White board screw-ups (funny)

fluffhead · Post by **fluffhead** » Fri Oct 31, 2003 1:35 pm

Why is it that as soon as I start writing on a white board I can't spell to save my life? Sometimes I'll re-write a word 2 or 3 times because it just doesn't "look right", only to figure out that I had it right the first time!

Wait, it gets worse. Once I even made up a word. A student asked me what the verb form of "registration" is. I wrote "registrate" on the board! Where the heck did that come from?!?

Anyhoo, please share similar stories so I don't feel like I'm the only one!

sita · Post by **sita** » Fri Oct 31, 2003 2:27 pm

Hiya

Maybe you were just nervous..

Best wishes
Siân

Lorikeet · Post by **Lorikeet** » Fri Oct 31, 2003 3:25 pm

My favorite is spelling "embarrassed" wrong. I used it to explain the word. (Yeah, I did it on purpose......right.....)

dduck · Post by **dduck** » Sat Nov 01, 2003 10:40 am

Hi Fuffhead,

I learned how to spell benefit during my first demo lesson. Not going to forget that one in a hurry

Something like, Bene = good in latin.

Iain

khim · Post by **khim** » Sat Nov 01, 2003 5:25 pm

I remember that I had a huge mistake with the white board in the first time of teaching. At that time, I tried to elicit the word "transfer" from the students. I spent a lot of time on eliciting this word. After the students got the right answer (transfer), I repeated this word several times. BUT when I wrote it on the board, I wrote the word "transform" on the board. At that time, I didn't know that I had made a mistake so I continue my teaching. Few minutes later, I saw most students smiling.

When I ask them what happen, they all pointed to the whiteboard. I was embarrased but I was glad that my students paid attention to my teaching and they never think that it was my mistake. Now I still keep in touch with these students. I think that they are good students and they are also good friends.
I think that I had a similar situation with you. When I think about my teaching experience, I always think of this mistake and these students.

dduck · Post by **dduck** » Sat Nov 01, 2003 8:33 pm

Oh, so many years ago. I gave a short presentation on an electronics project I had worked on. This was really the first time I had spoken in front of an audience. I had been going fine until I hit a mental brick wall. I wanted to say the word "capacitor", but I, for some reason, inserted an 'm' into the first syllable. I said, "Com...", something felt wrong. I tried again, and again. In the heat of the moment I couldn't think, for the life of me, what the correct word was. After these few abortive attempts, I went with "Compacitor". I think it gets easier after your first screw up, especially after you realise no one wants to throw you to the wolves.

Iain

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Mon Nov 03, 2003 4:18 am

I learned to spell *restaurant* in ESL class. Beginning ESL as a matter of fact. I spelled it incorrectly on the white board and one of my most beginning students raised her hand and told me it wasn't right. So I *fixed* it...and she gently pointed out the it was still wrong.
I laughed and looked it up.
But I sure can spell it now!
I think it is great when our students see us make mistakes-none of us are perfect!

Norm Ryder · Post by **Norm Ryder** » Sun Dec 28, 2003 5:59 am

Hi everyone

Sometimes a spelling mistake comes from the fact that your (sorry: you're) focussed (?one or two 's's?) on your subject and on your students, and your hand is running on autopilot.

But you have to be pleased that your students are alert (awake?) and taking notice of what you do. Once they see you make the odd mistake, maybe they'll even lay (?or 'lie'?) in wait to catch you out.

Happy flying.

Norm.