it with crap, you get a crappy brain.  Feed it with BRAIN TRAIN lessons, you will be superior to all (hehe).
6. PET PEEVE: The Challenger.  Smart teachers usually appreciate sincere

lifted from zazzle.com

questions posed by students who really just want to learn, but smart teachers know it when you are simply trying to be a Smart Alec.  NEWS FLASH:  Smart teachers (those who actually know what they’re talking about) can delineate smart students from Smart Alecs.  Smart students ask relevant questions–something that may have not yet been addressed by the teacher (either the teacher thinks it’s irrelevant at that point or something he/she will eventually address).  Smart Alecs, however, pose trying hard questions out of the blue…alas, these questions sound stupid in the ears of the smart teacher and the smart students. Guys, it’s quite obvious that the reason you’re doing this is para kunyari nakikinig at nag-iisip nang mabuti or para kunyari may hidden genius in him.  Or if your purpose is to make your teacher look dumb (just like in those sitcoms or movies), save it for when your teacher is really dumb.  A smart teacher will make you look dumb.

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I might make a PART TWO this entry.  But for the meantime, let me sum it up:  BE SENSITIVE, PUT YOURSELF IN YOUR TEACHER’S SHOES.  Perhaps an unenthusiastic teacher (the type who thinks that he/she is too good to be a teacher and that all his/her students are lesser beings) deserves crap from you, but when you see that your teacher is trying hard to teach you well, appreciate it.  Pag nag-joke, matuwa ka na lang.  Hindi mo lang alam,  nag-research pa yun at nag-practice pa sa delivery tapos babarahin mo lang?  Teachers who try too hard to be likable are rare…don’t be the cause of his/her losing enthusiasm to teach.  If and when you do, you’ll be sorrier because you’ll be stuck with a boring teacher.