I'm still in that middle school English class I started off the year in. There's a reason I don't do these sorts of assignments all that often. They are hard slog.
I have three periods of seventh graders. They've been lovely. A little squirrelly, sure, but for the most part they've been fine. The eighth graders, however...
This day was going a bit better than some others, but the group at the back thought something was hilarious.
"They're laughing at you," a girl informed me.
Because, of course they were.
Ugh. Eighth graders. I remember that in 8th grade, the students did get crazy and out-of-hand. In 7th grade, they were calmer and nicer. Probably because middle school is so new to them. (Where I live middle school starts in 7th grade.)
ReplyDeleteSame here. 8th graders think they're all that. They have no idea...
Delete8th graders are rude. hopefully they row out of it.
ReplyDeleteThey generally do, but this year was horrible as 7th graders last year, so I have a feeling they'll be awful as freshmen next year.
DeleteNo matter what a sub does, s/he is fair game for those 8th graders.
ReplyDeleteLove that word Squirrelly! It sure is never boring at work!
ReplyDeleteWren x
I look forward to boring days ahead.
DeleteSquirrelly is a good description.
ReplyDeleteJust laugh back at those kids. It will freak them out.
Yeah, I wouldn't be feeling bad about that bunch of eighth graders laughing at me. Thankfully, you're just teaching. You're not an actual middle schooler anymore.
ReplyDeleteThere must be something about 8th graders. I took my daughter to a birthday party last year, and one of the girl's older brother's friends decided it'd be fun to mock me. According to him, I had no class because I was wearing pajamas (they were actually joggers) and had headphones hanging around my neck. Well, why the heck not? I was at a park, on my day off, attending a little kid's birthday party. I looked at him and said, "why do you think your opinion would have any impact on me?" He went on snickering and mocking, and I ceased engaging, annoyed that he was an ***hole who decided to target me. (I still wear my joggers without shame, though I've since upgraded my headphones to wireless earbuds.) But seriously, what is it about that age that turns people into jerks?
ReplyDeleteI wish I knew. But they are. (Next time, you should tell him that that which he mocks is what he'll become as an adult...)
DeleteAh, but see, he'll never be as cool as me. ;)
DeleteAt least the 7th graders are ok. You'd think since you're there longer than usual they would lightened up a bit...you know decide you're not the usual sub for the day. I think perhaps you should wear your orange mask in one day...the one in your profile picture, lol.
ReplyDeleteThat's why the 7th graders are okay. The 8th graders are just an awful group. I'll be glad to see the back side of them.
DeleteBetter they laugh at you than at a classmate. For you it's the teacher/student divide that makes them lash out, but not so easy for a peer.
ReplyDeleteIf I remember that age correctly, yes, that is when we all turned into monsters. Must be a teenager thing.
ReplyDeleteAh, how pleasant...
ReplyDeleteTypical for middle school, really.
DeleteTEENS!!! What a joke.
ReplyDeleteYup.
DeleteMost teen grow up and that what every parent and teacher have to look forward to.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on
Why were they laughing at you? Did I miss something in your post? Or is it that they simply are eighth graders is why they were laughing?
ReplyDeletebetty
Kids are assholes. I know. I've got 4. They grow out of it. :)
ReplyDeleteGood thing. I shudder to think of what society would be if they didn't.
DeleteLiz,
ReplyDeleteYeah, but who'll be laughing when something important is missed in class at test time? Karm works that way, you know. Kids are not only silly but stupid. They have many lessons to learn.
How disrespectful. Sad. As a kid I was the brunt of other students' derision, probably because I didn't wear designer label clothes, and never joined in treating a teacher thus. Why not stay true to my default mode of decency rather than bothering to try and fit in? ~nods~ To this day I mostly avoid kids in general. Heh... Be well!
ReplyDeleteThey fixate on the stupidest stuff.
DeleteThere goes my mind at work as to how you could freak out those 8th graders so they will second guess anything they do in the future.
ReplyDeleteThat would have been cool. But I'm rid of them now.
DeleteTeenagers!
ReplyDelete