Friday. Seventh grade English.
I glanced at the class roster. Yup, I knew many of those names...
Fourth period. Out of a class of 22, 12 had been in the science class I had left just one week prior.
Immediately, Julian pounced. "Why did you give me a 13 on my lab safety poster?"
Julian is one of those overachiever-type kids. Good student. Anxious.
I graded the posters by rubric, 20 points total. (So, 13 is 65%.)
And... I don't really pay attention to names when I'm grading. And 175 students. Do I remember what each student got on the poster? Nope. I don't even remember what Julian's poster looked like.
I said something of the sort. I'm sure his grade is still just fine. (And I gave Mr. H carte blanche when it came to adjusting grades on the posters if he wished. That he didn't tells me he wasn't going to bother.)
Once class got started, there was a dispute between two boys. Myles and Clayton (I'm talking about Clayton in #8 of this list). Clayton had stolen Myles' water bottle and drank from it. (Clayton said he pretended to drink from it.) Myles was upset as the bottle was now nearly empty when it hadn't been before.
Oh, Myles could not be consoled. Then he said that Clayton had put grass in the bottle. (As Clayton had never left the room, I wasn't sure how he accomplished this.) Myles dumped out the remaining water, and now he was upset that he had no water. I pointed out that the school had water fountains made to fill water bottles. But the school water was warm and didn't taste good. Myles had had "good" water that was cold.
Deep sigh.
It was one thing after another with Myles. His table mates were antagonizing him. He couldn't do something else. On and on and on. (He's that kid. So, none of this surprised me.)
Then, Corbin. "The teachers at this school all hate me."
I told him I was sure that wasn't true.
"What? You hate me."
I denied this. Because, I don't hate him. He annoys me. But hate? Nope.
It was a day of constant motion, keeping the kiddos contained. But many actually did the assignment. (They were completing a storyboard based on a story they read: "Thank You, M'am" by Langston Hughes.) Typical seventh grade stuff.
Goodness, they have a lot going on.
ReplyDeleteThey do. It's the age. They mellow a lot from 7th grade to 10th grade.
DeleteReading this story in my 70's, I was crying by the end. What if I was in 7th grade? There certainly is enough action in the story but I would have been drawing stick figures. Still would.
ReplyDeleteStick figures were fine. Many of them used computers and traced images. They never really get the stories they read. Teachers try to explain, but at that age they're just exposing the students to good literature. It builds over the years.
DeleteOh, my! They sound like the kids my son supervises at work at the elementary school! They have the excuse of single digit ages!
ReplyDeleteWe chide them for acting like elementary age kiddos when they are now in middle school, but it does take some time for them to mature. MIddle school is a weird age where they think they're mature but they still act like little kids.
DeleteYeah, typical 7th grade
ReplyDeleteLOL
DeleteThey all think they're the center of the world at that age. Of course your life revolves around them. You don't exist when you're not teaching them.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have your hands full with those kids!
ReplyDeleteAnd... in about a half hour, I'll get to see many of them again in their history class. Wish me luck.
DeleteA tough age. Requires lots and lots of patience and insight (I have neither).
ReplyDeleteI hope you took a relaxing bubble bath when you got home.
ReplyDeleteI don't consider bubble baths relaxing, but I did have an emotional support chocolate shake ;)
Deletelol
DeleteThat was Marina
ReplyDeleteMy brother has taught this age group his entire career. It's a wonder to me, at times, how he has survived. But he does it well and with great success.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you had a full plate that day! Dealing with students can definitely be challenging, especially when they're going through different emotions and experiences.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your patience and understanding with Myles. It's clear that he's going through a tough time, and it's important to be there for him, even if it's just to listen.
It's also great to hear that many students were able to complete their assignments despite the chaos. Sometimes, a little structure can go a long way.
Middle school classes are generally a bit chaotic. It's the age.
DeleteKIDS! KIDS! Thank you for being the one to teach the brats...I mean kids of the day
ReplyDeleteThey are definitely an interesting group.
DeleteTeachers have to be so patient, I would not do so well in the profession.
ReplyDelete