Two things I don't want to forget to tell you...

1. A student in my class has repeated told me, "Mees, this is a real sideball" or "Mees, this [US history concept, idea, event, etc.] is a real sideball." Finally today the following interaction occurred:

Mees: Ok, today you are making political cartoons about Jacksonian Democracy.

Student: Oh Mees! You are throwing me a real sideball. I can't draw--I'm really terrible.

Mees: Wait...do you mean I'm throwing you a "curveball"?

Student: Yes. Whatever. I like to say sideball.

2. During the same class, one of my Mexican students pointed to the following image and insisted that this cartoon MUST be depicting the Mexican eagle stabbing Jefferson in the heart in outrage over the outcome of the Mexican War. It might be my nerdy US history teacher side, but I thought this was hilarious.