Category Archives: students

Engage for Better Results

Posted on May 5, 2014 by maggiec

“Somewhere there’s a score being kept, so you have an obligation to live life as well as you can, be as engaged as you can.” ~Bill Murray Secret confession time: I adore Bill Murray. Have since the 70s. From what … Continue reading →

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Setting Priorities

Posted on April 12, 2014 by maggiec

“I learned that we can do anything, but we can’t do everything… at least not at the same time. So think of your priorities not in terms of what activities you do, but when you do them. Timing is everything.” … Continue reading →

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Attitude Counts

Posted on March 19, 2014 by maggiec

“There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.” ~ W. Clement Stone One of the things I try to … Continue reading →

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Excuses, Excuses

Posted on February 19, 2014 by maggiec

“Ninety-nine percent of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses.” ~ George Washington Carver   First paper of the term was due today.  I collected some, but I actually collected more excuses than papers. Everyone … Continue reading →

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Life’s Challenges

Posted on December 18, 2013 by maggiec

“Only by contending with challenges that seem to be beyond your strength to handle at the moment you can grow more surely toward the stars.” ~ Brian Tracy Challenges–’tis the season for them.  There’s the holiday hoopla that so many … Continue reading →

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Why Good Manners?

Posted on October 7, 2013 by maggiec

“Respect for ourselves guides our morals, respect for others guides our manners.” ~Laurence Sterne I often have my first year students read Peaco Todd’s essay, “Are Good Manners Part of a Good Education,”  hoping that they will take some of … Continue reading →

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Don’t Listen to “Them”

Posted on September 27, 2013 by maggiec

“Don’t be ruled by other people’s low expectations of you.” ~ Jose Torres The thing I like best about this quote is that a student brought it up at the very beginning of class.  Granted, I had assigned the essay, … Continue reading →

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Don’t Give in to Low Expectations

Posted on September 20, 2013 by maggiec

“That is still the case in this country for too many students, the soft bigotry of low expectations. If you don’t expect them to learn, if you don’t expect them to succeed – then it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.” ~Tavis … Continue reading →

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Life Needs More “Hows”

Posted on September 18, 2013 by maggiec

“The secret of success is learning how to use pain and pleasure instead of having pain and pleasure use you. If you do that, you’re in control of your life. If you don’t, life controls you.” ~ Tony Robbins Excellent … Continue reading →

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Seriously, there is no Box

Posted on September 15, 2013 by maggiec

“Let’s think out of the box!” ~ Every unoriginal thinker I’ve ever met Sorry to be so snarky about it, but whenever I ask students what they think English teachers want, I get four or five of the braver souls … Continue reading →

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