These two nine weeks

Aahhh, teaching. Can't hate on it. I get a swelling feeling every time I walk down the hall. Not to mention the times they comment on my 'pimp jacket' and my 'pimp walk'. That always makes me feel good. I'm weak. I respond to student compliments like nobody's business. I was on the verge of letting a student smoke a cigarette with me (off campus, and he is 19) but I quickly thought the better of it. No point encouraging bad habits as a role model, even if he has been smoking since he was 15. But the reason I considered it? I'm his favorite teacher and he shows me so much deference. Comes into class on his free-period for extra work, too. Would that they were all so eager.
Still, I always wonder how much of it is ingenuous. I know it effects their grades-- they must know that, too--- grading is so 70% do you do your work, 20% do I like you, 10% do you know the material. It's your choice, your grade, kids. Be nice, do your work. A, A, A, all the way. Not rocket science.
I love them, though. Every @#%*& last one of them. Holla, y'all. Gimme sum! It's so @#%&%$#@&^ cute.