My last post shared students’ writing about their grades.  Now, in a lighthearted Christmas break post, here are some student messages in pictures.

I sometimes ask students to draw what they look like in math class.  The results are sometimes rich and insightful.

Obviously, some students enjoy their math class:Students often show that they understand the strengths and weaknesses of their classroom behavior.  For example:Similarly, I have had other students use their picture to confess that they talk to much, stare out the window, or play with their hair.  On the other hand, students have used their picture to illustrate that they are more on-task than their neighbors.

Some students express their negative experiences in math class: That last picture is a tough one to look at.  The student who drew it does struggle in math, and she doesn’t always know how to express that frustration in a healthy manner.  Sometimes she lashes out at help, sometimes she thrives on it.

Finally, my FAVORITE picture from this exercise.  This student perfectly captures the adolescent in the middle school classroom.  I could write pages about this drawing, but I’ll let it speak for itself: