There is something about taking a test that makes kids ask and say the strangest things. One of my favorite (read: most irritating) student habits is when they ask, “Is it multiple choice??? Is there matching?? Is there an essay???” as I’m handing out the paper. Gee kids, if you wait FIVE SECONDS you’ll find out. I gave a quiz last week that was separated into four sections, the first three were various types of character and style matching questions and then the fourth part (three questions) were free response.

After handing out the papers and going through the directions, one of the students gasped and said, “What are these???”   The young man next to her said, “They’re…free response questions.” She looked at me and asked, “Do I have to do them?”