You Are Goofy and You Love Bacon

Every year on Valentine's Day, I do a class activity that someone once forwarded me from Ann Landers of all people.

A few days beforehand, I ask the kids to write down nice things about each of their classmates. I go through the whole discussion of what to write for a person that they don't particularly care for. I also discuss with them that they should not use the compliment as a veiled form of criticism.

I type them up so each kid gets a sheet of paper with all the nice things that their classmates had to say about them. I do not put any names by any statement so they are all anonymous. It is always hilarious to see their reactions as they get their paper and try to figure out who said what.

Here are some of my favorites, some I actually gave to the kids, some I unfortunately had to edit before giving out.

The Brutally Honest

The first five were all written by the same boy.

I like you because we get along most of the time. But when you are hyper, you get rough.

You are a good Elimination player. I like you, but you always seem to be negative.

You are very nice, but frequently you argue with me.

You are funny but sometimes this leads you to trouble.

I like to play games with you. We argue frequently.

Okay, don't talk to me that much.

The "You Are Okay for A Member of the Opposite Sex" Statements

I like to play games with you. You are one of my friends that are girls.

I like you as a friend. You are not like the other boys, in a good way.

The Social Climber

I like you because you invite me and my family to a lot of parties.

The Youthlarge Approved Compliment

You are goofy and you love bacon.

Hopefully, I Can Parlay this Holiday Into Something Bigger

You are very funny and you make me laugh. I've heard you are good at baseball and I've seen you're good at Elimination. And you are my Valentine.

Ah, So Sweet.

I wish you were still my desk neighbor.

I like you because are really nice and so heroic! And I think that's good.

We are very good friends. I love being around you. Sometimes I just laugh about how good friends we are.

Um, I Guess That Was Supposed To Be Nice.

The first one is what the girl who received the last one in the previous block of statements wrote as her comment to the loving girl. A little different in tone.

I am glad you are in my class instead of someone else's.

I can get a good laugh out of you.

I like you because you stick with you own thing and your own business.

I like you because you are always on the opposite side when we play games.

I think you are a confident person. You kill me sometimes but you are a good friend.

I don't know why I like you.

Assorted Brilliance

You are lucky you have a snack. I want one.

You are a good "Toxic Spitter."

You are sweet and caring. And you have a good smell.

I like you because you really really like eggs.

I like you because you don't care if people skip you in line.

I like you because you always terrorize Ian.

I like you because you chew on pencils.

I like you because you never yell at people.

I like you because you make funny noises. And you are good at sports.

I like you because you are very crazy and I expect you are being crazy right now!

I like you because you like cute things that I like.

I like you because you think I am nuts and I am!

Predictions

All written by the same girl.

You are a good leader and will be a good president.

You are kind and will grow up to have many kids.

You are a good person. I know you will not grow up to be a local terrorist.