VExing

I was up really early this morning perseverating over details of the the dinner theater. Even though this is the most prepared we've ever been, I'm still stressing like crazy over the show. For someone who has never been in a show herself, I sure have enough stage fright for the cast as a whole. The thing is, the thing that was really stressing me out is that I need/want to share my opinion with some students about their work and I'm worried it will be discouraging or will fail to express how much I appreciate them-- but need them to maybe consider doing something over. Uggh. After ten years in a classroom, I trust my voice and my ability to express myself pretty clearly-- or kindly. But, there are times when my inner candor and honesty wants to eeek out and that voice isn't as gentle or censored. When I was a teen, I had quite the wicked voice and temper and could be downright mean to my family. It's taken my many years to trap that "animal" inside, but occasionally, flavors of that precise but possibly painful honesty ache to emerge. What to do?

On a regular basis, people tell me that they don't have homework or some other similarly disappointing statement and then they couch that remark with, "Well, at least I'm being honest". I don't know that honesty excuses poor behavior. I also don't know if honesty is always the best policy.... Do I want you to plagiarize? No. Do I want you to walk down the hall critiquing everyone's outfit? Also no. What is the best plan? And, how equipped are young people to hearing critique and feedback? How do you hear feedback differently from friends, family or teachers? Where did you learn your response to constructive criticism or compliments, for that matter?