Throughout the two years of high school that I have attended, not once did I think I would be using Play-Doh to express my imaginative cognitive skills. Never, would I believe someone who said they used Play-Doh to make an imaginary friend and lifestyle for that friend. Yet, the impossible becomes possible. Mr. Theriault is able to create a space where imaginative, fun, and young can be put into the same sentence as high school, honors, and English. For example, after the activity that was done, I can tell my parents, “Today in my honors English II class, I used Play-Doh and other works and crafts materials to express my younger, fun, and imaginative ideas to learn”. This is truly an experience because as Mr. Theriault incorporates aspects of fun and freedom, we as students can be more attentive believe it or not. This is because, as students are having fun and taking a break from school, they are still learning, going back to taking a break from school provides a space to be relaxed from all the other challenging classes that may occur. Not to say that, Mr. Theriault’s class is not challenging, but it allows students to be more lenient with their schedules and boosts their morale. This as a result causes more attention to his class which allows him to really impact that student’s life and education. For instance, if you give a child candy to do homework, they will work on the homework. Basically bribery. Now, not to say Mr. Theriault is bribing anybody but he is giving appeasement to gain attention. In my own personal opinion, English is a top contender for my favorite class. This is because I look forward to this class, as I know it will allow me to pull myself away from the stressful environment of school but still learn. I look forward to this class because I know that if I pay attention, I will learn a life lesson, not just something that will stick for a week, but something that I will remember for years and apply.

Every day that Mr. Theriault shows up he purposely tries to make his class memorable, and to this day I remember one of the things he said on the first few days of class. If the lesson is not something I am going to use in the future or does not have a purpose, I am not going to teach it. That was spot on in what I want to see from a teacher. I am supposed to be taught as a student, not to be lectured. Mr. Theriault also goes on throughout the year to progressively put students into groups, this way we can enhance our social skills, work with other people, share ideas, and have fun or not be bored (both ways work). This is truly a way that Mr. Theriault captivates us, which is through groupwork with our own decided people. Furthermore, not only does Mr. Theriault allow us to work in groups he trusts us. He allows us to go outside and talk, trust that we are on task, and check up on us. Additionally, during the first few weeks of school he would put on music and on Mondays give us a peardeck to ask how we were doing mentally. Not only does he care about the educational side of our lives but the mental side as well. That is really great coming from a teacher, which allows us to create bonds and if needed have a trustworthy adult to talk to. When learning about SCOUT terms, or Specific, Comparison, Organization, Unusual, and Theme terms, which will help us next year on the AP Language test to analyze texts (another example of something we will use in the future), we played games that would require us to answer questions to win or even move in the game. That really hit home as I enjoy games, which intrigued me to answer as many questions as well as having fun learning terms such as Kairos or Exigency.

In a sense, Mr. Theriault is a perfect teacher, he understands and exhibits many traits that allow us to both learn and have fun, which creates interest and passion for the class and subject. He makes an advanced class “English Honors II”, to seem so relaxed and easy using games or music, both that appeal to teenage life.