middle school parenting
Why do I get that look when I say I want to teach middle school?
I get it- middle school students have raging hormones, their parents suddenly become less accessible when it comes to their child’s education, and they become inconsistent with their maturity levels.
But why do I have so much fun with that age group? They keep me on my toes, present a wide range of challenges, and at the end of the day I feel drained but satisfied. I haven’t had the chance to teach in a classroom with over 15 students so am I missing something crucial here? Is it less satisfying as their numbers increase?
Because you’re insane.
The part of the brain responsible for decision-making isn’t developed yet, so you are literally working with young people with retarded brain growth. You won’t believe what they’re capable of doing and you are responsible for remaining professional amidst students and parents who are insulting, difficult, argumentative, and creators’ of their own realities. You can’t have an off-day and I’d arguing that maybe staying on your toes is fun for awhile, but remember that this isn’t babysitting occasionally- it’s a career and job you have to show up to everyday whether you feel physically sick or mentally sick.
And it is incredibly less satisfying as the numbers increase. My class of 16 is a good size, but my class of 30 wears me down. Ever heard of the phrase “putting out” fires everywhere? It means that when have to tell Susie to throw out the note she’s writing, Charlie’s bullying Tom, Alex is ripping his paper apart and Cindy wants to go to the nurse’s office for an ant bite. Oh and there’s a new student today (who by the looks of it was probably asked to leave his last school).
If you have good colleagues and a good administration, teaching middle school might be worth a shot. Just know that you’ll regret it at least once.
ABC – Morning Show – A Parent’s Guide to the Middle School Years
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Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Middle School: 101 Stories of Life, Love, and Learning for Younger Teens $8.54 The stories in this book cover topics important to the 12 to 14-year-old age range, including regrets and lessons learned, discovering the opposite sex, cliques and popularity, and new privileges and responsibilities such as jobs, cell phones, and grades. The first Chicken Soup for the Soul book was published in 1993, and became a publishing industry sensation, ultimately selling eight million cop… |
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Creative Activities for Young Children $72.71 Creative Activities for Young Children 9th edition is a terrific book filled with fun, creative, and easy-to implement activities for young children. Readers will enjoy exercising their own creativity, as well as helping young children do the same. Hundreds of activities, and up to date research make this book an invaluable resource for those planning to work creatively with children across the c… |
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Child, Family, and Community: Family-Centered Early Care and Education (5th Edition) $50.00 Written in an accessible style for all those who work with young children or will, the author asks the reader to think of the child in the context of the family and community. Reorganized and updated, the book continues to examine developmental theory, but now with a greater emphasis on Bronfenbrenner’s theory of ecological development, discussed in Chapter 1, and more on the importance of contex… |
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Parents` Guide to the Middle School Years (Paperback) $10.09 “A handbook for parents navigating the challenges and opportunities that arise when their children attend middle school”–Provided by publisher. |
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Differentiated Instruction for the Middle School Math Teacher (Paperback) $19.57 Differentiated Instruction for theMiddle School Math Teacher Activities and Strategies for an Inclusive Classroom Joan D`Amico and Kate Gallaway The middle school mathematics classroom is a unique learning environment. The mathe… |
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Mastering Essential Math Skills Book 2 Middle Grades/High School $13.43 Description not available. |
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Best Practices from High-performing Middle Schools (Paperback) $21.73 Description not available. |
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Making Creative Schedules Work in Middle And High Schools $32.65 Description not available. |