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What can I do other than teach?
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I have been teaching for the last 22 years. I have taught elementary school. I have taught middle school high school and even spent one weird year as a preschool teacher. And I can say through all my years of experience that yes middle school is the worst. Sixth graders can be OK, but by the time they hit seventh and eighth grade oh boy hold onto your hat. High schoolers have the worst attitudes, but middle schoolers are the harder ones to manage. So I agree with you.
I have taught all grades from K through 12. I can confirm that 6th graders are usually okay, but 7th graders are almost universally defective. Lots of them continue to be unbearable through 8th grade, but some do work through it and show some real promise.
7th grade is an ordeal for everyone — especially for the teachers.
I taught high school for quite a long time, then "graduated" to middle school. I love it!
But I can't teach it the way I taught high school. I can't fight the energy; I have to direct it, or harness it, if you will. And they are willing to be silly in a way that high school students won't. And I have to understand that they are changing so fast that even they can't keep up with themselves. So I get to have new adventures every day. It's kind of refreshing, after 20 years, to say "Gee, haven't seen that one before!"
And if you are in a teaming arrangement in a place that does it right, you can create cool interdisciplinary projects in a way that the high school curriculum tends not to support.
I always said that Middle school teachers should get hazardous duty pay. Just about the time you feel you have that challenging students’ personality figured out. They decide to try a new one.
I have been teaching Middle School 7th grade for 22 years and have loved every bit of it. You can't ever say that you are bored. The students keep you on your toes. As far as behaviors, I learned many years ago not to take anything personal, and each day starts anew with all past behaviors forgiven and forgotten. Having a daily meditation to make sure that you are regulated throughout the day keeps you calm, even when the students are not.
I absolutely adore teaching 7th graders 🤣🤣 they’re insane but so am I
😂😂😂 you have my sympathies, I've never considered working middle school and won't be changing my mind on that front any time soon. I think we all have it tough, but I'll take *my* tough over middle and high school every single time!
The smells alone keep me from teaching middle schoolers. LOL!!
Exactly why I teach elementary and not MS or HS!
Rising Star
https://youtu.be/aPrFD1v46qc?si=g4isDrJ-0CL2KBHl
I appreciate you sharing this post. Great humor. I wonder why middle school has the toughest job?
Not toughest. Just different.
The brain and body are changing so very much in these years (almost as fast as in infancy). And differently in each kid. So differentiation is at its peak. And we are competing for attention against biology. Guess who wins? So we have to understand what we're working with, and how important guidance is at this time. Even though we will always come in second to biology.
NMMS: Middle School teachers are assured of Heaven!
Rising Star
lol
Where did this idea of calling students scholars originate ? Do students actually believe they are scholars, or do they laugh ?
I think it's aspirational. Kind of like "ladies and gentkemen" which was also a stretch.